Pre-sown seed tapes and discs

Wed. Apr. 6, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Pre-sown seed tapes and discs

During the pandemic, the U.S. has seen more than 18 million people get into gardening! Wahoo and welcome!

If you feel a bit daunted by planting a vegetable garden and think it might be costly, try pre-sown seed tape and/or discs. I just learned about these through the National Garden Bureau and had to share!

Pre-sown seed tape

They’re great for any level of gardener. These seed tapes are for direct sow when the soil is at the right temperature. There are several seed companies that sell pre-sown tapes and discs including:

So… no pun intended, what are these tapes? Seed tapes and discs include high-quality seeds pre-spaced and sandwiched between two layers of special, 100% biodegradable tissue made from wood pulp, sustainably harvested, breaking down in the soil. This all means that they eliminate over sowing and crowded seedlings that result in healthier, stronger crops.

Carrot ‘rainbow’ seed tape – Ferry Morris

It’s a great way to garden with kids, for folks who fumble with small seeds and for those of us balancing family and work life!

What do you like to eat? There’s likely a seed for that! From beets to spinach, carrots to lettuce, all kinds of greens to herbs and more. There are perforations in the seed tape to fit your garden size.

Beet ‘Detroit dark red’ seed tape – Ferry Morris

The pre-sown discs are great to use in containers. Perfect for patios and balconies. You may have a harder time finding these…

Pre-sown seed disc

This doesn’t work for tomatoes and peppers in our cold climates.