Prepare seeds with seed tape and transfer to proper depth in the garden to germinate.
Prepare seeds with seed tape
K-State horticulture expert says tape helps to decrease time spent planting seeds
At a glance: K-State horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini outlines the steps needed to make seed tape, which aids in handling small garden seeds and getting proper spacing.
More information: Cynthia Domenghini, Cdom@ksu.edu
Related: K-State Horticulture Newsletter | Kansas Garden Guide | Vegetable Garden Planting Guide
March 28, 2025
K-State Research and Extension news service
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Seed tape is a method of preparing seeds for planting that reduces the amount of time spent bending over the ground. Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini said seed tape makes it easier to handle small seeds and get proper spacing.
To make a seed tape, cut a paper towel into strips two inches wide by 12 inches long. Create a paste by mixing ½ cup flour with water. Use a ruler and pencil to mark dots on the paper towel at the proper spacing for the type of seed being planted. The seed packet should contain recommended plant spacing guidelines.
“Put one seed on each dot on the paper towel, then put a small drop of the flour paste on top of each seed,” Domenghini said. “Allow the paste to dry before moving the seed tape.”
At the appropriate time, each seed tape can be planted at the proper depth in the garden. Domenghini said the seeds will germinate through the paste.
“Over time, the paper towel will break down into the garden. Toilet tissue and tissue paper are other options for making seed tape,” Domenghini said.
This activity is perfect for getting children involved, she added.
Domenghini and her colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes and gardens.
Interested persons can subscribe to the newsletter, as well as send their garden and yard-related questions to hortsupport@ksu.edu, or contact your local K-State Research and Extension office.
***
K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices, experiment fields, area extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.