How Does Your Garden Grow?

Project Discipline: Gardening
​Ages: All ages
Difficulty level: Easy
Supplies: Thin, unbleached paper like black and white newspaper (no colored pictures) or paper towels, flour, water, small paintbrush, a packet of seeds of your choice, pencil or pen to label, measuring tape or ruler

I don't know about where you are, but here in Kodiak, Alaska, it's a bit early to get into the garden, not to mention it's snowing out right now...but we are definitely feeling the urge to plant!
How does YOUR garden grow? 

• Some of you may have started your own seeds indoors, and if that's you - try this method with the seeds you've saved to direct plant outside.
• Others of you just may not have all the supplies to get started indoors, and so this project is easier because all you need are the seeds, some flour, water and newspaper or paper towels!   

Make Your Own Seed Tape

 1. Cut your paper or paper towels into strips approximately 1 inch wide. The length is up to you: one foot is a good length. 

 2. Mix 2 Tablespoons of flour with 1 Tablespoon of water to create a paste.  When mixed, it should be thick like pancake batter.

 3. Mark seed spacing on your paper with a marker where each seed should be placed.  Read the back of your seed packet to find out the correct spacing for planting. Radishes and lettuce are great seeds for this project because they germinate fairly quickly, but you can use any seed! You can measure out half that length as not everything will germinate and you can thin as things come up. 

 4. Use the paintbrush to make a small pea-sized dab of paste along the strip for each seed, according to the recommended spacing. Then place two seeds on each spot of paste. Fold over your paper in half lengthwise. Label and leave to dry.
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 5. Once dry, store in an unsealed zip lock bag in a cool dry place. 

​When you are ready to plant your seed tape: Dig a shallow trench and lightly water. Lay your seed tape along the trench and cover with a little soil. Gently water. Water is important not only for your seeds to grow but also to help dissolve the paper....
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Wait & watch for your seeds to sprout and your plants to grow!

PC: Gina Dionne

Many thanks to the UAF CES Anchorage Outreach Center for this activity idea.  Click here to print a copy of this activity in a worksheet format.  Don't forget to snap a picture and share it with us!