Seed tapes

[On the Moors]

Earlier this year we got rid of some old seeds and purchased new seed tapes from a reputable supplier. These have been something of a disappointment to say the least. For example three lots of lettuce have just not grown at all. About half the radish have come up, the other half a 'no show'.

Is there something about seed tapes that I'm missing or have I just been unlucky. I've checked on how to plant seed tapes on YouTube and I seem to be doing everything correctly.

 

[Meadowlark]

The ones you mentioned need to be very lightly covered...too deep reduces germination, in my experience.

Actually, in my experience with seed tapes, germination is generally higher perhaps due to the high visibility of the tape when covering.

 

[On the Moors]

The ones you mentioned need to be very lightly covered...too deep reduces germination, in my experience.

Actually, in my experience with seed tapes, germination is generally higher perhaps due to the high visibility of the tape when covering.

I saw this on a video. I make a slight depression in the compost and then gently cover them. They are just below the surface. The main problem seems to be with the lettuce. I'm beginning to think that I have a dodgy packet of seeds.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

the wisdom is that lettuce needs some light to germinate. I haven't used seed tapes, but lettuce seed is so plentiful (1,100 seeds in a pack) I can sow it not too thinly on the surface, then go over it with a gentle chopping motion with the hoe , just to disturb the top half inch, some of the seeds will be in the perfect depth. If I only get 5% germination that's still 55 lettuces from a pack, and it's not anywhere near that low. On the other hand I have had failures, I had some Lobjoit that did nothing, maybe some seed is not good, could be the way retailers store it? Unless you bought direct.

 

[On the Moors]

Excellent answer OB! You state the obvious which wasn't that obvious to me

Just ordered a selection of salad seeds from Amazon. At less than £10 I can be generous while sewing them.