I'm intrigued by the "letuce seed mats" offered in a few of the seed catalogs I've been getting. I haven't actually seen one in person, only photos. Have any of you ordered one? Seems like a good DIY project. How would you go about putting one together? Has anyone tried it? Does it work?
Lettuce seed matshave any of you made your own?
I have never bought a seed mat or strip but remember seeing somewhere that it is easy to make your own. If you google "Making Your Own Seed Mats" or How to Make your Own Seed Mat you will find a variety of sites explaining the process. It sounds really easy to me and you have better control over the viability of your own seeds. I have never tried it but plan to put in more lettuce and carrots next spring so this would be a good way to do it. Here is one link that might get you started if you are interested:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/lab/msg1120283329671.html
hmmm, sounds interesting. I may try that. I've been all jazzed up about making seed balls and placing them around my garden beds. I like the idea of seed mat strips for lettuce and carrots. That was a good link. Thanks.
Why thank you very much for the link. A good start. I'm just thinking it may save on having to do so much thinning. I always feel I'm waiting so much seed with thinning.
For me, it breaks my heart to pull out those little sprouts to thin the row. :~0
I have made a synopsis incorporating different sites which describe various methods of making seed mats or strips. I saved it in PDF format which I saved in i-Photo. It seems to have made a thumbnail version but I don't know if it will be readable when enlarged. I'm not experienced at adding photos to DG!. If you can't read it please d-mail me and send me a regular e-mail address. Then I can send it to you.
Jessica
Well it seems to have worked! You can drag it to a folder or highlight and copy it into a word processing document for further edits and updates you may find.
Outstanding! I was able to print the "picture" and I now have a project for over Christmas vacation! Wooohoooo!
Oh, and this link, http://annieskitchengarden.blogspot.com/2009/09/september-22-2009-home-made-seed-mat.html, has pictures! I'm all set. If my mats turn out with even half the success that this lady (from the above link) had I will be one happy camper!
Great find, Terri! Glad my "picture" worked for you. I am going to add this link in the Word Processing document which can be accessed if I send it as part of a regular e-mail.
I'm not sure the whole URL went into your posting. I couldn't get it to work but did find the site. I think I used some of her method from another site but theses photos are a super addition. Let me see if this link works better.
http://annieskitchengarden.blogspot.com/2009/09/september-22-2009-home-made-seed-mat.html
I will appreciate any other links you all find that I could incorporate into my "synopsis". I don't pretend it is complete in any way - just a start for a fun project!
Yes, the new link works. I don't see the difference in our two postings but for some reason the first one says Blogger Page not found. Who can understand the vagaries of the computer!!