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1000 paper mache' carrots

Posts: 207

Location: North East Wisconsin

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posted 2 years ago

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Yes, you read that correctly. Today I planted 1000 paper mache' carrots. I hate thinning carrots and I hate wasting seeds.
This is how I remedy that.

diy seed strips for sowing carrot seeds at correct spacing

I planted Nantes supreme, Nantes half long and tender sweet varieties. If I have 100% germination I will have a 1000 carrots to deal with but these are carrots so I would be happy with 50% germination. After 4 days I will check every day to see if the seeds have sprouted. Then I will know when to remove the fabric.

Im an inventor. Its always been that way. That is my curse.

Douglas Alpenstock

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Location: Canadian Prairies - Zone 3b

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posted 2 years ago

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Good Lord, sir, what patience you have! 1000 tiny carrot seeds, one at a time!

But it's a good method. Makes more sense than the overpriced seed tape they sell in the stores.

Ron Kulas

Posts: 207

Location: North East Wisconsin

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posted 2 years ago

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Douglas Alpenstock wrote:Good Lord, sir, what patience you have! 1000 tiny carrot seeds, one at a time!

But it's a good method. Makes more sense than the overpriced seed tape they sell in the stores.

Its time better spent than thinning carrots after the fact. (less wasteful as well) I can make a 4 foot seed tape in under 5 minutes.

Im an inventor. Its always been that way. That is my curse.

Douglas Alpenstock

master pollinator

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Location: Canadian Prairies - Zone 3b

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posted 2 years ago

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Good choice on Nantes varieties BTW. They're the best.

Ron Kulas

Posts: 207

Location: North East Wisconsin

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posted 2 years ago

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Douglas Alpenstock wrote:Good choice on Nantes varieties BTW. They're the best.

I like all varieties but tried these 3 this year.

Im an inventor. Its always been that way. That is my curse.

Mercy Pergande

gardener

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posted 2 years ago

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So clever (and I like the title as a paper mache maker). I love these kinds of hacks. I recently saw a technique that seemed like a good one (less precise than yours but maybe quicker, I'm not sure) where the gardener made a fairly loose cornstarch gel, mixed the seeds evenly into the gel, and them used a squeeze bottle to squeeze the seed gel into a line in the soil. The gel helped even out the distribution much more than hand seeding.

"How fleeting are all human passions compared with the massive continuity of ducks.“ — Dorothy L. Sayers

John F Dean

master steward

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Location: southern Illinois, USA

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posted 2 years ago

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So I find myself wondering, would a roll of paper drywall tape work for this? I ask because I have a roll that is not likely to be used for anything else.

I learn from the mistakes of others who take my advice.

Cy Cobb

pollinator

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Location: Illinois, Zone 6b

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posted 2 years ago

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I did this myself this year, but haven't planted them yet. I did 3" spacing on mine though due to the varieties I used. Keep us posted on how your germination goes.

Dirty hands + a sweaty handkerchief = hope for the future.

Ron Kulas

Posts: 207

Location: North East Wisconsin

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posted 2 years ago

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John F Dean wrote:So I find myself wondering, would a roll of paper drywall tape work for this? I ask because I have a roll that is not likely to be used for anything else.

I doubt the tiny seeds could make their way though such a thick membrane. Its why I even go so far as to split 2 ply TP into one ply.

Im an inventor. Its always been that way. That is my curse.

Cy Cobb

pollinator

Posts: 384

Location: Illinois, Zone 6b

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posted 2 years ago

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I separated down to one-ply of the transparent low-quality unquilted toilet paper as well. I think it will be fine.

Dirty hands + a sweaty handkerchief = hope for the future.

Ron Kulas

Posts: 207

Location: North East Wisconsin

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posted 2 years ago

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Cy Cobb wrote:I separated down to one-ply of the transparent low-quality unquilted toilet paper as well. I think it will be fine.

As I was making my seed tapes I thought to myself, Here I am separating 2 ply T.P. in half. I wonder what the less fortunate are doing?

Im an inventor. Its always been that way. That is my curse.

Lila Stevens

pollinator

Posts: 225

posted 2 years ago

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That's an excellent idea. I like that you can do it sitting comfortably at your kitchen table, rather than bent over a garden bed. Thanks for all of the great photos you provided. I am sure your methods result it much more uniform germination than mine as well.

Thinning large beds of carrots definitely is time-consuming, as I learned this year. I have goats and bunnies though, who love the thinnings, so I will most likely just continue over-seeding and giving the thinnings to the critters.

Jeff Marchand

pollinator

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Location: Eastern Ontario

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posted 2 years ago

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Making the carrot TP seems like a great mid winter task when you are itching to get into the garden but it is all frozen over. I'd love to see some post planting photos.

Do, there is no try --- Yoda
No one is interested in something you didn't do--- Gord Downie

I agree. Here's the link: http://stoves2.com