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1000 paper mache' carrots

Posts: 143

Location: North East Wisconsin

posted 1 year 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.

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

master pollinator

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Location: Canadian Prairies - Zone 3b

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posted 1 year 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: 143

Location: North East Wisconsin

posted 1 year 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

Posts: 4999

Location: Canadian Prairies - Zone 3b

1354

posted 1 year ago

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

Ron Kulas

Posts: 143

Location: North East Wisconsin

posted 1 year 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 1 year 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 1 year 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.

At my age, Happy Hour is a nap.

Cy Cobb

pollinator

Posts: 359

Location: Illinois, Zone 6b

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posted 1 year 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: 143

Location: North East Wisconsin

posted 1 year 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: 359

Location: Illinois, Zone 6b

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posted 1 year 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: 143

Location: North East Wisconsin

posted 1 year 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 1 year 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

Posts: 259

Location: Eastern Ontario

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posted 1 year 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

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