If you're like me, you've probably heard of seed tapes. I have yet to see one even in the big national seed and nursery catalogs. The idea sounded good, so I decided to experiment. I bought a package of party serpentine streamers for a couple of bucks and a bottle of washable school glue. I got a 1"x4"x8' from the lumber yard-a 10 footer would work as well. I laid the 1 X 4 on the work table in our warm/cool Arizona room, and I stretched out several rows of the streamers on it, fastening the ends with tape. After reading the planting directions on the package, I figured that I could save myself the thinning process by spacing the seeds at the final proper interval. I wrote the name of the seeds on the ends of each tape with a pen-very important because a lot of the seeds look alike. I put the seeds in a shallow saucer, and proceeded to put a small, match-head size dot of glue at each point on the tape that I wanted a seed. A dampened cotton tipped swab works well to pick up small quantities of seeds. Larger seeds, like beets, can be picked up with your fingers. I usually put 2 or 3 small seeds on each dot to ensure germination. If you start on the tape farthest from you, you can work on each tape without knocking the seeds off the ones you have already completed. After the tapes are filled, set them aside to dry for several hours or overnight. You could do this on those cold winter days while you are waiting to get started on your garden.

To plant, prepare your soil, smooth it, and mark where you want your rows. I just lay the 1 x 4 along where I want my row and loosen both ends of one tape at a time. I lay it on the smoothed soil, seed side up, and temporarily hold it in place with a small stone on each end. I don't know if it is necessary, but I give each one a little jump start by dusting a little dry fertilizer along each row from a shaker I made from a plastic jar with holes punched in the lid. I also prepared several buckets of screened top soil. After the seed tape is in place, I simply cover it to the proper depth with the screened top soil. To mark the rows, I cut 3/4 inch strips from old milk jugs and write the names on them with a permanent marker. Once you are organized, you can plant a row in a matter of minutes.

Making the tapes is a bit of a chore, but if you figure the time and frustration of trying to space the seeds properly in the usual way, getting them to the proper depth, and not having to thin later, I feel it's worth it. It may seem trivial, but a packet of seeds will go a lot further and the seed spacing can be done sitting down in the comfort of your work room and not on your knees in the dirt. I've had pretty good luck with my tapes and seeds sprouting.

I have had to build rabbit/quail proof cages of chicken wire and 1' X 2's to protect my crop during the early stages of growth. However, I was perplexed to find whole sections of early growth disappearing overnight, until I discovered a hungry family of field mice that could get through the chicken wire. Since I set up a trap line, I haven't had any more problems.

(NOTE: Our guest writer grew up in Iowa and enjoyed gardening with his grandfather as a child. He was employed as a stock boy at Walgreen's, working his way up and retiring as a Walgreen executive. Since moving to the Sierra Vista area, he once again has time to garden and loves to experiment. Although we have not tried his seed tape method, we have no reason to believe it won't work.)