The Advantages Of Pelleted Seed Versus Seed Tapes. Both Pelleted Seeds And Seed Tapes Have Their Own Advantages And Disadvantages. It Really Depends On Your Personal Preference And Gardening Style As To Which One You Prefer. In This Article I Explain Both
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In an earlier post I explained the difference between natural and pelleted seeds. But there is a third option; seed tapes. So let’s look at Pelleted Seed Versus Seed Tapes, starting with the one I previously discussed. Pelleted seed.
Advantages of Pelleted Seeds
- Easier to plant: Pelleted seeds are coated in a clay-based material that makes them easier to see and plant. This is especially helpful for small or irregularly shaped seeds.
- Accurate spacing: Pelleted seeds are also more evenly spaced than unpelleted seeds. This can help to ensure that your plants have enough room to grow and develop properly.
- Less likely to be eaten by birds and rodents: The clay coating on pelleted seeds makes them less attractive to birds and rodents, which can help to reduce seed loss.
- Can be used with a seed distributor: Pelleted seeds can be used with a seed sdistributor, which can save time and effort when planting a large area.
Disadvantages of Pelleted Seeds
- More expensive: Pelleted seeds are typically more expensive than unpelleted seeds.
- Can be difficult to find: Pelleted seeds may not be as readily available as unpelleted seeds.
- May not be suitable for all types of seeds: Pelleted seeds may not be suitable for all types of seeds, such as those that are very small or light.
The third option is seed embedded in a roll of tape. Its usually a paper or fabric tape though other sorts are possible.
Advantages of Seed Tapes
- Easy to plant: Seed tapes are pre-seeded strips of fabric or paper that are easy to plant. Simply lay the tape out in your garden and cover it with a thin layer of soil.
- Accurate spacing: Seed tapes are spaced evenly, so you can be sure that your plants will have enough room to grow.
- Less likely to be eaten by birds and rodents: Seed tapes are less attractive to birds and rodents than loose seeds.
- Can be used in a variety of soils: Seed tapes can be used in a variety of soils, including clay, sand, and loam.
Disadvantages of Seed Tapes
- More expensive: Seed tapes are typically more expensive than loose seeds.
- May not be suitable for all types of seeds: Seed tapes may not be suitable for all types of seeds, such as those that need to be planted deep in the soil or those that have a long germination period.
- May not be as effective in windy areas: Seed tapes may not be as effective in windy areas, as the wind can blow them around as you plant them.
- Spacings are inflexible. Spacing is decided by the manufacturer and can be altered. So you have no control of spacing.
- Availability. Or rather, the lack of availability. Not many seeds are available as taped seed. And where they are the varieties are very limited,
Ultimately, the best way to decide which type of seed is right for you is to experiment and see what works best in your garden. Search the seed catalogues and find what you need. Try them. Experiment. You are the only one that can decide if this is for you.
My choice? Natural seed every time. But then I was a commercial grower looking for the most cost effective methods so don’t base your decision on my preferences.
Image credit: Wargo, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tag: Pelleted Seed Versus Seed Tapes
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