Shaky hands need help planting seeds

[DennisM]

I am looking for something to help me plant small seeds. Because of a health condition my hands will shake while planting so I am looking for a seeder to help me with the task. I am interested in the Gro-Mor Deluxe seeder but do not know anyone who has used one. The cost of about $43 including shipping also seems a little high. Any help is welcome.

[rnewste]

Dennis,

What type of seeds do you want to plant? Also, about how many plants do you intend to grow? I've seen folks who take a strip of Masking Tape, and stick seeds to it every 3 inches or so, then lay this in a furrow and cover with dirt. Would this (cheaper) method help you out?

Raybo

[DennisM]

Originally Posted by rnewste

Dennis,

What type of seeds do you want to plant? Also, about how many plants do you intend to grow? I've seen folks who take a strip of Masking Tape, and stick seeds to it every 3 inches or so, then lay this in a furrow and cover with dirt. Would this (cheaper) method help you out?

Raybo

My main garden is about 500 square feet. I have 7 EarthTainers, 4 Growboxes, and 9 raised beds. I do not have a problem with the larger seeds like squash and watermelon. However, carrot, lettuce, and tomato seeds do present a problem. Using your masking tape idea is a posibility.

Thanks agin.

Dennis

Dennis,

That looks like a good seeder. It would be a little cumbersome for me to handle. I've tried a few varieties of seeders where you put seed into a chamber and then shake the chamber until the seed falls through a little hole into the spot where you want the seed planted. They work well, but my problem is a short supply of patience. It simply drives me nuts trying to plant some of those tiny seeds one seed at a time. I've found it to be easier to simply over plant the seed and then thin the seedlings to the amount I want.

The method that works best for me is to decide how much seed I want to plant in a specific area. I then mix that amount of seed with either 1/4 or 1/2 pint of dry sand. I use a spice shaker with the holes in the top. I put the sand in the shaker, add the seed, put the lid on; and shake it up until the sand and seed are well mixed. Make sure the sand is really dry or it will clog the holes in the top.

If I am planting carrots or lettuce, I simply use it like a salt or pepper shaker over the area I want to plant. It is easy to see where the sand/seed is going because the sand is light colored and easy to see.

If I want to plant in a narrow row, I use a small funnel placed against the ground and pull the funnel along the line I want to plant while slowly pouring the sand into the funnel. You can practice with just some sand and no seed until you get the technique down.

Using this method, I get very even distribution of seed. I normally pat it down with my hand or place 1/4 inch of soil over the sand/seed and sprinkle it with water.

Ted

[Barbee]

I use a paring knife dipped in water. I can make my hole in the soil with the knife, dip the tip in water, pick up a seed, and drop in the hole and cover pretty fast.
I use this method with tomato seeds and tiny flower seeds. I got a free seeder from Parks once. I used it once and didn't like it. I'd be happy to send it to you to try out if you want? Tomatomail me if you're interested, and I'll dig it out.

[b54red]

I have arthritis in my hands and when planting really small seed like carrots I mix about 4 times as much dried coffee grounds as seed in a pill bottle and shake very well. Then I pour them into a small brown coin envelope, crease the flap, and tap it so it pours a small stream of seed and coffee out. It works great and cuts way down on the thinning which can be very difficult with things like carrots. For larger seed like tomato and pepper I use the coin envelope with just the seed and tap it repeatedly with my forefinger and let one seed at a time fall out. I've been using this for a while and it works faster than any seeder I have tried.

[DennisM]

Originally Posted by tedln

Dennis,

That looks like a good seeder. It would be a little cumbersome for me to handle. I've tried a few varieties of seeders where you put seed into a chamber and then shake the chamber until the seed falls through a little hole into the spot where you want the seed planted. They work well, but my problem is a short supply of patience. It simply drives me nuts trying to plant some of those tiny seeds one seed at a time. I've found it to be easier to simply over plant the seed and then thin the seedlings to the amount I want.

The method that works best for me is to decide how much seed I want to plant in a specific area. I then mix that amount of seed with either 1/4 or 1/2 pint of dry sand. I use a spice shaker with the holes in the top. I put the sand in the shaker, add the seed, put the lid on; and shake it up until the sand and seed are well mixed. Make sure the sand is really dry or it will clog the holes in the top.

If I am planting carrots or lettuce, I simply use it like a salt or pepper shaker over the area I want to plant. It is easy to see where the sand/seed is going because the sand is light colored and easy to see.

If I want to plant in a narrow row, I use a small funnel placed against the ground and pull the funnel along the line I want to plant while slowly pouring the sand into the funnel. You can practice with just some sand and no seed until you get the technique down.

Using this method, I get very even distribution of seed. I normally pat it down with my hand or place 1/4 inch of soil over the sand/seed and sprinkle it with water.

Ted

Thanks. I never would have thought of using a salt shaker.

Dennis

[johno]

I take Baclofen to help with my shakiness. Makes all sorts of tasks easier.

[Suze]

One tip I read several years ago is to take a toothpick and dip it in water to pick up an individual seed to place in your seed starting mix. I've found this works extremely well for really tiny seeds like petunias and poppies, but I've never tried it with tomatoes, peppers and the like.

Dip the toothpick (you can also use a small bamboo skewer, which I prefer) into water between picking up each seed. It also helps to spread the seed to be sowed out on a plate first.

[tjg911]

when starting onion seeds i use a pair of tweezers. it allows me to put the seed exactly where i want it. my hands are not shaky but i plant them in a 4"X6" containers in rows about 1/2" apart and the rows about 3/4" apart. i couldn't accurately place a tiny onion seed in rows so close so i tried tweezers and it works fine. maybe this would you and cost far less than $43.

tom

[DennisM]

Thanks for the information. I had forgotten about using a toothpick. I like the bamboo skewer and the tweezer ideas. I will give them a try in 2011.

Dennis

[dustdevil]

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/...626269966.html

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-7443-gr...-and-hose.aspx

http://www.charleysgreenhouse.com/in...88&learnmore=1

[OneoftheEarls]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9Zmy...eature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4skgo...eature=channel