DIY seeder for tiny seeds

Market gardeners can choose from many types of seeders. Many of these, like the classic Earthway seeder, are precision seeders developed for planting in rows. The gardener pushes the seeder, which makes a furrow and drops the seed. These offer flexibility for various sizes of seeds often by providing optional plates with holes of different diameters. Small seeds, such as carrot seed, can be planted using these but the options are limited when it comes to tiny seed, such as un-pelleted seeds for thyme, basil, chives, purslane, amaranth and sweet alyssum.

Eric Brennan developed a “slide hammer” seeder which quickly and efficiently sows tiny seeds. The seeder can be used to intercrop small-seeded plants among established crops. For example, Brennan suggests that growers can sow under-utilized greens, such as purslane, among broccoli. He also experimented with planting sweet alyssum among lettuce plants. The flowers of sweet alyssum provide habitat for many beneficial organisms, including parasitoid wasps and hoverflies, that control pests, such as aphids.

Brennan describes how to construct both small seeders that you can use in flats for later transplanting and long-handled versions you can use while standing by jabbing the end of the tool into the soil. The slide hammer can be made using common materials that cost $32 (USD) in as little time as two hours. For tips on making and using the seeder, see the diagrams in the article (Google the title of this news item) or watch the accompanying video at youtu.be/olO9zX1ggs8

Brennan, Eric B. The slide hammer seeder: a novel tool for planting small seeds. HortTechnology. 2018. Volume 28: Issue 6. Pages: 764–775