Comments on: Seed Balls – 03-04-14

By: brad

brad — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 15:42:31 +0000

and the shape, i thik might be better, if it was flat, or at least flat on one side.
it would make more contact with the earth, not roll around.
the contact point would probably hold more water as well

By: brad

brad — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 15:40:41 +0000

actually, i was thinking about this
Diatomaceous earth, mixed with the paper
would probably keep it stuck together, and retain more moisture.
pretty much the same as clay
or any rock dust as well.

By: Trina

Trina — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 12:00:30 +0000

Thank you Brad … for that link! There’s nothing like a video. Bentley, it would be helpful if you could post a good on line source for the clay everybody is talking about in these posts, so we don’t have to run around shopping local stores.

By: brad mayeux

brad mayeux — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 20:45:27 +0000

Not sure where you got the idea of seedballs…
but
there is a guy who is from Japan, who is famous
and one of the leading ag/permaculture experts.

he created seedballs using clay
i would imagine vermicompost would be a good addition
so long as it doesnt make the ball fall apart early.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_5eoUojVpI

By: angusmacduff

angusmacduff — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 11:15:12 +0000

If you use a small ice cream scoop (#40) to scoop up the mix it would make them all even. Take a scoop, compress it with the palm of your hand and drop it onto a pan. Round it up between your hands – poke a hole and they will all look good. Can you tell – I’m a retired baker – just like making cookies.

By: Bentley

Bentley — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 14:17:52 +0000

Michelle – that’s a good idea, especially in the case of warmth-loving seeds.
—
Angus – Funny, that’s EXACTLY what I was thinking I might try. Was going to put some holes in the surface (like a bowling ball), and then once dry put one seed in each hole and cover with a vermicompost paste. I suspect that would help with germination as well (probably easier for the seedlings to push through).

By: angusmacduff

angusmacduff — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 13:50:31 +0000

Could you make the ball up without the seed – make an insert with a dowel or pencil into the middle of it and then dry it out. When time to plant, put a seed into the hole and push some of the mix or vermicompost into the hole and it is ready. Do it ahead after they have dried out and no chance of sprouting. Good winter project.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 16:19:46 +0000

Woohwee! Vermicompost just kick starts that process add a bit of warmth and bam! Them microbes get down to work! I wonder if you used a non heat type of drying if it would inhibit the germination process. I Think you’re on the right track

By: Bentley

Bentley — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 17:34:04 +0000

You don’t like onions?
How about kale AND onions sauteed with some bacon? Yum!

I agree that the chance of the seed balls dissolving is greater than the paper being torn up. Keep in mind this is a pulp material so it is pretty solid when it dries.

For any “real” seed balls (ones intended to simply be tossed on top of soil), I make moving forward, I think I will definitely mix in at least SOME clay so as to improve the integrity of the outer shell. I like keeping the paper pulp component, though, since it seems to make them more absorbent.

By: John W.

John W. — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 16:21:26 +0000

or the paper ball could disintegrate after the first rain leaving the seed unprotected. That is more likely to happen than wind destroying it.