Hi, Selling strips or "flats" of seedling every year helps support our other plant growing interests and we would like to produce more. Has anybody seen plans for simple seed sowing machines anywhere, the sort of thing you would see in a Mother Earth catalogue from 30 yrs ago, or could reccomend a small machine. We have the mechanical /electronic experience but would rather not re-invent the wheel if there are some plans out there somewhere. Thanks, Ken Duggan

-- Ken Duggan (kduggan@mrao.cam.ac.uk), May 02, 2002

Answers

earthway sells a single row precision seeder for $85. you can buy it online or go to your local feed/seed or coop store. our local stores including the ace hardware carry it. it comes w/different sized disks that select the right amount of seed per rotation. it opens a hole, drops a seed, and closes the hole. also lets you see that it's working so you don't walk a whole row or bed and plant nothing by accident.

-- james (james@wireboard.com), May 02, 2002.

Are you looking for a machine that would seed into flats?

-- Darren (df1@infi.net), May 02, 2002.

The first time I saw a flat seeding machine in operation I just had to stand and watch it. They are a work of art.

I'm of the opinion that to get accurate sowing the machine wil have to be a vacuum unit. Problem is, they do wear out.

If I were you, I would check greenhouses to see if any of them have units that they no longer used. Expect that they keep a spare and have a currently in use one, but they might still have an older one in storage. Am sure that it would still be pricey. Any greenhouses that have gone out of business might be another source. Expect those in small towns wouldn't have much resale value in that market.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), May 03, 2002.