Make seed bombs yourself: Instructions for home

Are you looking for Christmas presents? We'll show you how you can easily make seed bombs yourself that will make gardeners' hearts beat faster.

When the days gradually get shorter and the reading on the thermometer drops towards zero, it's that time again: Christmas time is just around the corner. One or the other punch has already been drunk, one or the other little light in the window posed, but there is still a big topic ahead of you: Christmas presents for your loved ones prepare.

History of the seed bombs

You have never heard of Seedbombs? They have been around for a really long time. Seed bombs are small balls (or lumps) made of soil, clay and seeds. Since the seeds are well embedded in the hard mix of soil and clay, they do not have to be planted. Instead, you can simply throw, roll, lay or twill the whole seed ball to its destination. The next rain softens the ball and activates the seeds, which then begin to germinate.

Opinions vary on how, when and where the concept of seedballs was invented. Most people believe that the idea came from the ancient Egyptians, using seed bombs could very quickly cultivate the fertile farmland left behind by the annual flooding of the Nile became. Much later, the idea was picked up by the Japanese who were thrown from airplanes Seed bombs tilled large fields while large parts of the (male) population were in World War II fought.

The seedballs became really famous in the 1970s when more and more people started making these little ones Throwing balls to fight concrete deserts, air pollution and urban green spaces protest. To this day, seed balls are used for exactly this purpose: to create colorful islands in dreary inner cities, to beautify the neighborhood and to grow your own food. Seed bombs are also ideal for planting balcony pots, a quick change in the garden or just to grow a few herbs in your kitchen.

Making seed bombs yourself: a special gift

A great gift doesn't always have to be something you've bought. It is much nicer to hand over homemade gifts on Christmas Day that have put a lot of love and passion into the production and that are particularly valued by loved ones. Therefore, today we would like to give you a little look behind the scenes of the city gardeners and reveal how you can easily make the little green gifts, the so-called seed bombs, yourself at home can.

Making seed bombs yourself: instructions

When choosing the seeds, all options are open to you. However, you should make absolutely sure not to select any poisonous plants and ideally only use native species. For example, daisies, poppy seeds, grain wheels, small ones are suitable sunflowers, Marigolds or Cornflowers. Hobby gardeners will also be happy to receive vegetable seeds from pumpkins and the like.

You need:

• 1 part seeds / seeds (wild flowers / herbs / grasses / vegetables)
• 5 parts of good peat-free potting soil (to protect the moors; it is best to dry the earth beforehand and then sift it)
• 3 parts of clay (brown, red or ocher-colored clay is available in building materials stores)
• 1 part water
• a container for mixing the ingredients and a mat for drying the seed bombs

How to make the seed bombs:

1. Sieve soil into a bowl.
2. Add clay powder and mix both well.
3. Slowly add water until you get a tough mass that can be shaped easily. If the dough is too watery, simply add the dry ingredients and the seeds afterwards until it has the appropriate consistency. The dough should now be processed relatively quickly as it hardens quickly.
4. Now the actual "rolling" of the seed bombs begins. Depending on the desired size (not larger than walnut size, otherwise the seeds will germinate before the seedball has dried out) Break off the appropriate amount of dough and roll it back and forth between the palms of your hands until you have a smooth, round one Ball arises.
5. Then lay the balls to dry, for example on an old newspaper, and let them dry for 1 to 2 days.
6. The finished seed bombs can then, for example, be packed in a small jute bag and tied with a beautiful bow and given away. Once dry, the seed bombs can be used for two years.

Buy seed bombs: Seed bombs from the city gardeners

You don't have time to do it yourself, but you like the idea of ​​giving away seed bombs? The city gardeners can help out! The city gardeners' walnut-sized seed bombs, which are well received as gifts, are available either as a pack of eight in a jute bag or as a single set of cardboard cubes. They consist exclusively of local seeds, clay and soil - a gift with added value, because between April and August the seed bombs can then be thrown out together with loved ones. There is also a starter set for rolling the seed bomb yourself.

Note: There is a special discount campaign for Plantura readers. With the discount code “plantura” you will receive a 15% discount on the city gardener's range!

The city gardeners will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the production of seed bombs.