Roll self-collected seeds into seed bombs
Have you already collected a good amount of seeds and want to store them for the next season? No problem! The most obvious method would be to put the seeds in seed packets , label them, and store them in a box on the shelf. Another option is to roll the seeds into seed bombs to preserve them for a long time. This works wonderfully with flower seeds , but it's also a great way to process and store your collected seeds with vegetable seeds . It's best to gather your ingredients and wait for a really gray, rainy autumn day. Then you can make yourself comfortable at the kitchen table and make seed bombs . This is also great fun for children and is guaranteed to fuel anticipation for the next gardening season! But before we get started, we'd like to give you a brief insight into the history of seed bombs :
What exactly are seed bombs?
Have you never heard of seed bombs? But they've been around for a really long time. Seed bombs are small balls (or clumps) made of soil, clay, and seeds . Because the seeds are well embedded in the hard mix of soil and clay, they don't need to be planted. Instead, you can simply throw, roll, lay, or slingshot the entire seed ball to its destination. The next rain softens the ball and activates the seeds , which then begin to germinate.
A short history of seed bombs
There are differing opinions about how, when, and where the concept of seed balls was invented. Most people believe the idea originated with the ancient Egyptians, who used seed bombs to quickly cultivate the fertile farmland left behind by the annual Nile floods. Later, the idea was adopted by the Japanese, who used seed bombs dropped from aircraft to cultivate large fields while large segments of the (male) population were fighting in World War II.
Seed balls really became popular in the 1970s, when more and more people started throwing them to protest against concrete jungles, air pollution, and the development of urban green spaces. To this day, seed balls are used for precisely this purpose: to create colorful islands in dreary inner cities, to beautify neighborhoods, and to grow your own food. Seed bombs are also ideal for planting in balcony containers, for a quick change in the garden, or simply for growing a few herbs in your kitchen. But enough talk, you want to take action.
Which seeds are suitable for seed bombs?
When choosing seeds, you have a wide range of options. Just be careful not to choose poisonous plants and ideally use only native species. Seeds from daisies , poppies , corn cockles, small sunflowers , marigolds , or cornflowers are good options. These pretty flowers will make a real eye-catcher next year, even in the gray urban jungle. As a true hobby gardener, you've probably harvested seeds from your own vegetables. Why not? As always, the saying goes: try before you buy...
This is what you need:
- 1 part seeds (flowers/herbs/grasses/vegetables)
- 5 parts good peat-free potting soil (to protect the moors; it is best to dry the soil beforehand and then sieve it)
- 3 parts clay (brown, red or ochre clay are available from building materials stores)
- 1 part water
- A container for mixing the ingredients and a base for drying the seed bombs
Ready, set, roll!
- Sift soil into a bowl.
- Add clay powder and mix well.
- Slowly add water until you have a sticky dough that's easy to shape. If the dough is too watery, simply add dry ingredients until it reaches the desired consistency. The dough should be worked relatively quickly at this point, as it hardens quickly.
- Now the actual rolling of the seed balls begins. Depending on the desired size (no larger than a walnut, as otherwise the seeds will germinate before the seed ball is completely dry), break off the appropriate amount of dough and roll it back and forth between your palms without exerting any particular force until a smooth, round ball is formed.
- Then place the balls on an old newspaper or an old onion sieve to dry and let them dry for 1-2 days.
Tip: After drying, the seed bombs are ready for use for 2 years.
Give away seed bombs
Of course, Christmas is fast approaching, and who doesn't like to dream of next spring during the cold season? Once the seed bombs are thoroughly dry, you can wrap them up beautifully as a gift and place them under the Christmas tree. A homemade, green gift that's guaranteed to bring (summer) joy!
Fancy some new flowers?:
Have you been diligently collecting seeds , but are actually looking for something completely new in your garden next year? Then join our seed circle and exchange your collected seeds for other varieties, perhaps completely new to you. 
