Less Space, Big Results: Seed Snail Growing Method

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Seed starting at home is a great way to save money whether you are planting a few container gardens for fresh eating or a large family garden dedicated to food preservation. Over the years, we have tried a lot of different seed-starting methods. Disposable plastic cups, peat pellet seed trays, dissolvable peat pots, natural luffa sponges, and cardboard egg cartons are just a few of the seed-starting options we’ve tried. This year while we are using a combination of methods, I am most excited about trying a new method that not only uses less compost but also takes up a lot less space! The seed snail growing method introduced to the world by Farida Sober has gone viral on social media. The seed snail growing method is a great alternative to traditional seedling trays, especially for those with limited space. 

What You Need to Get Started

The best thing about this method is it’s so versatile. Farida uses polyethylene foam to create her seed snails. This foam is commonly used to pack electronic items for shipment. Poly foam is 1/16″ thick and comes in rolls. It’s extremely lightweight and stands up to water, soil, and sunlight for reuse.

I found several variations of this foam, many have perforations every 12″, however, this roll is a continuous roll that is cut to the length you prefer. While Farida recommends cutting your seed snail to about 10 cm in width (about 4 inches), polyfoam comes in 12″ wide rolls. Simply cut the polyfoam to the width you prefer.  A few options might be 6″ wide seed snails getting two seed snails out of every length, or cut into 4″ seed snails, to get three seed snails out of the same length. The length of your seed snail can vary based on your needs, however, 30 to 36″ is a manageable length.

Seed Snail Material Options

Polyfoam is extremely cost-efficient (you might already have some lying around) however some gardeners are opposed to the use of plastics in their garden. A few alternate options include the use of fabrics, either new or recycled. Burlap, linen, cardboard, or heavy paper like lawn and leaf bags are other more natural solutions that are biodegradable. For those not opposed to the use of plastics,  bubble wrap is a popular choice, or precut lengths of Visqueen can be used as well. We like to reuse as much as we can. I am making my seed snails using grain sacks cut 4″ to 5″ wide, using the length of the bag as the length of my seed snail. 

Creating a Seed Snail

Once you have chosen the fabric for your seed snail, cut to your desired width and length. Premoisten your seed starting mix or well-rotted compost. I started with 3 parts potting soil mix to one part water. You want to create wet soil like a thick brownie batter that sticks together. 

Next, lay your seed snail fabric on a flat work surface. Layer your potting soil mix the length of the fabric about 3/4″ to 1″ thick. Press the garden soil down with your hands to help pack it and keep it in place. Be sure to leave 1 to 2″ at the end to allow you to seal the seed snail.  You may also find it is easier to roll the seed snail if you leave an inch or so at the starting end, try it both ways to determine which method works best for you. 

Carefully roll the fabric as you would a cinnamon roll. Once you have rolled your seed snail, secure the end by taping it, or secure it with twine or large rubber bands.  Once finished, stand your seed snail up and you will see the “snail” shape where this method gets its name. Using your finger, or narrow tool, gently pack the soil surface to create an even planting surface. 

Planting your Seed Snail

Plant your seed snail just like you would traditional seed starting. Follow the guidelines of your seed packets to the depth recommended for the type of seed. Small seeds may be simply patted into the soil. While larger seeds are planted to the recommended depth of the seeds you are using. To help your seedlings germinate, cover the top of your seed snail with a plastic bag to create a mini greenhouse. Once the seedlings have germinated, you can remove the plastic bag. 

I highly recommend planting only one type of seed per seed snail. Make shorter seed snails if you need fewer seeds. Not all the seeds will germinate making it nearly impossible to identify what’s what when it’s time to plant the garden.

Space Saving Seed Starts

The best thing about seed snails is that the footprint of each seed snail is so much smaller than the same amount of plants potted in individual seed starting cups. Farida shares that seed snails allow you to take full advantage of every inch of space on your sunny windowsills! Since I live in an RV, and windowsill space is lacking, I stood several seed snails up in a single planter that allowed me to bottom water the seed snails. We kept them outside and covered them with visqueen to create a greenhouse effect. 

Watering Your Seed Snails

Start with moistened potting soil when planting your seed starts. Before germination, it’s best to water from the top, a spray bottle or small water container works best to gently water your seed snails. Once the seed snails have germinated, bottom watering is recommended to encourage deep roots. 

Seedling Maintenance

The best thing about using seed snails is that it is not necessary to up pot your young seedlings! As your seedlings grow, you may see signs of yellow leaves, or possibly naked roots inside the seed snail.  Simply unroll the seed snail and add more moistened multi-purpose compost. Roll the seed snail back up and allow the seedling to continue growing. 

If you feel that your seed snails are overcrowded and some plants are not thriving, rather than the old way of thinning your seedlings. Gently unroll the seed snail and remove the weaker seedlings. Rather than waste the seedlings, you can pot up, using more traditional seed transplanting methods, or create a new seed snail with the tiny seedlings. 

Extending your Growing Season

Seed snails have another advantage in that the bottoms of the seed snails are open. If your seedlings have become larger and their roots are extending longer than the width of your seed snail. Plant the entire seed snail into the soil of a larger pot, container garden, or open ground in a high tunnel. This makes the seed snails even easier to care for, as their roots will continue to grow deep into the soil. This will allow you to extend the life of the plants growing in the seed snail until you have time to transplant them into their final home! Once you are ready to transplant, gently dig up the entire seed snail to separate the seedlings to plant them in the growing space. 

Transplanting the Seedlings

Check your seedling packets to determine the best time to transplant your seedlings into the garden. You will want to harden off your seedlings like any other seed-starting method.  Place your seedlings in full sun for a few hours each day, increasing the length of time outside until the seedlings are accustomed to their outside environment. When ready to transplant, unroll the seed snail and gently separate the seedlings. Since the roots have been allowed to grow long, rather than in a confined seed starting container, they easily pull apart for transplant. Plant according to the best-growing practices of each plant. 

Simplest Method 

Seed snails are not only simple, but they are cost-efficient! Not only do they use less soil than traditional seed starting, but they also use a lot fewer materials and require less upkeep. Special thanks to Farida Sober for inspiring not only me but gardeners around the world with her space-saving seed-starting technique. 

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