That being said, when it does work, it’s great.

So here are some ideas:

First, you’ll need a vacuum of some sort. I used one from a kids’ inflatable swimming pool we happened to have. A shop vac might work, but it would probably be pretty loud.

Second, the seeder itself consists of 1″ PVC pipe. You can get a 24″ length of it at the hardware store for a couple of dollars. Get a slip-on end cap to close off one end, and a ball valve for the other end to adjust the airflow. If the hose from the vacuum fits into or over the ball valve, then that’s all you need. If it doesn’t, you may have to experiment to find something to connect the hose to the pipe.

I got the nozzles for free from this company: http://www.biopointescientific.com/. Click the link to get their free sample. It contains a variety of sizes.

Cut the PVC pipe a bit longer than the tray you’re seeding into. Drill holes along the length to match up with the cell spacing in the tray. Place the nozzles into these holes. You’ll probably have to experiment with the hole size to get the nozzles to fit snuggly. You might also have to cut the tip of the nozzles to fit the seed size.

On the end of the pipe opposite the cap, drill a 1/4″ hole. You’ll put your thumb over this hole to direct the vacuum through the nozzles. You’ll uncover this hole to stop the suction through the nozzles and drop the seeds into the cells. Make sure the hole is on the opposite side of the nozzles (it’s easier to use that way).

Finally, slip the ball valve over the open end of the pipe (the one with the thumb hole), and connect the vacuum hose to it. That’s it.