Best seed planter

A seed planter makes starting off vegetables and flowers an easy and efficient garden task. We’ve found the top designs around.

Seeding Square seed-sowing template
(Image credit: Seeding Square)

Whether you grow crops for the table or want to make putting in flowers a simpler task, a seed planter is worth investing in. It can help you get better results with the seeds going into the ground at the right depth, and correct distance apart, too. The best model for you will depend on the volume of seeds you want to plant and the area in which you’ll be planting, as well as your budget. Take a look at our brilliant selection. 

Best overall

Seeding Square seed-sowing template

(Image credit: Seeding Square)

Seeding Square seed-sowing template

Have fun

This seed planter will make maximum use of the area you have available to plant vegetables. Use the planting chart and color-coded holes to space the seeds of 46 types of veggies correctly. The included dibber allows the planting depth to be measured, too. The fun design will tempt kids to get growing, and it’s ideal for both beginner and experienced gardeners, too.   

Best for straight rows

Earthway 1001-B precision garden seeder

(Image credit: Earthway)

Earthway 1001-B precision garden seeder

All-in-one

Speed up with this seed planter, which opens a furrow, places the seed, and closes the furrow with a single pass. The seed hopper holds enough for half-acre gardens, so it’s great for big plots. You can swap between plates to put in the seeds of veggies such as sweet corn, leeks, spinach, carrots, beans, and more at the right depth and distance apart. 

Best value

Zenport GA401 dibber

(Image credit: Zenport)

Zenport GA401 dibber

Sharp spike

For smaller volume jobs, this low-cost seed planter could be all you need. It can puncture even difficult soil to make holes for the seed, and the measurement units on the spike are easy to see. It’s comfortable to hold, and lightweight to make the work less fatiguing. 

Best for ease of use

Coolrunner 6 pack sowing seeds dispenser set

(Image credit: Coolrunner)

Coolrunner sowing seeds dispenser set

Handy kit

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly way to make placing seeds more accurate, this planter set has your name on it. The seed dispensers have five different size outlets to suit, and there are three included. You’ll also get a dibber to get the depth correct, along with two widger and dibbers ideal for planting in trays or pots. 

Best for comfortable working

Chapin 8701B garden push seeder

(Image credit: Chapin)

Chapin 8701B garden push seeder

Suits 20 seed types

Another of our selections that’s great if you like growing your own food, this seed planter will make planting rows with the right intervals an efficient task. There are six interchangeable plates so it’s suitable for putting in veggies such as beans and peas of different sizes, sweet corn, and leafy greens. A cushioned grip makes pushing easier on your hands. 

Best gift

Gardtech seeding garden tool set

(Image credit: Gardtech)

Gardtech seeding garden tool set

Attractive design

This seed planter kit will keep any gardener in your life happy. It contains an appealing wooden-handled dibber with a chrome-coated stainless-steel head with clear depth markings. There’s also a seed dispenser with a size dial, plus there are 40 bamboo labels to use as a reminder of what’s gone where.  

Our verdict

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Give seeds the best start in life with a planter to help you place them. Our number one choice is the Seeding Square seed-sowing template, which can be used for 46 different types of seeds. Creating accurate spacing, it will allow veggies to go into the ground as densely as possible without compromising healthy growth. 

Gardeners who want to bring as much home-grown food to the table as possible should check out the Earthway 1001-B precision garden seeder. It will cut the number of tasks you need to do when planting vegetables as it plows, places the seed, and closes the furrow in one pass. It measures depth and distance for a host of popular vegetables, too.

Sarah Warwick
Freelance writer

Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor writing for websites, national newspapers, and magazines. She’s spent most of her journalistic career specialising in homes and gardens and loves investigating the benefits, costs and practicalities of home improvement. It's no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house revamper.