- First decide what you want to grow, and purchase your seeds. Instead of a big garden this year, we decided to start seeds for cooking herbs that will go in a small kitchen garden. Also, some lavender. Not all seeds need a head-start indoors, so you’ll want to do a little homework. The information you need can usually be found on the back of the seed packets.
- Gather your supplies. Wash and dry your yogurt cups. Carefully, use a drill or knife to make a small drainage hole in the bottom of each container. Make your own seed-starting medium or purchase seedling soil from the garden center. I opted for convenience this time and picked up a bag of seedling soil from the garden center. It was reasonably priced and saved me the dirty job of mixing it up myself. You’ll also need a garden trowel. Since my 9-year old would be using it, I picked a small plastic one that worked great.
- Moisten the seedling soil some before placing it into the pots. Have your children fill all the seedling containers with soil. Kids have so much fun with this step!
- Kids can also place the seeds into the little pots. Some seeds are very small, so younger children may need some assistance. Poke a small hole into each pot, sprinkle in a few seeds and gently fill the hole with soil. Some seeds require deeper planting, so be sure to read the back of the seed packet for directions. If have a variety of seeds, it may be a good idea to label them. Popsicle sticks and a marker work great!
- Water seeds after planting. Be careful. A stream of water can dislodge seeds. In my experience, children have a tendency to over-water, so we mist using a large spray bottle now.
- Your seeds need water to germinate, so check daily to make sure the mix stays moist, but not soggy.
- Most seeds germinate best in warm conditions, so move your seeds to a warm spot. Also, if your air is very dry, you may need to cover with plastic wrap.
- Germination time varies, so I recommend keeping a seed planting journal so you’ll know when to expect your seeds to sprout. It’s a wondrous moment when that first seedling emerges!
- Good light is essential to plant growth. When you see the first signs of germination, move the plants to a light-filled area.
- Once seedlings have grown enough and have true leaves, you can transfer them to a larger pot.
Reference: https://www.aboutamom.com/upcycled-seed-starting-project-for-kids/
Recent Comments