Seed Planting

Time

4 3 2 1 Early-Mid Stages

Benefits

What you need

Egg carton
Plastic tray
Plastic wrap
Wooden pegs
Soil
Small garden trowels
Seeds. The best for May are:

Sunflowers
Nasturtiums
Sweet peas
Poppies
Calendula
Lupins

Intro

Spring is one of the most beautiful times of the year, when Britain awakens from its wintry slumber and bursts into bloom. It’s also the perfect time to encourage gardening to get people outdoors and breathing fresh air.

This hands-on activity is a fabulous sensory experience, as everyone is encouraged to touch the soil, feel it between their fingers and enjoy the earthy aromas. Then once the seeds germinate and bloom, they can experience a huge sense of accomplishment and pride.

The Activity

Starting the seeds off inside gives the plants the best chance of survival, and it might work in your favour too, if it’s not that warm outside.

Give people their own egg carton and plastic tray, and encourage them to fill each hole with soil
Get them to choose the plants they want to grow – it can be just one variety or a selection
Tell them to poke a ¼ inch hole into the soil with their finger, then fill with at least two seeds and cover in soil
Place the egg cartons on the plastic tray and water them. The tray will help to contain the water
Cover the cartons in plastic wrap to keep them warm and humid.
Place the cartons somewhere warm
Write each persons name on the pegs and put them in the cartons
Encourage each person taking part to take care of their seedlings and watch for sprouting
Once they begin to germinate, unwrap the plastic and place the cartons in direct sunlight
After a while, the plants will be ready to be re-potted in the garden
Give each person their own space in a flowerbed, and help them to replant their seedlings into the ground, marking each section with their matching wooden peg
Gardens can be visited whenever they wish, watering and watching their gorgeous flowers blossom