Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login
Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
 4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Subject Topic: starting seeds inside Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message << Prev Topic | Next Topic >>
EmilyK
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie
Avatar

Joined: April 25 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 20
Posted: March 11 2010 at 9:31am | IP Logged Quote EmilyK
We are amateur gardeners at our house. I'd like to have a little "watch the seed grow" project, but have no clue what would be a good plant to try. Will just anything do?

If you've done this before OR just know something about plants, let me know:)
Emily

__________________
Emily
Mom to Sophia (2003), Will (2006), Nicholas (2008), New Baby due Aug 2010
Back to Top View EmilyK's Profile Search for other posts by EmilyK
 
Chris V
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Dec 03 2009
Location: Washington
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1598
Posted: March 11 2010 at 9:39am | IP Logged Quote Chris V
We planted an Herb garden last week! My girls had such fun. I usually get all my produce at our local CSA farm, which we have a share at, and that includes herbs. However, to make it a good little project for my girls (and if we 'fail', I still get all those good herbs at the farm).

They each have their own planter, put in their own soil, seeds, and are responsible for watering and tending to (though at this stage, the 'tending to' means staring at the dirt for hours on end, waiting, waiting, and waiting, for a sprout to pop up out of the dirt). Eager little beavers they are!

We planted basil, cilantro, thyme, chamomile, and rosemary. ... I'm looking forward to the chamomile! I've never grown that before.

__________________
Chris
Happy Wife with my Happy Life
Mama to My Five Girls ('04~'07~'09~'11~'11)
Back to Top View Chris V's Profile Search for other posts by Chris V
 
guitarnan
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 10883
Posted: March 11 2010 at 10:02am | IP Logged Quote guitarnan
If you want to see the seed sprout, roots and all, you can take some black construction paper (or a paper towel, but the plant shows up better next to black) and line a clear plastic cup with it. Dampen the paper; put a few seeds (beans work well) between the cup and the paper. Keep damp and in a few days you'll see sprouts.

__________________
Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
Back to Top View guitarnan's Profile Search for other posts by guitarnan Visit guitarnan's Homepage
 
Chris V
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Dec 03 2009
Location: Washington
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1598
Posted: March 11 2010 at 11:19am | IP Logged Quote Chris V
guitarnan wrote:
If you want to see the seed sprout, roots and all, you can take some black construction paper (or a paper towel, but the plant shows up better next to black) and line a clear plastic cup with it. Dampen the paper; put a few seeds (beans work well) between the cup and the paper. Keep damp and in a few days you'll see sprouts.


Now, there you go! This might make growing plants, in general, a bit more exciting to the eager 5 year old! Thank you for the suggestion , we'll have to get that started today

__________________
Chris
Happy Wife with my Happy Life
Mama to My Five Girls ('04~'07~'09~'11~'11)
Back to Top View Chris V's Profile Search for other posts by Chris V
 
MaryM
Board Moderator
Board Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
Posted: March 13 2010 at 11:37am | IP Logged Quote MaryM
It's really fun to do the type of viewing experiment Nancy suggested using a variety of seeds to compare characteristics - like time to sprout, rate of growth, type of roots/shoots. If you use different types of seeds (monocots, dicots) you see how different the sprouts are.

The "cot" - cotyledon is the "seed leaf" that the seed puts out when it sprouts. A monocot has a single seed leaf and a dicot has two seed leaves. This observation can only be made when the seed is just sprouting.

Monocots have short fibrous roots that stay close to the surface. Dicots have a long, central tap root that goes deep into the ground. Dicots may also have other roots, too, surrounding the tap root.

Some good (fairly easy to grow) seeds to use of each kind to observe these differences.
Dicots - lentil/bean (which Nancy recommended), sunflower, radish, cucumber
Monocot - corn, wheat, onion

Another option for viewing seeds sprouting, in addition to the way Nancy described, is to plant them in soil but push them up against the side of the clear cup/jar when planting so the soil is behind them but the seeds are visible and will sprout against the clear viewing area. You can also sprout seeds in a plastic baggie on a damp paper towel.

I have more sprouting experiment ideas, but will have to get back with those later.

__________________
Mary M. in Denver

Our Domestic Church
Back to Top View MaryM's Profile Search for other posts by MaryM Visit MaryM's Homepage
 
MaryM
Board Moderator
Board Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
Posted: March 15 2010 at 3:05am | IP Logged Quote MaryM
Another idea is modify the sprouting environment of a specific seed. Egg cartons make great seed trays. You can cut the cups off to place separately in cold (refrigerator) and warm (near heater). light (window) and dark (closet) environments. Have one you water and one you don't. etc. then compare the results of germination time and growth.

Some fun books to go along with seed and sprouting studies:
A Seed is Sleepy
What do Roots do?
Seeds
The Vegetables we Eat

__________________
Mary M. in Denver

Our Domestic Church
Back to Top View MaryM's Profile Search for other posts by MaryM Visit MaryM's Homepage
 
EmilyK
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie
Avatar

Joined: April 25 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 20
Posted: March 15 2010 at 11:41am | IP Logged Quote EmilyK
UPDATE:
We planted radish seeds and green bean seeds in a clear milk jug on 3-11-10. One radish has already sprouted up. I'm simply amazed. So is DD!

Thanks for all the information!

__________________
Emily
Mom to Sophia (2003), Will (2006), Nicholas (2008), New Baby due Aug 2010
Back to Top View EmilyK's Profile Search for other posts by EmilyK
 
MaryM
Board Moderator
Board Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
Posted: April 10 2010 at 2:19pm | IP Logged Quote MaryM
Lowe's (the home and garden store) has "Build and Grow" Clinics with woodworking projects for kids. They are on Saturdays, several times a month. The project for next weekend, April 17, is a planter with a clear front to watch plants grow.

Quote:
See It Grow Planter: Earth Day is right around the corner! Start the celebration early with Lowe's and this cool See It Grow Planter!


__________________
Mary M. in Denver

Our Domestic Church
Back to Top View MaryM's Profile Search for other posts by MaryM Visit MaryM's Homepage
 

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login
If you are not already registered you must first register

  [Add this topic to My Favorites] Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com