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Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science (Forum Locked Forum Locked)
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EmilyK
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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

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Chris V
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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.

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guitarnan
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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.

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Chris V
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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

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MaryM
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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.

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MaryM
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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

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EmilyK
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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!

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MaryM
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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!


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