When it comes to kids' gardening projects, sowing seeds is hard to beat. The magical process of planting a seed and watching it turn into a plant has real wow factor, plus the chance to get really hands-on always appeals to little ones. Seed sowing is a brilliant way to learn about nature and the plant life cycle too.
Giving children responsibility for growing and taking care of their own plants will also help to maintain their interest in gardening. The added bonus of growing plants from seed is that it's a thrifty way to garden. A single packet of seeds has the potential to create a large number of plants, so you can fill your garden with flowers or grow a bumper harvest for very little cost.
Tips for successful seed sowing with kids
Sowing seeds is an easy gardening project for kids to tackle, but there are a few tips and tricks that help to make it a success.
• If possible, use child-sized gardening tools (like this Bigjigs tote and gardening tools set) as these are much easier for kids to handle. A trowel and children's gardening gloves are all you really need for seed planting.
• Try to set up your seed planting equipment at a height that kids can reach while standing up. This makes it easier for children to use tools and control where the compost and seeds are going. A portable potting tray (try this tidy potting tray or this foldable mat) comes in very handy here; you can put it on any flat surface where it will keep everything in one place. If you can't plant while standing, kneeling on the ground is a good alternative.
• A seed sowing session is the perfect time to explore how plants grow with kids, including pollination and the role of plants in the food chain.
• Try not to interfere too much. Show your child what to do, then let them get on with it. And be prepared for a bit of mess – you can clean up together afterwards.
Great seeds for kids to grow
When choosing seeds to grow with kids, you need varieties that are easy to handle, not too fussy about the way they're planted, and require little maintenance. These seven options are a good place to start.
1Sunflowers
Sunflower seeds are nice and big, so they're well-suited to small hands. Sunflowers will grow happily in a pot, or you can plant them out into the garden once they're established. There are so many varieties to choose from; try 'Giant Yellow' for show-stopping blooms, or 'Teddy Bear' for a fluffy, compact plant.
Plant your seeds in spring for summer flowers. You can plant them earlier, but you will need to protect them from cold temperatures by starting them off in a greenhouse, cold frame, or indoor windowsill. You will probably need to support the stems with garden canes as the plants grow.
It's fun for each family member to grow a sunflower plant so you can have a height competition – just remember to name your pots!
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2Cosmos
Cosmos is straightforward to grow and will fill your garden with daisy-like flowers for very little effort. It's also a fantastic plant for bees and other pollinating insects, and provides lovely cut flowers to take indoors.
Plant the seeds in spring, sowing thinly in pots. Once the seedlings get going, remove all but the strongest plant in each pot. When they're about 15cm tall you can transfer your plants to a bigger container or a garden border. You might need to support plants with garden canes to keep them upright.
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3Nasturtiums
If you're a bit behind with the seed sowing, nasturtiums are great candidates for summer planting. They germinate easily, grow quickly, and can cope with poor soil and a bit of neglect. The bright orange flowers are also edible, making them a fun plant for kids to grow.
Nasturtiums are trailing plants, so they work really well in pots and hanging baskets. You can start your seeds off in small pots, transferring them to their final location once the plants are established, or plant them directly into the soil. If you go for the second option, make sure you get the kids to write a plant label and mark where they are.
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4Salads
Growing edible plants is a nice way to encourage kids to try new flavours. Planting salad seeds in summer is ideal for eager little gardeners because they grow so fast – you can start harvesting in just a few weeks. A mixed packet of seeds makes it easy to try a few different varieties.
Salad seeds tend to be small, so it's a good idea to put some on the palm of the hand and practice taking little pinches of seeds before you start sprinkling them onto your compost. Growing salad in pots or trays makes it easier to protect the leaves from hungry slugs and snails. You can sow salad seeds every week or so throughout summer to provide a continuous supply of leaves.
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5Wildflowers
For truly low-maintenance seed sowing, go for wildflowers. You simply throw them onto bare soil, press them down lightly, water them, and leave them to do their thing.
A mixed packet of wildflower seeds will create a lovely natural meadow effect. Choose a sunny spot, and remove any weeds before you start. You can plant wildflower seeds in spring, but autumn is the best time to plant them because it gives them time to get established over winter and should create a more impressive display the following summer.
Wildflowers are a rich source of food and shelter for pollinating insects, wild birds and small mammals.
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6Windowsill herbs
As temperatures and daylight hours start to drop in autumn, it's a good time to take some of the seed sowing indoors. A windowsill herb garden is a great little project for kids; they will see results really quickly, and you don't even need a garden to do it.
There are lots of varieties of herbs you can grow indoors. Coriander, basil, mint, chives, parsley, sage and tarragon are all good options. Plant one variety per pot, scattering the seeds thinly and covering them with a sprinkling of compost. Label each pot, then water and place on a sunny windowsill.
They can dry out pretty quickly, so check the soil regularly and water if necessary. You should see seedlings appearing about a week after planting, and can look forward to a harvest within a few weeks.
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7Sweet peas
Sweet peas bloom in late spring and summer, but you can start them off in winter if you can give them a bit of protection. Doing this will give you bigger, more robust plants earlier in the year, and you can keep the seed sowing going when not much else is happening in the garden.
Sweet pea seeds are quite large, so children should be able to handle and plant them easily. Start them off in pots or trays, and protect them from cold weather by growing them in a greenhouse or cold frame. Plant them out in spring; they'll be happy in containers or a border.
Sweet peas are climbing plants, so you need to support them with garden canes or grow them against a trellis. They make fantastic cut flowers, and if you keep snipping off a few stems they will carry on blooming right through summer.
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Catherine HughesCatherine is a freelance journalist and author based in the East Midlands.
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