Summer is here and all around us plants are growing, emerging from tiny seeds that have woken from their winter slumber in the soil. As a gardener or farmer, spring and early summer in Montana is the time to follow nature’s lead and plant our own seeds for the summer season. This easy seeding activity is perfect for kids—and adults—of all ages.
MATERIALS NEEDED
- Egg carton
- Soil (You can buy organic potting soil or make your own with peat moss, perlite—volcanic rock that adds space to the soil—and organic fertilizers such as finished compost.)
- Seeds (Choose three varieties. Some great beginner seeds for this time of year are broccoli, sunflowers, and watermelon radish.)
- A garden or pots filled with soil
- Water • Sunlight • Time!
- Cut the lid off of the egg carton and place the lid underneath to serve as a tray.
- Fill the egg carton with soil. Do not pack the soil in, but rather gently fi ll so that the soil remains light and fl uff y, which will give enough space for tiny roots to grow.
- Make an indentation with your pointer fi nger in each of the cells. Seeds like to be planted about three times as deep as they are long. For most seeds, that’s about as deep as the fi rst knuckle of your pointer fi nger.
- Drop your seeds into the holes. Plant one seed in each hole, and plant four cells of each variety. Plant one variety at a time and label each cell with a popsicle stick before moving on. Gently cover the seeds with leftover soil and very gently water them, just enough to be moist.
- Now it’s time to care for these little seeds until they sprout. Keep them warm (60–75°F) and wet until they germinate (sprout). Once germinated, make sure they are in a sunny and warm location indoors.
- Keep watering your sunny seedlings and watch for their root systems to fi ll the egg carton cells. When they are ready, you should be able to gently pull the plants out with their roots and soil intact. When it is time to plant, fi rst place the seedlings in their carton outside for 24 hours before transplanting. This is a process called hardening-off , which prepares the seedlings for a life outdoors. Finally, these little plants are ready for the garden. Dig a hole for each one and plant, making sure the roots are all covered up with soil. Water regularly and watch your plants grow!
