How to Plant Sunflower Seeds With Kids

Getting kids interested in gardening is easy, especially if they can grow their own sunflowers. Sunflower seeds are big enough for small fingers to take hold of and plant in the soil. Planting sunflowers gives kids a way to learn and watch seeds germinate and how they grow. Depending on the type of sunflowers you and the children are planting, the mature flowers can be left to dry and the seeds eaten for food by people and birds that frequent your garden. Have your children plant sunflower seeds in peat pots, because sunflowers do not transplant well. Start the sunflowers indoors, then plants them in a garden, where the peat pots will decompose in the soil.

Things You'll Need

• Peat pots
• Potting soil
• Sunflower seeds
• Popsicle sticks
• Markers

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Cut open the bag of potting soil, and have each children fill his own peat pot with soil.

   • 2

     Show the children show to stick their finger into the soil to make a hole. Make sure the holes are about 1/2 inch deep, or up to their first knuckle.

   • 3

     Give each child take one sunflower seed, and instruct them to put it into the hole and cover the seed with soil.

   • 4

     Guide the children in writing their name with a marker on a Popsicle stick and putting the stick in their pot.

   • 5

     Model for your children how to gently water a sunflower pot, and let them water their own. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy wet.

   • 6

     Guide your children in placing their pot in a tray or flat, and put it in a sunny window.