How to Grow Carrots in the Classroom

Growing vegetables indoors is an increasingly common gardening method, and it can also be a valuable teaching resource when executed in a classroom. Though you can grow many plants indoors, vegetables complete their life cycle faster than most other plant life. Carrots are a superior choice for this science project because they require less growing space than many other vegetables. Planting and caring for a plant in the classroom is the most effective way to demonstrate the life cycle of a plant to students.

Container
Scissors or craft knife, if needed
Screen lid, if needed
Tray, large enough to hold the container
Bottle caps or erasers, if needed
Potting soil
Carrot seeds
Water
Plastic wrap

Instructions

- 1
  Acquire a container for the project, preferably one that is clear so that students can monitor subterranean growth. Glass and plastic are both suitable options. The container must be at least one quart. Acquire a tray in which the container can sit. Clay pots are also an acceptable choice if monitoring the soil is not part of the project.
- 2
  Cut holes in the bottom of the container with scissors or a craft knife, to allow water to drain out of the soil. If you cannot make holes in the bottom of the container, remove the bottom altogether. Use a screen lid to cover the bottom. Many glass pet tanks come with a fitted screen lid, which is ideal for this step.
- 3
  Place the tank in the tray. Leave about 1/8-inch of space between the bottom of the container and the surface of the tray. If you have a screen on the bottom, that alone may prop-up the container. Place bottle caps or erasers under the four corners of the container to prop it up, if needed.
- 4
  Fill the container with potting soil. Leave one inch of space between the surface of the soil and the top of the container.
- 5
  Scatter seeds across the top of the soil. Cover the seeds with 1/4-inch of additional soil.
- 6
  Water the soil until you see water running out of the bottom of the container. Continue to water the soil once a day until you achieve the same level of saturation.
- 7
  Cover the surface of the soil with plastic wrap until seedlings sprout. Remove and replace the plastic wrap once a day when you water the soil.
- 8
  Place the container in a consistently warm spot, preferably near a large, south-facing window. Monitor the leaves for bugs or fungus.
- 9
  Harvest the carrots after 65-80 days when they reach mature size for their variety.

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