Germinating Seeds in Jar for Kids

Piquing a child's interest in cultivating plants may be as simple as a few seeds and a jar. This growing project involves a straightforward process of adding heat, light and moisture to a seed nestled in a paper towel growing medium. Young gardeners watch seeds develop from simple seed to tiny sprout to a seedling with true leaves. Large seeds such as beans, corn, peas and pumpkin and smaller, fast-sprouting seeds like alfalfa and greens work well in jars. Both young and older children may participate in this project, though young children may need extra help from an adult.

Paper towels
Clean glass jar
Seeds
Water
Transplant container
Soil

Instructions

- 1
  Pull off five to 10 paper towels, form them into a roll and put the finished roll inside of your glass jar. If the roll does not fit inside of the jar, add or remove paper towels as necessary.
- 2
  Insert a seed into the jar between the paper towel roll and the side of the jar so that it is pressed against the jar's side and visible when you look into the jar.
- 3
  Add 1 inch of water to the jar to moisten the paper towel and the seed. The paper towel holds moisture against the seed, keeping it moist for germination.
- 4
  Place the jar into a warm, well-lit area but out of direct sunlight.
- 5
  Add 1 inch of water to the jar as the paper towel begins to dry out. Keep the paper towel roll moist at all times, but never soggy or excessively wet.
- 6
  Transfer the seedling to a larger container full of soil when it has developed a root system and has its first set of leaves.

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