Sowing seeds with your little ones is such a wonderful experience and a fantastic way to get them engaged in every step of the growing a garden journey. In this latest Little Muddy Boots blog, we explore the best seeds to sow for little hands…as well as the ‘official’ roles you can give your children to make seed sowing fun!
Let’s get started
Preparation is Key
Before you invite your little ones to join you in seed sowing, it’s important to get everything ready. Make sure you know what seeds you’re sowing, and place your peat-free compost into a bucket or tub for easy access. Add some small scoops for them to use. If you’re doing this indoors, consider laying down a tablecloth or messy mat for extra protection!
Selecting Seeds to Sow with Children
Certain seeds are perfect for little hands to plant and care for. Look for seeds that are larger, easy to handle, and grow quickly. Here are a few that are especially fun for kids:
- Cucumbers – Easy to handle and great for growing in pots or small spaces. Plus, who doesn’t love fresh cucumbers in the summer?
- Peas – A great seed to sow, and kids will enjoy seeing the pods grow and picking them when they’re ready.
- Radishes – These are quick-growing and have a satisfying harvest. Kids can see the roots develop and enjoy the crunchy snack at the end.
- Pumpkins – While they take a bit longer to grow, kids love the idea of growing their very own pumpkin, especially for Halloween!
- Beans – Large enough for small hands to manage, and they grow fast, making them perfect for impatient little gardeners.
- Marigolds and nasturtiums– These bright flowers are easy to plant and add a cheerful touch to any garden.
The Roles
As we mentioned at the start of the article, there are some very important roles for your little muddy booters. These roles will make them feel engaged, responsible and involved in the seed sowing.
Chief Pot Filler-Upper
Let your little gardeners fill the pots or trays with compost. This step is bound to get messy, and yes, you might need to top up or empty out a few times, but it will make them happy. Plus, getting your hands in the soil is scientifically proven to release happy endorphins!
Master Seed Picker
Allow them to choose which seeds to sow from your preselected pile. This will make them feel like they’re making important decisions and really contributing to the process.
Champion Label Writer
This step can vary depending on the child’s age. If they can write, let them label the pots—it’s a great way to practice handwriting while keeping them engaged. For younger children, give them the same tools and let them decorate the labels instead. The outcome is just as beautiful, and their creative contributions will add personality to each label!
Seed Putter-Inner
The seeds listed above are perfect for little hands but this doesn’t exclude other seeds. Herbs like coriander are great to sow and cosmos seeds are also easy to handle seeds. Show them how many seeds are needed in each pot, and let them place the seeds in. Don’t forget to cover them with compost once they’re done.
The Queen or King of Watering
Don’t use a normal watering can at this stage as this will very likely result in drowning the seeds. Use a bottle mister, indoor watering can with a rose or recycle an empty bottle (adding some holes to the lid) to make your own seed water sprinkler. The kids can squeeze the bottle, and a fine shower emerges from the nozzle—just perfect for delicate seedlings.
There you have it! These are our top tasks and roles for your little muddy booters to enjoy while sowing seeds with you. This is just the beginning of a magical growing journey!
You can also be involved in the joy of seed sowing and join one of our Little Muddy Boots classes where we sow, plant, grow and eat our own fruit and vegetables.
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