Dana Ecelberger; Gardener at Hand

We all know that feeling: Will winter ever end? Well, the good news is that Yes! It is going to end, and soon. Already the days are getting longer and the sun warmer, even through the raindrops and snowflakes. Invisible to our eyes, the spring bulbs and fruit buds are starting to swell and gather their strength to push up through the soil and into flower. It isn’t too soon to get ready for summer now. Whether you want to have a few veggies and herbs in deck pots, or you’re dreaming big, now is the time to gather your ideas and sow some seeds!

Planting a garden is a great opportunity to bring the family together. Kids love to get their hands dirty, to watch seeds sprout and to water the seedlings as they unfurl their fresh green leaves. Beans and tomatoes are two vegetables that are perfect for kids to start at this time of year. No matter whether you are in sunny California or snowy Michigan, you should be able to get these two going in your sunniest window where they can happily grow until the soil warms up outside.

What you will need:

• Damp paper towels
• Organic potting mix (Black Gold Organic is readily available)
• Recycled yogurt or milk containers for “pots”
• A watering can with a sprinkler head (your kitchen sink spray nozzle will work also)
• Saucers to put under the “pots”
• Popsicle sticks for plant labels
• A sunny window
• Bean and tomato seeds. You should be able to find seeds at your local nursery, drug store or home improvement center. A few choice bean varieties are: Purple Podded Pole Beans, Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans, and French Market Bush Beans.  Tomatoes come in a wide variety of sizes, colors and varieties, but a few of my favorites are: Green Zebra, Sweet Million Cherry, and Pineapple. Kids love cherry tomatoes as they are plentiful and sweet, easy to eat, and fun to pick.

1. Have your kids make labels for each variety you will be sowing. This gets them involved and excited about the project.
2. Get some paper towels nice and wet and lay them out on a cookie sheet or other flat surface.
3. Lay the tomato and bean seeds in between two wet paper towels, making sure to keep the different varieties separate and labeled.
4. Keep the paper towels damp (but not submerged in water) until you see the seeds begin to sprout (2-4 days). This is a very exciting moment for children and adults alike! Take a moment to carefully look at the emerging sprout. One of the wonders of nature, for me, is that a sprouting bean seed looks very much like an embryo. See if you can see it.
5. Poke some holes in the bottom of your yogurt or milk container pots for drainage; 5 or 6 holes made with a nail or skewer should be fine.
6. Fill the pots ¾ of the way with the potting soil.
7. Water the pots thoroughly and let them drain for 10 minutes or so.
8. With your index finger, poke a hole up to your middle knuckle in the potting soil and carefully place the sprouted tomato or bean seed in the hole and cover it gently with potting soil.
9. Water gently and label the pot.
10. Set the pot on a saucer in a sunny window and keep it moist.
11. Within 7 to 10 days your plants should start to grow.
12. Keep the plants watered, but not soaking wet, until the weather is warm enough for transplanting outside. You can also move the plant into a bigger pot as it grows too large for its baby pot.

Check back in March for more tips on how to grow your own herbs and veggies for fresh and delicious taste treats all summer long. And, happy growing!