Herb Garden for Kids

Instructions:

Read the directions on the back of each seed packet paying special attention to “planting depth”. Most herbs need only a small amount of covering when just starting.

Lay out newspaper on a table to create a workspace for you and your kids.  Parents can poke 5 to 8 small drainage hole into the bottom of each cell for drainage. Place the entire egg carton on a cookie sheet or use tinfoil on each cell by folding it up around the edges to catch water.

Have your child decorate the back and inside of the egg carton (not the cells) as they want to with crayons, markers, stickers, figure, etc.

Help your child spoon soil into each cell.  Fill each cell about ¾ of the way and then spoon a little water over the top to moisten them (or use a spray bottle to moisten them with water).

Now have your child place a few seeds in each cell (making sure the same kinds of seeds are in the same cell). Cover the seeds with just a bit more soil and moisten again (we recommend the spray bottle here so that the seeds don’t move or accidently get washed out). 

Show your child how to write each herb name on a popsicle stick.  Stick the popsicle stick in the soil making sure not to disturb the seeds. (We did two cells of each kind of herb).

Drape a large sheet of plastic wrap over the egg carton and set somewhere warm (such as the top of a T.V., water heater or refrigerator).  Keep the seeds moist, but not soaking wet (keep spraying with the water bottle). As soon as you see the first sprout appear, set in a sunny windowsill.  Make sure you and your kids keep watering the plants, and water more often as they get larger.  As soon as the plants get too large for the egg carton you can replant them into a larger containers or into your garden if there is no risk of freezing. 

Enjoy your herbs!

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You will need:

Seed-starting potting mix
Spoon
Permanent Marker
Plastic Wrap
Tin foil or cookie sheet

Newspaper
Herb Seeds
Cardboard Egg Carton (1/2 or whole is fine)
Sewing needle
Decorations (crayons, markers, stickers, etc.)