If you are talking about growing them all the way inside, hopefully you have a sunny window.

How about Marigolds? The seeds are large and easy to handle. They germinate quickly and easily, and also grow and bloom rather quickly.

Yes, I have one wall in my room that is ALL windows! I love it, the sun and all the warmth. Do they have those at walmart? Is there anything unusual or different that I could also grow?

Thank you!

Britnie,
What age are your students and what zone are you located?
Lizzy

I'm assuming that your students are young. Beans are large, easy to handle and germinate quickly, especially if they are soaked in water overnight. Just put about 3 seeds in a soil filled styrofoam cup and remember to punch a few drainage holes in the bottom. After the class has finished their observations they can take them home and plant them in their yard. If you want something that will mature in a short time you could let them plant a few radish seeds. Some varieties will mature in a month. You can get seeds in a Walmart or any store that has a garden section.
Karyn

Yes, you can get Marigold seeds at Walmart, usually different sizes. Colors vary between yellow and deep orange. Here is the thing with "unusual" stuff, they are usually hard to grow. I grow many different flowers, common and unusual. But, you probably want to choose something that is fairly easy, that will give results before early June, and that is somewhat limiting. As far as something different, I'm trying to think of stuff that you could get to decent size indoors, and that would bloom or produce something. Beans are easy to grow, but you would not get fruit inside IMHO.
Petunias maybe? (Tiny seeds though) I'll try to think of something else.

How about sunflower seeds? I remember when we planted these in school...ohhh so many many years ago. Everyone planted a seed and I guess the teacher must have planted some extras just in case, because I can't remember anyone in class who didn't get to take one home to plant. You can get these seeds at any Wal-Mart or even your local dollar store.

My sons class planted Morning Glory seeds last year. By Mothers Day, every child had a small pot to bring home to Mom. That was a 4th grade class.

Dolichos lab lab are large seeds, germinate easily, and are a little different than ordinary beans. This is a vining plant, so you don't want to start it too early. Other things that start easily: Zinnias, all kinds of squash, cucumbers, onions, tomatoes.

I am also including a link that you might find useful.

Eleanor

Here is a link that might be useful: Kids Gardening

Hi Britnie,

I have to smile when I write to you, because my friend sitting behind me is a science teacher and she wanted me to write her thoughts out to you.

She said what would really be cool is showing the difference between dicots and monocots...so if you could have them grow some corn or ornamental grasses(or even crop grains) you could give them examples of monocots. And if you live in or near a farming area, feed stores would surely have wheat/rye/corn seed at bulk prices.

From there you could go into a lot of different things for the dicots. I think the morning glory idea is neat but you might want to do some research on the hallucinogenic properties of ingesting the seeds. Pepper seeds would be really cool to do...as well as tomato seeds(easily found anywhere) Soaking the pepper seeds for a day or two would help germination, and with tomatoes you could show how they will root all along the stems when they get transplanted.

You could also have the kids do some experimenting with the seeds as well. Have some groups soak their seeds, others not soak them....and see how germination is affected(i.e. length, percentages, etc.). You could also have the kids put the germinating pots in different areas...say like over a radiator or in a closet to see what happens with the germination process(warmth,light variables).

Boy I would have fun with this one:)! If you have any other questions, just email...and good luck with the experimenting and growing!

m

I vote for Nasturtiums or Four O'Clocks. Big, easy to see seeds and they are both unusual. Well, not really, but most people don't grow them and you can buy them from the garden center. Zinnias, too, but a windowsill might not be enough sunlight.

Lime

I've had the best luck with the following classroom windowsill plants: petunias, marigolds, celosia, coleus, lobelia, green beans. Go for the short varieties.

Each fall, I bring in my long,outdoor deck railing pots with the old plants taken out. The dropped seeds germinate for a winter full of flowers! What a treat!

I found that there are a few kids who love to deadhead and clean up the pots. They will drop their coats and books as soon as they walk in and go directly to the plants...future gardeners, for sure!

begonias,african violets,sweet potatoe vine

I vote for Portulaca seeds. There are unusual, germinate very easy and can be conatiner grown if some kid's Mom's don't have flower beds. Cheap seeds at Walmart, Home depot or the local hardware store.

Make sure you buy enough seed so each child can put two seeds in, that way you are more likely to have each child get a plant.

Batchelor buttons and sunflowers grow quickly and are quite hearty seedlings. You can get a good idea of the number and relative size of seeds in a package by shaking it and listening. One package should do it. Individual lunch milk cartons work well for planting. They are a good size for little hands, and don't tip over easy. Rinse well and push the tops in. Dixie cups work also but tip much more easily. Most stores reduce greatly the price on potting mix that the bags have been broken. I just take in a plastic bag to put the whole shebang in so I can transport without a mess. Beware the cheap "Hyponex" brand. It's truly awfull. Many flowers planted now will be great for Mother's day gifts. Happy planting!

I have grown a vegetable garden with my students. We started lettuce tomatoes pumpkins and for the north facing window grew a curtain of cucumber vines up strings. You must start very early as ours produced for the summer school class. We made salads with the garden produce and each kid took home a pumpkin in the Fall which was planted earlier in the Spring. The children learned to love gardening. We grew nasturtiums for the library flower beds and kept them weeded and watered.