Spring has sprung – at least in most areas. I love to grow seedlings, and this project is a fun way to get a jump on your garden-fresh veggies by growing lettuce indoors. Your children will love to help! You can replant your new seedlings outdoors in warmer climates, or you can raise them in a container indoors. A sunny but cool windowsill will work wonders for bringing a bit of spring into your homeschool. Are you ready to get growing?
For this activity, you will need:
A heavy-duty lock-type freezer bag (pint- or quart-sized)
Fill your plastic bag three-fourths full with moist, organic soil.
Sprinkle a little pinch of seeds over the soil surface; be careful not to use too many, or the plants will be overcrowded. Cover the seeds lightly with about 1/8 inch of soil. Cut the corners or poke small holes in the bottom of the bag to allow for drainage. We set our bag in a large plastic container to avoid a mess.
Spray the seeds lightly with water and close the bag, leaving approximately 1 inch of the top open. Set the bag in a sunny window. When you see little green shoots, open the bag so the plants have room to grow and breathe. Keep it in a sunny location and water as needed to keep it moist.
Lettuce will grow quickly in warm temperatures, but it is a lot healthier when grown under cooler conditions (65 to 70 degrees F).
As your plants grow, you can start cutting the leaves for your smart, homeschooled salad. It's as easy as that. ENJOY!
Lisa Barthuly is a wife, a mother, the owner of Homestead Originals and the author of the Homestead Simplicity e-book series.Contact her at email@example.com.