Gardening - 100 seeds

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CyndiA
Tenderfoot

Joined: 02 Jul 2004
Posts: 10

Posted: 02 Jul 2004 02:04 pm Post subject: Gardening - 100
seeds

I am working with 3 boys on the gardening merit badge. They
need to germinate 100 seeds. I thought it might be nice to
germinate seeds that would then be planted. Since it's
mid-summer, that kind of limits what they might work with here
in NC. Also, I am thinking it would be better to have fairly
large seeds, since the boys are the younger ages for Scouts.
Can anyone suggest a good selection for seeds for this part of
the badge?

Also, I would note that I had the boys do a no-till garden
with newspaper. That worked out great. They don't need to till
or turn the dirt. They didn't have to add fertilizer or bug
sprays. It's a very "natural" garden, and it has grown
beautifully. They have really enjoyed harvesting and eating
the things they have grown.

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wendas
Tenderfoot

Joined: 01 Jul 2004
Posts: 11
Location: NH
Posted: 02 Jul 2004 04:38 pm Post subject: Flowers

How about morning glories?

They are big seeds, they are easy to germinate in a glass of
water (does that make them too easy?).. They are fairly hardy
to be planted late, but I would not wait too much longer or
they may grow but never flower). I am just not sure about NC
climate.. NH is much milder th NC I'm sure.

Good luck, sounds like fun.

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CyndiA
Tenderfoot

Joined: 02 Jul 2004
Posts: 10

Posted: 02 Jul 2004 05:06 pm Post subject:

Hi Wendas--That sounds like a good idea. The easier the seeds
are to see and to sprout the better. The boys are to count for
germination rates on this one. That knocked out a lot of my
seeds for herbs and such, because they are so tiny that it
would be hard to count them to plant or to sprout in other
ways. I think the idea here is so they can see that not all
the seeds will come up. Not sure. But, they need to count what
they plant and what sprouts, so that seems to be what they
want the kids to see.

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steelgirl
Tenderfoot

Joined: 02 Jul 2004
Posts: 10
Location: North Carolina
Posted: 02 Jul 2004 06:44 pm Post subject: Seeds

How about sprouting mung beans? Like alfalfa sprouts but
bigger and easier to handle. AND, they can be eaten afterwards
(raw or stir fried in a Chinese Dish).

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CyndiA
Tenderfoot

Joined: 02 Jul 2004
Posts: 10

Posted: 03 Jul 2004 07:18 am Post subject:

Hi Steelgirl--I had noticed people talking about Mung beans on
Garden Web. Wasn't sure what they were. That sounds like a
super idea. I will have to get down to the garden store and
see what they have in stock.

I see you are from NC too (-: We're in the Central NC Council.
About 45 min from Charlotte.

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