In April, welcome the spring blooms with your littlest ones at a Seedlings class. Seedlings is a wonderful experience for kids ages 3 to 5 and their caregivers where we learn about nature, explore the Garden and play outside. For four Wednesdays in April, we’ll be investigating the theme of water in the desert.
Here is a fun activity for you to do with your little ones at home. Growing a kitchen scrap garden is one of those simple activity that is fun for the family. It’s a chance to take leftover vegetables and watch them sprout back to life right on the windowsill. It’s hands‑on, low‑mess and full of tiny discoveries each day. For young gardeners, seeing roots appear or new leaves unfurl is an easy way to connect with nature, learn where food comes from and feel proud of something they helped grow.
What you’ll need:
- Empty containers (glass or plastic)
- Toothpicks (optional)
- Cutting Tool
- Vegetable scraps like:
- Lettuce – root ends
- Green Onion – root ends
- Celery – root ends
- Carrot – tops
- Turnip – tops
- Radish – tops
- Sweet Potatoes
- Water
- Light
Assembly:
- Assemble the containers and vegetables you are going to use.
- Chop up your veggies and save the scraps for your kitchen scrap garden.
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- If using carrots, turnips or radishes: Cut a piece off 1 inch down from the top. Place each top piece into a shallow pool of water. Make sure the water doesn’t fully cover the top.
- If using sweet potatoes: Place the sweet potato into a container with the wider end facing down. If you want, you can elevate the end by sticking toothpicks into the side of the sweet potato so it rests on the edges of the container.
- If using lettuce, celery or green onions: cut off the root ends from the leaves or stems. Place the root ends in a container of water that will keep them upright and supported. Make sure the water doesn’t fully cover the root ends.
- Place your containers on your kitchen counter or on a bright windowsill.
- Monitor the water level and refill if needed. Change out the water at least once a week.
- Now sit back and watch the magic happen! Look for signs of new growth and talk with your child about what changes you witness.
What’s Going On:
Plants have a superpower – the ability to grow new plants from a variety of sources, including seeds, cuttings, and other plant parts or tissues. This is called plant propagation. Some plants, like the veggies on your counter, are able to grow new tissue through a process called vegetative propagation. If you put a plant cutting in the right environment, a place with light and some water, the plant will respond with new growth. This process takes time, so be prepared to observe new growth over a period of a few weeks. Soon you’ll have bright spots of green growth all across your kitchen counter!
Once your kitchen scrap garden is underway, keep an eye on the new shoots, roots and leaves that appear over the next few days and weeks. It’s a simple way to watch plant growth up close and spark curiosity at home.
If your family enjoys hands‑on nature activities, the Garden has plenty to explore this spring. Programs include Rusalka, The Littlest Mermaid, Cactus Clubhouse play sessions and April Seedlings classes. After experimenting with your own kitchen scrap garden, come visit and keep the learning going.
