Learn about what it takes for a plant to grow starting from a tiny little seed. This activity should ideally be done in mid to late spring so that once your seeds have sprouted, they can be transplanted outside to grow in a warm, natural environment for the summer.
Planting species that are native to the area is very important. Native plants are ones that would naturally be found in a specific place. It is important to use native species of plants because it makes the ecosystem more healthy by preserving biodiversity in the area and giving native wildlife something to feed on and a place to live.
Check out the following websites for information on which species are native to Alberta:
What You'll Need
Seeds of the plants you would like to grow (try to get native plant species and avoid invasive flower species)
Small gardening pots (You can also use paper cups, flat-bottom ice cream cones, or planting trays like in the photo above)
Gardening soil (if you don't have any, it is inexpensive to buy some from your local greenhouse)
A shovel or large spoon to scoop the soil
Water
A sunny place to put your plants (or a lamp to put them under)
What to Do
Collect all of the necessary materials. You can choose to plant as many seeds as you want. Just make sure you will be able to take care of all of the ones you plant.
Place planting soil in each pot, almost up to the top. Make sure you aren't packing the soil down, so that the roots can grow freely in the soil.
Press your finger into the middle of the soil about an inch deep to create a small hole to place the seed.
Place your seeds in the holes you have just created and cover the seeds, filling the hole up with soil and patting it down gently.
Place your seeds in a location with lots of sunlight and don’t forget to water them!
Once it is warm enough outside and your seeds have grown into sprouts, they can be transplanted into a garden outside so that they have direct sunlight and natural nutrients from the soil. Also, planting your sprouts outside is great for pollinators, like bees and butterflies.
Ask Yourself
What do plants need to grow well?
Plants can make their own food. Do you know what this process is called?
Did you plant different types of plants? Which ones grew faster?