Cow Bean Planters

While searching and trying to find kids gardening activities, I came across Kids Growing Strong. This site still has areas under construction, but this project is too CUTE!



Create a seed starter planter-Recycle and Celebrate the Cow...all at the same time.

Here's how....

We use the black and white spotted beans called Vaquero beans that we get from Rancho Gordo because they resemble he hide of the Holstein dairy cow, but any bean seed will do. Other black and white bean seeds are Orca, Dalmation, Ying and Yang beans. Appalossa and Calypso beans are maroon and white resembling Ayrshire dairy cows.

"Proof" your seeds....fast-start the sprout:



To do your best to make sure the seed has its best chance of growing, it is best to jump start the germination process. Soak the beans in water overnight. Just put them in a glass or jar and cover them with water. The beans will absorb the water and start to swell. Don't leave them in the water more than a day. There is a baby plant inside the seed waiting for water, heat and air to germinate. If you soak them too long, the plant will drown and you have the beginnings for bean soup!


Next, fold a damp paper towel around the swollen seed(s) and put the bundle in a plastic bag. Set the bag aside for a few days. A warm spot out of the way is a good choice. The seeds need a little warmth to grow... but not enough heat to cook them!

In a few days you can start to check the seeds. you will see that they split apart and a little plant will start to sprout out from between the two halves. You can now be sure which seeds are viable and are ready to go into the dirt.

Make the Cow Bean Planter

MATERIALS:

•about a coup or two of potting soil or good dirt

•a sprouted seed

•empty toilet paper tube

•scotch tape

•scissors

•a piece of "genuine paper cowhide" (download and print from the Printables page)

•a cow head cut-out (download and print from the Printables page)

Get your supplies ready

Draw a line about 1/2" to 3/4" around the end of an empty toilet paper tube. Make slits down to the line about every half inch.

Fold the slits over closing the end of the tube to form a bottom. You may want to add a piece of tape to secure.

Wrap a piece of "genuine paper cowhide" around the tube. (Download from the Printables section of the website. Just use half the sheet.)

Fold the edge(s) of the paper over the edge(s) 0f the tube. If you need to, secure the paper with a piece of tape to keep it from unrolling. 

Fill the tube to about one inch from the top with good soil. Tap the tube on the table to help the dirt settle in the tube.

Select a healthy seed that is sprouted and put it on top of the dirt in the tube, 

Cover it with dirt to the top of the tube. Tap again to make sure it all settles.

Cut out a cow head from the  Printables  sheet and stick it into the tube. You can attach a popsicle stick if you want to, but it is not needed.

Once the plant grows to about 4 or 5 inches, you can take off the "cow hide" and plant the whole tube in the ground in late spring or summer or in a container the rest of the year.


Bean seeds need the long days of summer to produce bean pods, but the plant will grow green even in winter if you keep it in a warm, very sunny spot in front of a window.