This is a great activity to keep children (and adults) busy during the winter months using the humble toilet paper roll. (As usual, I have included links to Amazon, and we receive a small commission if you buy anything from these.)
Start by assembling your supplies. You will need:
some old toilet paper rolls
something to stand your seed starter pots in (we used old takeaway containers)
something to decorate your pots with (We used felt tips but poster paints would also work. Just make sure you use something water-soluble if young children will be using them, so they can wash it off their hands afterwards.)
seeds suitable for sowing in winter. Check the seed packet to see if they are suitable for starting indoors and what months you can plant them in.
We had a rummage through the seed drawer and found broad beans, rocket and sweet peas. Broad beans are particularly good for little fingers.
Start by decorating the toilet paper rolls.
Once you have six or so decorated, stand them up in the tray.
Now you can fill them with compost.
Pop a seed into each one and cover that with a little more compost.
Finally, finish with a sprinkle of water and pop onto a south-facing window sill. In a few weeks you will have sturdy little seedlings that can be transplanted into the garden once the chance of frost has passed. The great thing about these seed starter pots is that you can plant the whole thing straight into the ground, so you don't risk damaging the seedlings. (With time the toilet paper roll will decompose.)
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