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Plant some seeds

Sow some seeds and watch them grow.

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You’ll need

  • Permanent markers
  • Access to water
  • Sticky labels
  • A4 paper
  • Sticky tack
  • Plant pots (or empty, clean tin cans/yoghurt pots)
  • Seeds
  • Scissors or secateurs
  • Soil or peat-free compost

Before you begin 

  • Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. There’s also more guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.   
  • Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely. 
  • Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help. 

Planning and setting up this activity 

  • Check your seed packet for the best time to plant the seeds.
  • You could keep costs down by asking local garden centres or allotments if they can donate seeds, compost or soil.
  • If you’re planning to leave the plants in your meeting place, make sure you’ll be able to look after them.

Plant your seeds

  1. Explain that you’re going to plant some seeds. We’d recommend sunflower seeds.
  2. Give out the small plant pots, labels and marker pens. 
  3. Make sure to add names to the pots.
  4. If you want to, you may wish to decorate or paint the pots. 
  5. You may wish to make upcycled planters or try seedballs.
  6. Fill their plant pot with damp soil. It needs to be almost to the top.  
  7. Next, use a pencil to poke a hole in the middle of the soil, then put the seeds into the hole and cover it with soil. 
  8. Pour a small amount of water on the seed.  
  9. Place plant pots or in a spot that gets lots of sunlight, such as on a windowsill. This is ideal for sunflowers. 
  10. Always water your plants regularly. The seed packets will have watering instructions. Normally, small plants need watering near the base, and larger plants may need repotting. You could also label them.
  11. If planting outside, wait until the plants are strong and the risk of frost has passed.
  12. For sunflowers, once the heads turn brown, cut them off to dry. You can harvest the seeds or feed them to birds.

Reflection

This activity was all about planting sunflowers. What did you enjoy about this activity? How did you decorate your pot? What were you inspired by? What do you think will happen? How will you care for this sunflower?

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

You must run your activities in line with the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card) and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.

Gardening and nature

Everyone must wash their hands after the activity has finished. Wear gloves if needed. Explain how to safely use equipment and set clear boundaries so everyone knows what’s allowed.

Scissors

Supervise young people appropriately when they’re using scissors. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.

Heavy and awkward objects

Never lift or move heavy or awkward items alone. Ask for help or, if possible, break them down into smaller parts.

Food

Remember to check for allergies, eating problems, fasting or dietary requirements and adjust the recipe as needed. Make sure you’ve suitable areas for storing and preparing food and avoid cross contamination of different foods. Take a look at our guidance on food safety and hygiene.

Cooking

Teach young people how to use cooking equipment safely. Supervise them appropriately throughout. Make sure it’s safe to use and follow manufacturers’ guidelines for use.

  • Have accessible tools for gardening are available, such as left-handed tools, funnels for pouring soil or seeds, and raised planters. 
  • People could work with a friend, an adult or with a group. For example, if they may need someone to hold the plant pot while they pour soil in.  
  • Some people might not like how it feels to touch some materials or the different textures, such as toil. They could wear gloves, work with someone else or use tools to help them, such as trowels.  
  • Always check for allergies when gardening, such as peanut shells in compost, then adapt what you use as needed. This may include making sure no-one at home has a relevant allergy if the item will be taken home. 

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

Squirrels Let It Grow Activity Badge
Squirrels Exciting Experiments Activity Badge
Gardener Activity Badge
Cubs Gardener Activity Badge

If you'd like to harvest your seeds, hang the sunflower heads somewhere to dry. Then you can carefully brush off the seeds from the centre of the flower into a paper bag. Sunflowers can contain as many as 2,000 seeds!