Watching a plant grow is magical for kids. But you don’t need magic beans to grow a beanstalk (nor will it cost you a cow), especially when beans are one of the easiest and cheapest vegetables to grow. All they need are sunlight and water. Try these 3 steps and within 7 to 10 days of planting, your child will see he’s planted "magic" beans as well. Make your DIY Jack in the Beanstalk with these simple steps.
You’ll need:
- Pot
- Saucer
- Gardening ties
- Stakes
- Potting soil
- Bean seeds of any variety
Optional Item: A Giant figurine, a hen, gold coins or other small objects from the story!
Step 1: Sprinkle in five beans -
Place the pot on top of the saucer. Fill the pot ¾ full with potting soil. Sprinkle in five beans two inches a part. Top off with an inch of potting soil.
Step 2: Push in a stake -
After patting the soil, push in a stake or two. The stake(s) will help the bean plants grow upright.
Optional: Using a plant tie or an adhesive, attach a ‘giant,’ ‘gold coin,’ ‘hen’ or other objects from the story onto the stake. (This optional step will not help the plant grow, but it may grow your child’s imagination.)
Step 3: Water the beanstalk -
Water morning and night, and place your beanstalk where it will get plenty of sunlight. Within 7 to 10 days, you will start to see "magic" sprout. When your beanstalks grow taller, tie them to the stake(s) using the gardening tie to ensure an upright growth.
Your kids will enjoy learning and growing their very own Jack and the Beanstalk for weeks and weeks! Best of all, you can harvest the beans and put them into your favorite soup or chili recipe!
Check out these other Spring Activities here and watch out for real giants who might want to come live in your beanstalk!
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