Springtime Seed Planting with Little Hands
For my birthday, a dear friend gifted me a pair of cosy socks, a beautiful card, and tucked inside a little packet of Zinnia seeds. Such a thoughtful gift.
Master Four and I wasted no time getting started. We popped down to the garden store for a bag of potting mix, then came home buzzing with excitement. No big plan, just the promise of some seeds, sunshine, and time together.
Gathering Pots & Tools
First, we hunted around the garden for pots. To my surprise, we had quite a collection tucked away. Master Four grabbed a jug from his mud kitchen for scooping soil, one for me too, so we set about filling each pot.
Along the way we found a snail curled up inside one of the pots. With great care, my little gardener gave it a new home before carrying on with the task. We asked ourselves: How much soil should we use? Should we pat it down? Should we decorate the pots? I let him decide, enjoying the sight of his busy little hands and taking a moment to breathe in the spring air. That’s the gift of gardening… it slows you down and keeps you present.
Poking holes and planting seeds into garden pots
Planting the Seeds
With the pots ready, it was time to poke holes. How many? Again, more delightful questions. I poured a sprinkle of seeds into his palm, and together we tucked them into the soil, gently covering them up as if putting them to bed.
Next came watering. How much do they need? Another chance for curiosity and conversation, as he pieced together what he’d learned at kinder about how plants grow.
Gently watering the seeds to help them grow
Waiting for Blooms
We placed the pots in a sunny spot, washed our hands, and sat down for afternoon tea, our planting adventure complete.
Now we wait. Each day the pots invite us outside to check for sprouts, a small ritual that connects us to the rhythm of the season. I can’t wait for the day when little hands pick bright Zinnias from our own garden to decorate the table.
What a beautiful reminder that sometimes the simplest gifts, like a packet of seeds - can grow into moments of joy, connection, and memory-making.
Rediscovering garden ornaments and olds pots around the garden to plant the Zinnia seeds into
Family Garden Inspiration
Use what you have – Old pots, tins, or even kitchen containers make wonderful homes for seedlings.
Invite play into the process – Mud kitchen tools or sandpit scoops work perfectly for gardening with kids.
Let them lead – Encourage little ones to decide how much soil, how many holes, or whether the pots need “decorations.”
Make it a ritual – Checking the pots daily invites you outside and builds patience, curiosity, and care.
If you’d like more ideas to spark your garden adventures, you might enjoy this post from Sarah Clarkson on fragrant herbs and planting seeds or making seeds bombs with Bec Wilson.
