How to Grow Lima Beans in a Jar

Would you like to combine a science experiment that your children will enjoy for months to come? Try growing lima beans in a jar. It teaches them basic Earth science and gives them something they can plant in the family garden later in the spring.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Quart size glass jar
• Saucer or shallow bowl
• Several sheets of paper toweling
• Dry lima beans

1. Fill a saucer or shallow bowl with water. Place 4 lima beans in the water and soak several hours.

2. Wash the glass jar to remove any remaining chemicals or spices. Rinse carefully with cold water. Pour out the water, but do not dry the jar.

3. Fold 5 to 7 sheets of paper toweling in half. Lay the sheets on top of each other and curl into a circle. Squeeze the paper toweling into the quart jar and adjust so the outer layer of paper toweling lies smoothly against the inside of the jar. You may have to adjust the amount of paper toweling to get this right.

4. Peel back a portion of the paper toweling and carefully place a lima bean between the paper and the glass jar, a little more than halfway down the jar. Repeat with the other lima beans. Be careful not to squash the beans.

5. Fill the jar with water and then pour out the excess. Place the jar in a warm, bright place, like a kitchen window. Add water often to keep the paper toweling wet. Rotate the jar every day so that all the beans take turns facing the window.

6. Watch the beans. They will begin to swell, then split. Then a small root will grow out of the bottom of the bean, reaching for the bottom of the jar. Soon, a small shoot will grow out of the top of the bean, reaching towards the top of the jar. When the temperature outside is warm enough, transfer the plants to your outside garden.

7. Have your children write a report, keep charts or color pictures--whatever they can do--to record this experiment.

Tips & Warnings

• Try this experiment growing different vegetable seeds in separate jars. Label each jar. Note the similarities and differences in the seeds' growth.
• Give your children a section of the family vegetable garden to grow their seeds.
• If you live in an apartment and don't have a yard, move the plants to flower pots and place on the patio to grow.
• Supervise young children around glass containers.

[momtchr]

on 5/18/2009 I am about to try to grow beans with my boys. Thanks for the good tips! 5*

[snowfairy]

on 3/19/2009 Thanks soooooooo much now I really understand how to plant lima beans.