Stupid ? of the day: What kind of beans do I use for showing how beans grow?

[HappyGrace]

Would I just use dried kidney beans, or what? I want to just do the simple preschool type experiment of planting a bean in potting soil and watching it sprout. I can't believe I don't know this! :blush: Thanks!

[Tina in WA]

Lima

Wrap it in a moist paper towel and seal in a baggie. Check daily until the root sprouts. Then plant in a pot. Va-la... a wonderful sceince experiment for wee ones. :D

[HappyGrace]

And does it matter how old they are? I have some in my cupboard but they're really old. Thanks!

[LG Gone Wild]

And does it matter how old they are? I have some in my cupboard but they're really old. Thanks!

I had some kidney beans (which usually work) but they were so old, they didn't sprout for dd.

[Pata]

We have used pinto beans. I soaked them in water for 24 hours, then planted them. You can see the results on my blog. I two weeks they are over 6 inches tall!

[GailV]

I would use whatever beans you have on hand, but try soaking them in water first to start the sprouting process, just like Paige did. Try about 5 beans. If they don't sprout you haven't lost anything except a little time and 5 beans. Then go buy some fresher beans if you need to. Get something you want to have anyway, be it pinto or kidney or lima. I can't stand lima beans (early childhood trauma), so I'd go for something else, but that's just me.

Hmmm, I wonder what would happen with black beans or lentils or garbanzos .... Off to rummage through the cupboards.

[Carmen_and_Company]

We use pinto or lima beans. We also sprout wheat & other grains using canning jars, water & cheese cloth.

[Jenstet]

Being spring Wal-Mart has their seed displays up. I would grow green beans.

[Rosie_0801]

I'd buy a packet of peas, myself. They grow faster than beans. If you want to grow beans, you can plant whatever you have in the cupboard. Soak them for a few days until they sprout, then stick them in the garden. If they're too old, they won't sprout. If you can get them to grow, make sure you save some seeds for next year! For supermarket shoppers, the idea that seeds *for* plants actually come *from* plants can be pretty amazing.
:)
Rosie

[Diane]

I've used Kidney beans. I wet a paper towel, put it in a cup, then put a few beans that had soaked over night, and waited for sprouts. We got tons. :001_smile:

[Tonia]

We also sprout wheat & other grains using canning jars, water & cheese cloth.

Can you share the details of how to do this? Thank you! :)

[frogpond1]

and they did sprout- but the did also mold! DH didn't soak them though, so next time he'll soak them first overnight. The baggies are fun because we put one in the dark, one in the light and one in the refridgerator.

[HappyGrace]

I ended up getting new kidney beans since I was worried about the lima beans being too old. I'm going to soak them overnight first and then try the baggie/paper towel way. Thanks again!