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Grow a Sunflower at Home ~ Just in Time for National Seed Swap Day

National Seed Swap Day is January 25th

By Dawn Ballway ~ Atomz Lab January 22, 2020

Sunflower's look happy! Their bright-yellow faces are a big smile on a summer day. Not only do the flowers make people happy, sunflower plants provide food for birds, squirrels, and many other small animals that love to eat the seeds that appear after the flower's petals have fallen off in late summer. 

 

Why do you think a sunflower fits its name?  It looks like the sun, it loves lots of sunlight, and it points its flower head toward the sun.  It’s also one of the fastest growing plants!


National Seed Swap Day, the last Saturday in January, serves as a reminder to gardeners that spring is on its way. It’s also an ideal time for gardeners to gather and swap seeds in preparation starting seeds indoor. This year, swap some seeds with your friends - or even host a little seed swap party. Give away sunflower seeds and include these instructions for planting them! 



Here's how to plant a sunflower seed:

  • Cut a water bottle in half.  Poke holes in the bottom and place on a plate.
  • Fill bottle 3/4 way with dirt.
  • Poke some holes in the dirt with a pencil or crayon and drop a sunflower seed into the holes.
  • Cover with dirt.
  • Water and put near a window that provides lots of sunlight.
  • Remember what a sunflower needs to grow!  Water, soil, and sun.
  • Sunflowers turn toward the sun throughout the day.  Why?  They do this to get heat from the sun throughout the day to be able to grow so big.


About AtomzLab:

International studies show that the United States continues to lag behind other countries in students' knowledge of science and math.The poor rankings for U.S. students in these major tests provide alarming evidence that most of our students are not being prepared for a world that is shaped by science and technology. Many people in the United States understand that in order for our society to remain competitive in an advanced technological era, a good science education is critical. AtomzLab fills that void - using fun, engaging activities that appeal to children of all ages. AtomzLab is available as an after-school program in a number of schools throughout Union County, offers field-trips and homeschool programs and is one of the BEST birthday parties in the Charlotte-area. 

For more information about AtomzLab, visit the website or contact them directly.