Fresh watercress greens will enliven and decorate the Easter table. Therapeutic effect This plant was known by the Persians 400 BC. Gradually it penetrated into India, Egypt and Greece. It was first used as salad greens in England in 1548. In some countries, for example, England, Holland and France, this plant is grown commercially - used as an ingredient for baguettes.
We won’t find it in stores, but it’s not difficult to grow it on the windowsill at home. In winter it will supplement the lack of vitamins and for Easter it will also decorate the festive table.
Cultivation.
It can be grown in an apartment or heated greenhouse all year round, in the summer - in the garden.
In the garden.
Grows best in moist, fertile soil not directly sun rays. We sow the seeds in rows at a distance of 10-15 cm, scattering them on the surface, in as a last resort lightly sprinkle with substrate and sprinkle with water. Keep the soil moist because once the seeds dry out, the sprouts will die. If you leave the plant to grow, which is approximately 2-3 weeks, you will have to collect the leaves. Young shoots should be collected before the flowers appear, otherwise they will be bitter later.
At home.
At home, instead of a substrate, we use a cotton cloth folded 2-3 times. You can also take several paper napkins or a layer of cotton wool for this purpose. Place a towel folded several times or paper napkins on a shallow plate or tray (the water should remain in the plate) and pour water over it. Sprinkle the seeds thickly onto the water-soaked material and spray it with a sprinkler (the seeds should not float in the water). Place the plate with the seeds in a warm, bright place, keep the towel (or cotton wool or napkins) damp. The lettuce grows right before our eyes, germinating on the second day after sowing. After about 7-10 days, when the first two leaves grow and the plant grows 6-13 cm, you can begin to collect it. Thanks to the short growing season, we can always have fresh, vitamin-rich greens. It is enough to use 2-3 plates or trays, planted at intervals of several days. The shoots are trimmed with sharp scissors. If mold attacks the plant, get rid of it immediately and start again.
Fill the cotton with water.
Sprinkle the seeds thickly straight from the bag.
Keep the material moist.
This is what the shoots look like after 2 days...
And so in a week.
Photo by Taitlova.
Where are watercress shoots used?.
In medicine.
Lettuce shoots contain a wide range of vitamins, such as C and B vitamins, minerals and trace elements - potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, glycosides, mustard oil, folic acid and many others. This makes it ideal for treating certain diseases. Fresh leaves support the immune system, digestion and appetite, have anti-inflammatory properties, help with anemia and fever. It is recommended to consume 1 tablespoon per day.
While preparing for Easter, I came across a wonderful Easter decor idea on the Internet: sprouting cereal grains in eggshells.
Sprouting grain is a very simple process and, moreover, very exciting and educational. Therefore, this bright craft for decoration festive table For Easter, we decided to make it together with our three-year-old daughter.
We bring to the attention of all creative mothers and grandmothers our small master class:
Easter decor: barley sprouts in eggshells
Time to make crafts: 7 days.
Tools and materials:
- cardboard tray with 6 large chicken eggs(preferably with a white shell);
- watercolor paints;
- brush;
- a jar of water;
- barley grains (you can also germinate wheat, corn, millet, oats, soybeans, watercress for Easter, or use a special grain mixture for germination for parrots);
- cotton wool;
- saucer;
- soil for indoor flowers or seedlings;
- small plastic spoon;
- watering can or plastic bottle with a narrow spout;
- magnifying glass.
The first day: Preparatory chores.
On the morning of the weekend, my daughter and I went to the market, where, on the advice of a neighbor who germinates cereal grains for Easter every year, we bought barley.
Upon returning home, we prepared a flat saucer, covered its bottom with a thin layer of cotton wool, which was generously moistened with water, and placed barley grains on the saucer in a single layer.
Having soaked the barley grains for germination, we began preparing the eggshells:
- thoroughly washed raw eggs warm water with soap;
- Having beaten the sharp end of the egg, carefully freed the shell from the contents;
- removed small fragments, leaving approximately 2/3 of the eggshell intact;
- again thoroughly washed the shell, this time from the inside, trying to remove as much as possible the thin film from the walls;
- dried the shell.
Second day: Freedom of children's creativity.
The next morning we had to get up early and get ready for kindergarten. As usual, neither persuasion nor compelling arguments in favor of the need to attend a preschool institution had an effect on my daughter. But our child instantly responded to the invitation to look at the sprouting barley grains, jumping out of bed in one easy jump.
To finally drive away the dream, we decided to look among our natural history equipment for a magnifying glass. And what did we see when we looked through the magnifying glass? Several grains sprouted tiny white sprouts as the first roots of barley began to emerge. The day started with good news!
To prevent the grains from drying out, we added water to the saucer so that the barley seedlings were constantly in a moist environment.
Inspired by the successful start of the process of germinating grains for Easter, in the evening of the same day my daughter and I began decorating eggshells that would serve as pots for barley sprouts.
I confess that at first I really wanted to paint the shells of eggs with natural dyes: in yellow- turmeric and in blue - a decoction of red cabbage leaves. But it turned out that natural paints they “take” very poorly on the shells of raw eggs.
Without thinking twice, I suggested that my daughter correct my mistake and paint the shells prepared for germinating barley with watercolors. And at the same time, decorate the cardboard tray at your own discretion. And she happily got to work.
Soon we were already admiring the result of children's uninhibited creativity.
Day three: Great responsibility.
I think you have already guessed how our next day began. Of course! From contemplation through a magnifying glass of sprouted barley grains, which by this time had already managed to sprout small roots.
In the evening we took on the most important part of the work of germinating barley for Easter: planting the grains in the ground.
First, we placed the painted eggshells in a cardboard tray decorated using the free-form technique.
Using a small spoon, fill the prepared shells ¾ full with potting soil.
Sprouted barley grains were carefully placed in each shell in one layer.
The sprouted barley was sprinkled with a small amount of soil on top.
Well, anything to do to develop coordination of movements and fine motor skills child?!
The planted seeds were watered.
When watering, it turned out that the bowl from a baby mixer was not the best equipment for this purpose. And in the absence of a watering can with a narrow spout, we later used plastic bottle with drinking nozzle.
Day four: First shoots.
Again, quickly getting up in the morning and observing the progress of grain germination.
The magnifying glass came in handy again; without it we would hardly have been able to clearly see the first tiny sprout that appeared in one of the eggshells.
As a bonus for diligent growth, barley grains receive their daily portion of water.
Day five: Confident victory.
There is no doubt that our careful care for the growing seedlings has brought its generous fruits: the barley sprouts are increasing right before our eyes, adding 1.5 cm per day.
Remember, grains need water to grow quickly! We water the seedlings so that the soil in the shell is constantly moist.
And at the end of the day the barley sprouts are already almost twice as tall as in the morning!
Day six: Cognitive retreat.
While our barley sprouts are enjoying the warmth of the spring sun and the moist nutrient medium for germination, there is time to provide a scientific basis for our hitherto only creative experiment.
For children preschool age It is easiest to assimilate educational material that is presented in a visual form. For example, in the form of pictures.
After a short search on the Internet, a wonderful series of educational pictures was found from a set of demonstration materials published by IP Burdin S.V. entitled “How Living Things Grow.”
Hello, dear readers and guests blog about everything you can do with your own hands! When tender green grass breaks through the ground, the soul begins to rejoice. So why not have a piece of this splendor at home? After all, this grass can be easily grown directly .
Besides, Easter is approaching. This will ideally complement a holiday composition and can become the basis for an unforgettable gift. And how cats love this greenery!!!
We will need:
- seeds;
- hydrogel;
- a piece of gauze;
- container for growing grass.
As you understand, we will be growing grass for Easter using hydrogel (for those who don’t know, these are small balls that, when they fall into water, absorb moisture and become large). Why this particular material?
A year ago, I wanted to present my relatives with Easter colors with candies in an unusual package - on the grass. The question arose: how to grow grass for Easter. After all, if you take plain soil, then the eggs and sweets will get dirty. There is also vermiculite, but mold appears in it due to moisture. Therefore, the choice fell on hydrogel.
Now the seeds. Oats are best suited for germination; they produce quick shoots and such beautiful juicy leaves. Only oats from the supermarket will not work, you need the one in the husk, the whole grain. If you don’t have the opportunity to go to the market and buy oat seeds, then here is my advice:
To grow grass for Easter, you can take parrot food that contains oats. You can certainly find it at your nearest pet store.
I also used small millet, it grows more slowly, the sprouts are less tall, which creates an “undercoat” in our green carpet.
How to grow grass for Easter
10 days before the holiday we dissolve the hydrogel. To do this, pour water into a jar and throw balls at the bottom. After 12 hours the gel will be ready for use.
We drain the water and place the swollen balls in a container where the grass will grow for Easter. For me these were ordinary plastic containers for salads.
Fold the gauze in half and cut it to the size of the container. We wet it in water and place it on our hydrogel. We turn away half of the gauze.
Cover with a second layer of gauze and place on the windowsill. Now our task is to spray the gauze 2 times a day to create the necessary moisture for the seeds. After a couple of days you will see the first sprouts.
We continue to watch the grass grow by Easter. It is advisable to spray the sprouts themselves every day, and add settled water to the hydrogel as the balls shrink.
This is the kind of grass I grew up with. Below you can see smaller shoots - this is millet, which creates additional density for our living decoration for Easter. If the grass has become too tall, you can safely trim it to the desired length.
In this master class dedicated to Easter, we will create such a beautiful indoor mini-lawn. It will be decorated with flowers, greenery and a bird's nest.
It is necessary to take into account that for a green lawn we will need to sow seeds lawn grass(or cereals), and also wait for their germination and growth for 10-14 days. Plus you will need already sprouted flower bulbs. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare for the production of this composition in advance, approximately 2 weeks before Easter. But then we will be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor long after the holiday. So, let's get to work!
What will you need to make the composition?
- A shallow container, preferably wooden (this will be the base for the entire composition);
- garbage bag or any other (for lining the bottom);
- fine gravel;
- sphagnum moss;
- ready-made universal primer;
- lawn grass seeds (or cereals - wheat, rye, oats);
- spray;
- garden spatula or spoon;
- sprouted flower bulbs (for example, tulips and muscari);
- scissors;
- artificial bird's nest, Easter eggs and other holiday decorations of your choice.
A wooden container, which can be found in a craft store, was taken as the basis for the composition. You can use any wide and low vessel for growing plants or even a deep dish for food.
How to make an Easter composition: work sequence
If you do use a wooden container, it is important to provide some kind of waterproof bedding on the bottom so that water does not spoil the box or leak onto the table. After all, we will grow a real lawn, even if it is very tiny.
To ensure that the water does not stagnate in the ground itself, but at the same time remains moist, we place fine gravel in a layer of 1-2 cm on the bottom of the container.
To properly regulate soil moisture, place a layer of sphagnum moss on the gravel.
Place a 3-4 cm layer of soil on the moss. Fill the container to the very top.
We sow seeds of lawn grass or cereals. They should be sown fairly densely, but well distributed over the soil surface. Next, sprinkle the crops with a very thin layer of soil and moisten the surface of the soil with a spray bottle so that the water reaches the seeds.
Now we place the container with the seeds in a warm place, for example, on a south window. At the same time, do not forget to moisten the soil surface with water every day using a spray bottle. After about 10 days, shoots will appear. You should end up with such a nice clearing with greenery.
Use a garden spatula or spoon to make a depression in our mini-lawn. You will need it to place the flower bulb there. Therefore, the size of the hole must be large enough for this.
Dig up pre-prepared bulbous plants from flower pots. In our example, these are tulips and muscari (mouse hyacinth or viper onion). Now, carefully, so as not to damage the roots, remove the remaining soil from the bulbs. This can be done with water.
Place the bulbs in the recesses, sprinkle with a layer of soil. At our discretion, we plant plants throughout the “flowerbed”. You can use flowers of different heights at different stages of bud maturation.
Alternatively, cut flowers can be used. To do this, you just need to update the cuts on them and insert them into our lawn. This composition is less durable than with sprouted bulbs, but is suitable for quick interior decoration and will also delight you with its appearance for 1-2 holidays.
If desired, the composition can be decorated with any greenery. Even parsley leaves. This will make the composition more textured, varied and will fill the voids between colors.
Place an artificial bird's nest with small eggs on the edge of the container. You should definitely come across such things in a craft store. This little addition will be the highlight of our spring lawn.
Don’t forget to water the mini-flower bed with a spray bottle, and it will certainly delight you on Easter and much longer. Now you can safely say that you have your own festive green lawn in your apartment or house!
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Sprouting wheat sprouts is not only alternative way transform and refresh your home for the spring holidays, but also good opportunity improve your health, correct your figure and saturate your body with useful substances and life-giving energy.
You will need:- wheat grains (it’s better to buy at the market, worse in supermarkets);
- soil for flowerpots or simple sawdust;
- spacious container at least 5 cm deep;
- paper napkins or cling film.
Since sprouted wheat is marked by the “Green Hill”, 12 Easter eggs can be placed around it, which symbolize the apostles, and in the middle there is one large and specially decorated egg, symbolizing Christ.
