Fresh green watercress will enliven and decorate the Easter table. Therapeutic effect This plant was known to the Persians as early as 400 BC. Gradually, it penetrated into India, Egypt and Greece. As a salad green, it was first used in England in 1548. In some countries, for example, in England, Holland and France, this plant is grown commercially - it is used as an ingredient for baguettes.
We will not meet him in stores, but it is not difficult to grow him on the windowsill at home. In winter, it will complement the lack of vitamins, and by Easter, it will also decorate the festive table.
Cultivation.
It can be grown in an apartment or a heated greenhouse all year round, in the summer - in the garden.
In the garden.
Grows best in moist fertile soil out of direct sunlight. Seeds are sown in rows at a distance of 10-15 cm, scattered on the surface, in last resort lightly sprinkled with substrate and sprinkled with water. Keep the earth moist, because as soon as 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 sheets. Young shoots should be collected before the flowers appear, otherwise they will be bitter later.
At home.
At home, instead of the substrate, we use a cotton cloth folded 2-3 times. You can take a few paper napkins or a layer of cotton wool for this purpose. We put a towel folded several times or paper napkins on a small plate or tray (the water should remain in the plate) and pour water over it. Pour the seeds thickly onto the material soaked in water and sprinkle with a sprinkler (the seeds should not float in the water). We put a plate with seeds in a warm, bright place, keep a towel (or cotton wool or napkins) moist. Lettuce grows right before our eyes, sprouts 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. Due to the short vegetative period, we can always have fresh vitamin greens. It is enough to use 2-3 plates or trays, planted with an interval of several days. Shoots are cut with sharp scissors. In the event that mold attacks the plant, immediately get rid of it and start again.
Water the cotton wool.
Seeds densely pour directly from the bag.
Keep the material moist.
This is what it looks like after 2 days...
And so in a week.
Photo by Taitlova.
Where Watercress Shoots Are 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 the treatment of 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.
In preparation for Easter, I came across a wonderful idea for Easter decor on the Internet: sprouting grains of cereals in eggshell.
Germination of grain is a very simple process and, moreover, very exciting and informative. Therefore, this bright craft for decoration holiday table for Easter, we decided to do 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 an eggshell
Time to make crafts: 7 days.
Tools and materials:
- a cardboard tray with 6 large chicken eggs (preferably with a white shell color);
- watercolor paints;
- brush;
- a jar of water;
- barley grains (you can also germinate wheat, corn, millet, oats, soybeans, watercress by Easter or use a special grain mixture for sprouting 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 sprouts 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 we moistened with plenty of water, and laid barley grains in a single layer on the saucer.
After soaking the barley grains for sprouting, we started preparing the eggshell:
- thoroughly washed raw eggs warm water with soap;
- having beaten the sharp end of the egg, carefully freed the shell from the contents;
- small fragments were removed, leaving about 2/3 of the eggshell intact;
- again thoroughly washed the shell, this time from the inside, trying to remove the thin film from the walls as much as possible;
- dried shells.
Second day: Freedom of children's creativity.
The next morning I had to get up early and get ready for kindergarten. As usual, neither persuasion nor strong arguments in favor of the need to attend a preschool institution affected the daughter. But to the suggestion to look at the germinating barley grains, our child immediately responded, jumping off the bed with one easy jump.
In order to finally drive away sleep, we decided to look among our natural science inventory for a magnifying glass. And what do we see when we look through a magnifying glass? A few grains sprouted tiny white sprouts as the first roots of the barley began to sprout. The day started with good news!
To prevent the grains from drying out, we added some water to the saucer, so that the barley seedlings were constantly in a humid 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 set about decorating eggshells, which will serve as pots for barley sprouts.
I confess that at first I really wanted to dye egg shells with natural dyes: in yellow- turmeric and in blue - a decoction of red cabbage leaves. But it turned out that natural paints very poorly "taken" on the shell of raw eggs.
Without thinking twice, I suggested that my daughter correct my oversight and paint the shells prepared for barley germination with watercolors. And at the same time decorate the cardboard tray at your own discretion. And she gladly set to work.
Soon we were already admiring the result of unrestrained children's 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 germinated grains of barley, which by this time had already managed to put out small roots.
In the evening, we took on the most important part of the work of germinating barley for Easter: planting grains in the ground.
To begin with, a painted eggshell was placed in a cardboard tray decorated using the freehand drawing technique.
Using a small spoon, filled the prepared shells ¾ with potting soil.
Sprouted barley grains were carefully placed in each shell in a single layer.
Sprouted barley was sprinkled on top with a small amount of soil.
Well, whatever occupation for the development of coordination of movements and fine motor skills child?!
Planted seeds were watered.
When watering, it turned out that a bowl from a children's mixer is not the best equipment for this purpose. And in the absence of a watering can with a narrow spout, in the future we used plastic bottle with drinking nozzle.
Day four: First shoots.
Again, a quick rise in the morning and observation of the progress of the germination of grains.
The magnifying glass came in handy again, without it we would hardly have been able to get a good look at the first tiny sprout that appeared in one of the eggshells.
As a bonus for diligent growth, the barleycorns receive their daily ration of water.
Day five: Sure victory.
There is no doubt that our reverent care for the growing seedlings has borne its generous fruits: barley sprouts increase right before our eyes, adding 1.5 cm per day.
Remember, grains need water to grow quickly! We water the seedlings so that the earth in the shell is constantly wet.
And at the end of the day, the barley sprouts are already almost twice as high 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 put a scientific base on our hitherto only creative experiment.
children preschool age It is easiest to assimilate educational material offered in a visual form. For example, in the form of pictures.
After a short search on the Internet, a wonderful series of informative pictures was found from a set of demonstration material published by IP Burdina S.V. titled "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 earth, 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 .
Plus, Easter is coming. This will ideally complement the festive composition, can become the basis for an unforgettable gift. And how cats love this green!
We will need:
- seeds;
- hydrogel;
- a piece of gauze;
- container for growing grass.
As you understand, we will grow grass for Easter on a hydrogel (who doesn’t know, these are such small balls that, getting into the water, absorb moisture and become large). Why this particular material?
A year ago, I wanted to give my relatives Easter eggs with sweets in an unusual package - on the grass. The question arose: what to grow grass for Easter. After all, if you take simple earth, then eggs and sweets will get dirty. There is also vermiculite, but mold appears in it from moisture. Therefore, the choice fell on the hydrogel.
Now seeds. For germination, oats are best suited, it is he who gives fast shoots and such beautiful juicy leaves. Only oats from the supermarket will not work, you need the one in the husk, 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, which includes oats. You can definitely find it at your nearest pet store.
I also used small millet, it grows more slowly, the sprouts are less tall, it turns out such an “undercoat” in our green carpet.
How to grow grass for Easter
We dissolve the hydrogel 10 days before the holiday. To do this, pour water into the jar and throw balls to 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 grass will grow by Easter. Mine were regular plastic salad containers.
We fold the gauze in half and cut it to the size of the container. We wet it in water and put it on our hydrogel. We turn off half of the gauze.
Cover with a second layer of gauze and put 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 observe the growth of grass for Easter. It is advisable to spray the sprouts themselves every day, and add settled water to the hydrogel as the balls decrease.
This is the kind of grass I have grown. Below you can see a smaller shoot - this is millet, which creates additional density for our living decoration for Easter. If the grass has become too tall, it can be safely cut 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 must be taken into account that for a green lawn we need to sow seeds lawn grass(or cereals), and also wait for their germination and growth within 10-14 days. Plus, you will need already germinated flower bulbs. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare for the manufacture of this composition in advance, approximately 2 weeks before Easter. But then we will be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor for a long time after the holiday. So, to business!
What is needed to make a composition?
- Shallow container, preferably wooden (this will be the base for the whole composition);
- garbage bag or any other (for covering the bottom);
- fine gravel;
- sphagnum moss;
- ready-made universal soil;
- lawn grass seeds (or cereals - wheat, rye, oats);
- spray;
- garden spatula or spoon;
- sprouted bulbs of flowers (for example, tulips and muscari);
- scissors;
- artificial bird's nest, Easter eggs and other festive decor of your choice.
As a basis for the composition, a wooden container was taken, which can be found in the store for creativity. 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
In the event that a wooden container is still used, it is important to provide some kind of waterproof lining on the bottom so that water does not spoil the box and does not leak onto the table. After all, we will grow a real lawn, even if it is very tiny.
In order for the water not to stagnate in the ground itself, but at the same time remain moist, we lay fine gravel on the bottom of the container with a layer of 1-2 cm.
For a good adjustment of soil moisture, a layer of sphagnum moss is laid on the gravel.
We lay a 3-4 cm layer of soil on the moss. Fill the container to the very top.
We sow the seeds of lawn grass or cereals. They should be sufficiently densely sown, but well distributed over the surface of the soil. Next, we sprinkle the crops with a very thin layer of earth and moisten the surface of the soil with a spray bottle so that the water reaches the seeds.
And now we place the container with the seeds in a warm place, for example, on the south window. At the same time, do not forget to moisten the surface of the soil every day with water using a spray gun. Seedlings will appear in about 10 days. You should get such a pretty clearing with greenery.
With a garden spatula or spoon, we make a recess in our mini-lawn. It will be needed in order 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 remnants of the soil from the bulbs. This can be done with water.
We place the bulbs in the recesses, sprinkle with a layer of soil. At our discretion, we plant plants throughout the "flower bed". You can use flowers of different heights in different stages of bud ripening.
Alternatively, cut flowers can be used. To do this, you just need to update the slices on them and paste them into our lawn. Such a composition is less durable than with sprouted bulbs, but it is suitable for quick interior decoration and will also delight 1-2 holidays with its appearance.
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 the colors.
On the edge of the container, place an artificial bird's nest with small testicles. You should definitely meet such things in a needlework 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 please 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 germ is not only alternative way transform and refresh your home for the spring holidays, but also good opportunity improve health, correct the figure and saturate the body beneficial substances and life-giving energy.
You will need:- wheat grains (it is better to buy in the market, worse in supermarkets);
- soil for flowerpots or simple sawdust;
- a spacious container at least 5 cm deep;
- paper towels or cling film.
Since sprouted wheat is marked by the “Green Hill”, 12 Easter eggs can be laid around it, which symbolize the apostles, and in the middle one large and specially decorated egg, symbolizing Christ.
