Make a bean bed

Getting ready

Mung bean sprouts love to grow in the dark – so make your seeds a bed to sleep in!

Ask an adult to help you get together these things:

• empty plastic tray (like a blueberry or tomato tray)

• slightly larger cardboard fruit or vegetable tray (or a plastic one covered with paper)

• tablespoon

• mung bean seeds

• sieve

• small bowl

• cotton wool

• small watering can or jug

• large plastic sandwich bag

• black binbag

• safe scissors

• felt tips

TAKE CARE: Keep plastic bags away from babies and small children.

Step 1

Put two tablespoons of mung bean seeds in a sieve.

Rinse them under the cold water tap.

Step 2

Put the seeds in a bowl and cover with cold water.

Leave them to soak overnight.

Step 3

The next day, make a bean sprout bed by decorating the sides of your cardboard tray.

We drew stars and moons. What will you draw?

Step 4

Put your plastic tray inside the cardboard tray.

Cover the bottom of the plastic tray with cotton wool.

Step 5

Sprinkle the cotton wool with water to make it damp.

Step 6

Tip your seeds into the sieve to drain away the water.

Step 7

Spread the seeds out over the cotton wool.

Step 8

Put the bean bed inside a plastic sandwich bag – don't pull the bag too tight as you will need plenty of space for your beans to sprout!

Step 9

Put this in a black binbag then find a warm, dark place for your seeds to sleep!

Step 10

Take out your bean bed every day and sprinkle the seeds with water – soon they will start to sprout like this.

Step 11

After about five days they should look like this.

Cut the sprouts, wash them and add to a sandwich. Or, ask an adult to help you put them in a stir fry.

Back to Grow it!