Quck answer
Growing a bean plant in a cup is a simple and fun project that can be done at home. To start, gather a cup, a bean seed, and some soil. Fill the cup with soil and make a small hole in the center. Place the bean seed in the hole and cover it with soil. Water the soil lightly and place the cup in a sunny spot. Keep the soil moist by watering it regularly. Within a week, the bean seed will start to sprout. As the plant grows, provide support by placing a stick in the cup. With proper care, the bean plant will continue to grow and produce beans.
If you want to teach your children about plant germination, plant life cycle, and gardening, growing a bean plant in a transparent cup is a great science experiment to start with. The process is easy, and once the weather is favorable, you can transplant the bean seedling outside and harvest fresh beans. You can grow any type of bean, but it is best to use seeds from a seed pack or someone’s garden since dried beans from grocery stores may not germinate correctly.
Step One: Soak Your Seeds
Before planting, soak the seeds in water overnight to help them soften and germinate. The following day, take a paper towel and fold it in half, moisten it with water, and squeeze out the excess moisture. Place the paper towel at the bottom of a clear cup and then take another paper towel, dampen it, wring it out, scrunch it up, and place it on top of the first towel in the center of the cup.
Place a few beans along the inside edge of the cup, ensuring that they are supported by the paper towels and visible from the outside. Keep the seeds slightly above the bottom of the cup to allow the roots to grow. Cover the cup’s top with plastic wrap to keep the moisture inside and place it in a sunny area. Check the towels every day to ensure they are damp.
Tip
You can plant a few presoaked beans directly in the soil. Fill a plastic cup two-thirds of the way with lightly moistened potting soil, plant your beans, cover the cup’s top with clear plastic wrap, and put it in a warm, sunny location. When you spot signs of germination, remove the plastic wrap.
Step Two: Observe Growth and Transplant
Within a few days, the beans should begin to develop roots when the moisture and temperature around the seeds are suitable for growth. This process is known as germination. Although paper towels and clear cups are excellent for demonstrating the germination process, plants require soil for nutrients. Thus, it is critical to transplant the seedlings into the soil carefully once their roots begin to grow.
If you want to plant your beans outside eventually, an easy method is to transfer your seedlings to biodegradable peat pots, which you can plant directly in the ground. Add moistened potting soil to your peat pots, create holes in the soil of your pots as deep as the seedlings’ length using your fingers, and grip the top of the seedlings gently with tweezers. If the roots have grown through the paper towel, carefully rip the towel until the roots are free and move the seedlings from their cups into the holes in the pots, taking care not to damage the roots and shoots, then fill each hole with soil. If your plants have already developed true leaves, these should stay above the soil surface.
To help your plants grow taller, spray them lightly with water every day. You can use a ruler to measure their daily growth and take pictures. As they continue to grow, they will eventually develop true leaves, which is a sign that they are ready to be planted outside. When the weather is warm enough, simply transfer the seedlings, including the peat pots, to your garden.