Beans and beansprouts are two of the most satisfying things for children to grow. Not only do they give speedy results but they're tasty and packed with vitamins too.

Beans in a jar
Growing beans in a jar is a great way to capture children’s interest: the fact that they can see the growth process happening before their eyes fascinates them!

For this you’ll need a tall, wide-necked clear jar, blotting paper, a stapler or paper clips and a couple of broad bean seeds. Cut the blotting paper to the height of the jar and wrap around to make a cylinder to fit snugly inside the jar. Secure using a staples or paper clips at each end. Place in the jar and add water to soak up at least half way up the paper.

Next, simply place beans between paper and jar – ideally in vertical position. (It doesn’t matter if they fall so they’re wrong way up, your children will be able to see nature correct the problem with the shoots finding their way upwards!). Place on sunny windowsill and keep watered. After a few days shoots will begin to form.

Once they get to a reasonable size, these can then be planted out in the garden or in a pot of compost until they’re ready to harvest and eat. Try involving your kids in choosing a recipe or two to use when cooking the beans so that they get to enjoy eating them.

Beansprouts
Beansprouts are one of the fastest and simplest ways to grow your own veg. But be warned - sprouting can become addictive!

Take any dried pulse (avoiding anything not whole such as split peas), place in a jar and add water. The water will need to be changed about three times a day, but in no time you’ll have sprouting beans, chickpeas or whatever. Apart from being extremely nutritious, the beauty of this is the speed!

Kids can get very impatient waiting for crops to ripen/be ready to eat, but with this one, the results are almost instant. Beansprouts can be eaten raw as a snack, sprinkled over salads, or will give extra crunch to sandwiches. Alternatively, try them in a stir-fry or make them into hummus-style dips.

Sprouted beans are one of the most concentrated natural sources of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, trace elements, amino-acids and proteins... but you don't have to tell that to your children.