Learn the Pepper Seed Step

What can we use if we don't have plastic pots or potting soil listed in the steps?

If you don't have plastic pots or potting soil, use clean yogurt cups with drainage holes poked with a pencil or spoon and fill them two-thirds full with a mix of garden soil, compost, and a little sand to mimic potting soil.

My seeds aren't sprouting—what common step might I be doing wrong and how can I fix it?

If seeds fail to sprout, make sure each seed is planted only about half a centimeter deep, the pots are kept in a warm bright spot, and you water until the soil is evenly moist but not soggy as the instructions say.

How can I adapt this activity for a preschooler versus an older child?

For preschoolers, let them help fill pots, stick on the planting-date labels, and look each morning for tiny sprouts while an adult makes drainage holes and waters, and for older kids have them measure heights every three days and graph the dates and heights in their notebook.

What are some ways to extend or personalize the pepper seed project after following the steps?

To extend the project, decorate the pots, plant two different pepper seed types with labeled dates, record height, sprout date and leaf count every three days in your notebook, photograph progress, and then share the finished plant and notes on DIY.org.