Peter’s Seed Markers

Peter helps Grandad sow carrots and beans. The seeds disappear beneath the soil. “How will we remember what is growing here?” asks Peter. Grandad brings paper, crayons and some broad wooden markers.

Peter draws a carrot on one paper label and a bean pod on another. Grandad helps fix them to the markers. Peter puts each picture beside the right place in the vegetable bed.

Rain falls through the week. When Peter next checks the bed, the paper hangs in soft folds. Some colour has washed away. Peter can still see a little orange, but the bean picture is difficult to recognise.

“They were easy to see yesterday,” says Peter. Grandad feels the wet paper. “Our labels need to stay useful outdoors.” They look through the clean, reusable materials in the garden cupboard.

They choose broad waterproof markers. Peter draws the pictures again on a practice sheet. Grandad copies his simple shapes onto the markers with outdoor paint, then leaves them somewhere safe to dry.

When the paint is dry, Peter and Grandad put the new markers beside the beds. They pour a little water over a spare painted marker. The picture stays clear after the drops run off.

A few days later, young plants are growing in the bed. Peter points to the clear carrot picture. “These will be carrots,” he says. Grandad checks the bean marker too. Both pictures are easy to recognise.

Peter keeps the paper drawings in his garden book. “Paper worked for planning,” he says. “The new markers work outside.” He and Grandad leave space in the book for pictures of their growing plants.