Children's Seed Growing Category

A very exciting and much anticipated category in the 2024 Spring Garden Competition. The aim is to see who can grow the best Dwarf Sunflower from seed. Age brackets for entries will be:

3 - 7 years of age
8 - 12 years of age

Seeds have been kindly donated by Mr. Fothergill's Seeds.

Once you have entered the competition, you can collect your free seed growing kit at Eden Gardens from Thursday 1 August - Saturday 31 August 2024. Eden Gardens is located at 307 Lane Cove Rd, Macquarie Park.

Alternatively, you can pick up and plant your seeds at our planting party, on Sunday 11 August 2024 at Anderson Park. Seeds, Pots, Planting Mix, and Decorating materials will be available to plant your seeds and decorate your pots.

We encourage all entries in the Children’s Seed Growing category to be planted before Wednesday 31 August to allow for maximum seed growing time.

Competition judging day will be held at Eden Gardens on Saturday 26 October 2024.

Enter the Seed Growing Competition

Seed Growing Competition Tips

Read and follow the seed growing instructions provided.
Plant your seeds from 11 August 2024 (not before).
Plant your seeds before 31 August 204 to allow for maximum seed growing time.
Don’t forget to decorate your pot. Best decorated pot also receives an award.
Don’t forget to bring your plant to Eden Gardens from 10 am Thursday 24 October to 10 am Saturday 26 October for judging. Winners will be announced at 11 am on Saturday 26 October 2024.

Entries will be judged by a panel of horticulturalists and garden judges. Judging criteria will be:

Overall condition of the plant/s
Freedom from pests and disease
Height of plant
Number of flowers
Diameter of flowers
Best decorated pot

Notes:

Event entry is required prior to collection of seed growing kit.
Please present a print out of your entry confirmation to the cashier at the Eden Garden Centre to collect your free seed growing kit (limit of one seed growing kit per child).
All entries in the Children’s Seed Growing Competition must use the supplied seeds and follow supplied growing instructions as collected from Eden Gardens.
No hydroponic, artificial growth hormones, hot houses or artificial lights to be used.
If a child enters multiple plants they will only be considered for a single place/prize (i.e. they cannot win multiple places/prizes in their age bracket).

Key Dates

1 August 2024: Collect kits from Eden Gardens.
From 11 August 2024: Plant your seeds (don’t plant before this date).
31 August 2024: Entries in the Children’s Seed Growing Competition should be made before this date to allow for maximum seed growing time.
24 October - 26 October 2024: Plants can be delivered early to Eden Gardens (307 Lane Cove Rd, Macquarie Park).
26 October 2024: Plants in the Children’s Seed Growing Competition to be delivered to Eden Gardens (307 Lane Cove Rd, Macquarie Park) for judging before 10am. The winners of the 2024 Spring Garden Competition Children’s Seed Growing category will be announced at 11am.

More Information

For further enquiries call City of Ryde’s Active Recreation Officer on 9952 8222.