Grade 5 Agriculture Gardening Practices – Selling Surplus Vegetable Seedlings Notes

Selling Surplus Vegetable Seedlings 🌱

Subject: Agriculture — Topic: Gardening Practices
For: Children in Kenya (age 10)

What are surplus seedlings?

Surplus seedlings are baby vegetable plants you grow but do not need for your own garden. Instead of letting them die, you can sell them to neighbours, friends or at the market.

Good vegetables to sell in Kenya

• Sukuma wiki (kale) 🌿
• Spinach / mchicha 🥬
• Tomatoes 🍅
• Pepper / pilipili 🌶️
• Onions (seedlings) 🧅
• Indigenous vegetables (amaranth, kunde) 🌱

How to prepare seedlings for sale (easy steps)

1. Check health: Choose strong green seedlings. Do not sell sick or yellow ones.
2. Harden off: In the week before selling, keep seedlings outside a few hours each day to get them ready for sun.
3. Remove extras: Trim very weak plants so buyers get good ones.
4. Label each group: Write the vegetable name and planting date on a small tag.
5. Pack neatly: Use seed trays, recycled milk cartons or yogurt cups with some soil. Keep roots covered and moist.

Where to sell (Kenyan ideas)

• Local market on market day
• Roadside near your home (with adult help)
• Neighbours, family, church or school gardening clubs
• Farmers’ group (chama) or local nursery
• Ask an adult to post in WhatsApp or Facebook groups

How to accept money safely

• Always sell with an adult when handling cash.
• Adults can use M-Pesa for safe payment.
• Give change carefully and count money together.

Simple customer talk (what to say)

"Hello! These are healthy sukuma wiki seedlings. Plant them 30 cm apart. Water every day for the first week. Price KSh 10 each."

Care tips to give buyers (short)

• Plant in good soil with compost.
• Water lightly every morning for 7–10 days.
• Give sun but protect from very strong sun for 2 days.
• Keep pests away: pick off bugs by hand or use soap and water spray (ask adult).

Simple record book (keep with an adult)

Make columns: Date | Seedling type | Number sold | Price each | Total money

Example: 05/05 | Sukuma wiki | 20 | KSh 10 | KSh 200

Safety and rules

• Ask a parent or guardian before selling.
• Do not sell plants with disease.
• Follow local nursery rules if you join one.

Good habits – be a smart young seller

• Use recycled pots or trays to save money ♻️
• Keep seedlings moist but not waterlogged 💧
• Always be honest about the plant age and care 🌱
• Share planting tips with your buyer — happy customers return!

Have fun selling and learning! Ask an adult to help when you need money or travel. 😊