Introducing children to Gardening

My daughter (just over 2 years old) is always pretending to do gardening anywhere and everywhere (from outside to in the bath!) and always wants to be outside helping me on when I get out there.

I am going to clear an area of garden for her to grow some things in and wondered if anyone else had done this and if so have you got any recommendations/tips.

We went to the garden centre on Saturday to pick-up some Sweet-pea seeds and Emily insisted on buying some sunflower seeds. We planted these up Saturday pm and I have put them out in the mini-greenhouse.

I was already thinking of doing some tumbling tomatoes for her and possibly helping her grow some carrots in onre of my troughs (any recommendation of which type to use would be very welcome) as these are both things sheloves to eat - as are all vegetables and fruits.

I look forward to any advice/recommendations you can provide.

 

Sweet peas are a good one, especially when it comes time to pick them, and other beautifully scented plants (when crushed) and herbs like lavander and thyme are good too. When my son was small, we used to planted a potato in a bucket - then harvest loads in the autumn! Fond memories! I would also recommend nasturtiums ('nippy flowers' - the edible leaves are quite peppery!) We used to love watching the bees around them!

Apple pips and all other fruit stones/seeds/pips are always a great wonder! (especially for a rainy day) Date stones and avocados are good too! In the autumn, it's worth trying an acorn or two in a pot, and conkers etc!

Let us know how you get on!

 

Beans are a good idea too. Start them off in a clear plastic bottle with the top cut off(or use a plastic cup), fill with compost, put the bean close to the side so that you can see it and watch the roots grow! When it's big enough you can transplant it into something bigger. Oh if you want something quicker there is always cress!

 

Tim,

I went to asda the other day and they had lots of kiddy gardening stuff, that looked great, including some seeds in pots etc. Definately worth a look if you have a big asda near you

 

My 8 year old daughter is starting to take an interest now we have what she calls a "proper" garden.

 

Anything that grows quickly is ideal
Radishes were always popular for this reason

 

Thank you all for your suggestions.

Unfortunately, Celia, the one veg my daughter doesn't eat are beans. Do you know of any good dwarf pea varieties though as she loves these and they probably won't make it from the garden to the Kitchen without her eating them.

I'll keep you posted of our progress.

 

Sorry to hear about the beans Tim, though she might like them if she grew them herself! There are a few dwarf pea varieties, Mr Fothergill suggests Feltham first and Meteor as earlies and Onward as a main crop. I don't know how dwarf they are, I planted Feltham First for the first time this year so I'll find out later :D

 

Just as an update.

So far 1/Emily have planted some sunflowers (now about 8 inches and waiting to be planted out in the garden) and some potatoes in the bioggest pots I had as I have not been able to get the raised beds started.

We have some carrot seeds to try planting and have bought some onion sets (more for me, but I'm sure Emily will be happy to plant them with me)

Am I to late to for peas? I am going to the garden centre this weekend to get some supplies and will be picking up some radish seeds and peas if it's not too late.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions.

T

 

French beans dont grow too tall and they are much sweeter than runners, so she may like them. Try not to expect too much though, when we put all our seeds in my son would then a few days later forget and walk over the planted area as there was nothing for him to avoid(well obviously not visible). As mentioned before cress is a wonderful starter, quick results will maintain her interest.

 

My boys a confirmed vegofile and since starting our veg patch (with his 'help') he's started eating lettuce Can't wait to see when everything else is ready!!!
I've sown what the spawns like, what I want them to eat and thrown in a few random selections just for the fun of watching them grow!! They also have their own plants, tomatos, sunflowers and herbs which they have to look after themselves. So far it seems to be working.....it can hold my boys attention for a full 30 minutes...which, unless it's computer shaped, is unheard of!!! :D

 

Pumkins are always a good plant for children as they grow so quickly and so big. Then there's pumkin pie...

 

My lad has strawberries raspberries and tumbling tomatoes, but they never get as far as a plate!! just to the tap to be washed then they're gone!