Planting a Garden with Children – What to Know

Gardening is great family entertainment. What’s more fun than preparing soil, selecting plants or seed, watching them grow and then harvesting? Not much if you ask some kids.

Start an Indoor Garden First

Kidsgardening.org suggests starting a child’s excitement for and love of gardening by planting seeds indoors first. This not only allows parents and children to grow a wider variety of plants but it extends the growing season, allowing a green thumb to blossom even in the dead of winter. Site contributor Charlie Nardozzi notes that while growing seedlings in a sunny window is certainly the cheapest option for growing seeds indoors, a better alternative is to grow seedlings under artificial lights. This allows gardeners to control the light intensity and duration resulting in healthy, robust seedlings.

Moving the Garden Outdoors

Deb Donovan, in an iVillage.com article, “Planting a Garden Together,” recommends that families who enjoy the outdoors give gardening a try outside. Depending on the age and ability of the child, the first step is to determine whether to plant a “flower only” garden, a vegetable garden, an herb garden or a combination.

Eartheasy.com and other gardening-related websites tout the benefits of planting gardens of all types with children. That’s because the benefits are many. Working in a garden, kids gain the satisfaction of caring for something over time while observing the cycle of life first-hand. Before getting started, there are a few things to keep in mind.

How Big Should the Garden Be?

Jo R. Frederiksen, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Master Gardener, Denver County notes that it’s better to intensively care for a small space rather than overwhelm parents and child with the weeds that will undoubtedly grow in a big area. She notes that miniature vegetable varieties also can be more accessible and understandable to the youngest children.

Fredericksen also says to keep two steps in mind: How much space is available for the garden and what is the age of the child? For a preschool-aged child, planting 1/2 packets of seeds and one to two plants each of a plant variety creates a big garden on a small scale.

Preparing the Soil

Parents will want to keep the following tips in mind to ensure a happy and healthy garden, according to a website developed by the University of Illinois Extension:

1. Check for good drainage – ensure that water doesn’t sit on the top of the soil for a long time; if it does, find another place to plant
2. Create a raised garden bed – mound up the garden area about 8-12 inches. Hill up the whole area or use some rocks or boards to keep the soil in place.
3. Determine the soil condition – if weeds are growing there now, vegetables and flowers should do well too
4. Make sure your garden soil is composed of minerals, organic matter (rotting plants and animal parts – think worms!), air spaces and water.
5. Add soil conditioners to help plants grow – manure, compost, peat moss and leaves

Younger children will enjoy preparing the gardening soil the best. Provide a large spoon and allow her to till the soil.

The Best Plants for Little Gardeners

While the best plants for a child’s garden vary depending on geographic location and climate, Eartheasy.com offers its top 10 recommendations based on what’s relatively easy to grow, with short growing seasons and fun harvests:

1. Sunflowers
2. Lettuce
3. Radishes
4. Snow peas
5. Cherry tomatoes
6. Nasturtiums
7. Bush beans
8. Carrots
9. Potatoes
10. Pumpkins

The Right Gardening Tools

Not only is gardening fun and educational but it doesn’t require many tools. For best results, little gardeners will do well with seeds, a mini trowel, mini hoe, mini rake, pots, gloves and a spray bottle. Tuck all of the tools in a small basket or canvas tote and

• gardening is both fun and educational
• everything you need including seeds
• mini trowel, mini hoe, mini rake, pots, gloves and spray bottle

How Does Your Garden Grow?

From the Obama’s White House Vegetable Garden to the Smith’s pumpkin patch down the street, gardens exist in all shapes and sizes, so even the smallest hands can participate. Planting a garden not only provides a safe, fun activity for children, but it helps the environment and teaches everyone about giving back to nature. So, pick a spot for the garden, prepare the soil, sow the seeds – and watch them grow!