These are all great ideas! Thank you to those who shared - especially the activity suggestions!
I highly recommend the square-foot gardening method, especially when working with kids. We used it for several years in our Kids in the Garden program. It makes it easy to learn about appropriate plant spacing, and to assign specific squares for watering and weeding (so that each person has "their own square(s)" to be responsible for.) In the last couple of years, Mel published a Square Foot Gardening for Kids book, It has great tips in it. Most library systems have a copy. An overview of SFGWK is at https://squarefootgardening.org/2020/04/square-foot-gardening-with-kids/.
Don't hesitate to contact your local Master Gardener chapter. Many chapters have Vegetable Specialists (additional training beyond basic Master Gardener). They can answer questions about crops, pests, planting times, varieties, etc. Master Gardeners are the volunteer educational outreach corps for your county extension program. One of their primary goals as an organization is to help residents become better educated and more successful gardeners, The information will always be research-based and specific to where you live. Many chapters also have children's gardening programs so they can tell you what has worked for them in schools and other youth gardening programs. There is no cost to you to ask questions as state tax dollars have already funded the university research on agriculture and horticulture which is the basis for the educational information shared with the public.
As far as my top crops for beginners (of all ages):
Radishes They mature quickly, come in many varieties, can be overplanted (beyond what the package recommends) and harvested every couple of days to learn about plant development. While you are looking at the little sprouts you've pulled out of the ground, remember to taste them. It's one of the best lessons about controlling what we plant and when we harvest as opposed to settling for what the farmer grew and could sell. One of our Kids in the Garden participants discovered that he liked radishes but only if he grew them. He chose to harvest them when small and not too spicy. After his gardening experience, radishes went from YUCK to YUM.
Lettuces and leafy greens Another easy-to-grow vegetable. You can plant cut-and-come-again varieties that mature more quickly than head lettuce. There are many flavor profiles (spicy like rocket/arugula, buttery like bok choy, mild like spinach) and kids enjoy comparing how they grow and taste.
Tomatoes While these are not a beginner crop, they are fun to grow anyway. There is a lot to learn about how to plant and grow a tomato. Your Master Gardener chapter can give you tips. The two varieties that were the kids' favorites in our area are the hybrids Sungold (cherry-size, sweet yellow fruit with little to no acidity) and Super Sweet 100 (cherry-size, red, sweet, not much goo inside and not acidic). Both are indeterminate tomatoes so they will produce fruit all season long up until frost.
Herbs These are fun to munch while gardening and easy to harvest for mealtime. We always planted stevia and mint in side-by-side pots (mint should never grow directly in the ground) so that the children could grab a leaf of each, roll them into a tiny burrito shape, and pop them into their mouths as "Mother Nature's Garden Gum". Other popular herbs were basil (even if the flavor is too spicy for youngsters, the smell is delicious), catnip (so we could share it with our kitty friends), chives, society garlic, lavender (if you have the right soil, climate and drainage for it), garlic (in North Central Texas we get ours into the ground before the vampires arrive on Halloween), thyme or oregano (we call them the perennial pizza herbs) and ginger (we put our in pots so we can overwinter them indoors in the garage).
Edible flowers Just about any flower will help attract pollinators. Marigolds and zinnias are super easy to grow and add pops of color to the garden. We also let many of our herbs flower and go to seed so they feed the pollinators and give us free seeds for next year. Not all flowers are edible (check before you eat) but, those that are, provide another way for gardeners to enjoy the plant. Borage is an herb with a cucumber-flavored blue blossom. The leaves are also edible when very young. (Not so tasty when the leaves mature and are covered with fine plant hairs that feel like a cat's tongue.) Nasturtium leaves and blossoms taste peppery and can be grown in raised beds, containers or hanging baskets where they will hang over the container. Scented geraniums have leaves that can help flavor cakes. Pansies are lovely in the late winter and can be candied. Sunflowers are the stars of summer. Plus they are great supports for bean vines if you plant a variation on the Three Sisters (bean, squash and sunflowers instead of beans, squash and corn).
My last recommendation is a list of books on gardening with kids or books about gardens that kids enjoy. These are books that I have used in the Kids in the Garden program (targeted at elementary school children), used in the preschool classroom or have shared with friends who want to inspire a love of gardening in their children.
Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children. Sharon Lovejoy.
The Book of Gardening Projects for Kids: 101 Ways to Get Kids Outside, Dirty, and Having Fun. Whitney Cohen and John Fisher.
Plant, Sow, Make & Grow: Mud-tastic Activities for Budding Gardeners. Esther Coombs.
Grow It, Cook It. DK Children
Junior Master Gardener Growing Good Kids lists have excellent storybooks. https://jmgkids.us/bookawards/ There is a Classics list. These are books enjoyed by children for the last 50 years or so. There are also the annual Growing Good Kids Award Winning Titles lists from 2006 to 2024. Libraries have copies of many of these books.
It is never too late to start gardening with kids. Even if you only get a couple of transplants and maybe some flower seeds into the ground this summer, you have made a great start.
Best wishes as you start your great gardening adventure!
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Erin Hoffer
Sustainability and Environmental Education Division (SEED)
Plano TX
erinhof@plano.gov------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-24-2024 02:41:01 AM
From: Christeena Biju
Subject: I need advice on Starting a Vegetable Garden with Kids
Hello guys!
I am curious about the idea of starting a vegetable garden with my kids this summer. I believe it could be a great learning experience for them and a fun family activity. Here's where I could use some advice:
Which vegetables are easy to grow and maintain with children? We have limited gardening experience, so beginner-friendly options would be ideal.- Any tips on planning the layout of our garden? We have a small backyard and want to make the most of the space we have.
- How can I keep my kids interested and involved throughout the gardening process? Any activities or tips for making it educational and enjoyable for them?
- Is it too late to start planting for this summer? If not, what should we start with and how should we plan for the coming seasons?
I also check this : Why Garden With Kids? - KidsGardeningenai But I have not found any solution. Could anyone guide me about this?
I appreciate any advice or recommendations you can provide to help us get started on this gardening journey with our kids. Thank you so much for your help!
Best regards,
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Christeena Biju
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