Â鶹Éç

Garden inspiration  permalink

gardening with kids

• Message 1. 

  Posted by ahopefulagain (U4594275) on Monday, 12th April 2010

  My son is 3 and loves helping me in the garden. He's been helping plant flowers and sow seeds. He enjoys digging and raking (with his own tools). I'm thinking about giving him his own bed, but I wonder if he's too young?
  
  How did you get your kids started with gardening and how did you develop it?

  Link to this forum: gardening with kids

  Report message1

• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by daisydelight (U14163419) on Monday, 12th April 2010

  Give him his own small plot, he'll love it. Let him have bedding plants that will flower this summer that you don't have anywhere else in the garden and let him sow some different seeds too.
  
  He'll probably decorate his plot with shells and stones as well. Its never too early. I remember sowing one sunflower seed that my Dad gave me. He didn't tell me what would happen and I was astonished as it got taller and taller every day. It made me laugh because I thought I had done something wrong and created a monster.

  Link to this forum: gardening with kids

  Report message2

• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Gem (U13964749) on Monday, 12th April 2010

  Oh yes go for it, mine started with tubs when by eldest was about 6 so the youngest would have been about 18 months. They each selected their plants and with help planted up their pots this they then watered everyday, my elderly neighbour use to judge the best - of course they all won !!. We did this for a couple of years then one of them wanted to do carrots and my daughter then about 3 wanted to do beans, and they have never stopped. We moved to a larger garden about 3 years ago and have room for a plot and a green house and they are all very keen helps even though the are now 16,13,and 10, they each do their own thing, this week end 13yr son planted his carrots as always, and 10yr daughter her beans, then we potted out toms and planted courgettes. My eldest is still more into flowers, and has a thing about fuschias, he has goodness nows how many different ones he cares for taking cuttings etc some are yrs old, he is always willing to help with the veg though.
  
  So no its never to early to let them start learning.
  
  gem

  Link to this forum: gardening with kids

  Report message3

• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by nooj (U13729031) on Monday, 12th April 2010

  I posted about this years ago - but it's a magical childhood memory.
  dad took me out in the garden in the dark!
  And said - smell those!
  Night scented stock.
  I was hooked

  Link to this forum: gardening with kids

  Report message4

• Message 5

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by garyhobson (U11055016) on Monday, 12th April 2010

  There is a range of seeds, produced by Kew, specially for children to grow. I don't know why they chose these particular varieties. Possibly because they are reliable:
  
  
  There is also a separate set of seeds designated for 'children'. But those are just suggestions:
  
  
  That range includes things like field poppies (I find them hard to grow, and I'm an adult).
  
  There are some nice instructions on some of those packets: 'Sow me outside. Choose my home in the garden. Rake the ground so it is nice and fine. See if I grow again next year.'
  
  There is also a book called 'Gardening Activities for 3-5 Year Olds'. I've got no idea if it's any good:
  
  
  Topics in that book include 'scrapbook', 'feeding the birds', 'planting tomatoes', 'growing potatoes', 'mini greenhouse'.
  
  That book is available, for just one penny. It's a genuine offer.
  
  The RHS publish several books for slightly older children. Such as:
  

  Link to this forum: gardening with kids

  Report message5

• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by Lavande (U2362070) on Monday, 12th April 2010

  This is a lovely thread. I love seeing children in the garden with their little watering cans or their sunflower seeds.. My son went through a phase of growing cactii and had a huge collection at one point. He had been given a few by his grandmother and added to them over the years. He then grew peppers for a couple of years and I was delighted that he had caught the bug. Unfortunately his collection of pizza cartons and computer games has taken over . Still, 'the seed has been sown' Maybe he will return to his cultivating days when his student days have gone. when my daughter comes home in the holidays she loves watering the garden at night with me and it is such a lovely poignant time. Sometimes we chat, sometimes we just work our way round the garden in silence.
  
  and Nooj - I adore scented night stock ...a real memory trigger. I haven't come across it for years - would love to have some now.

  Link to this forum: gardening with kids

  Report message6

• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by nooj (U13729031) on Monday, 12th April 2010

  I try to grow a little bit every year - just to trigger that memory - but now you remind me, I am out of seed!
  will get some

  Link to this forum: gardening with kids

  Report message7

• Message 8

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by As_Iff (U13951957) on Monday, 12th April 2010

  Virginia stock and night-scented stock sown together. One looks pretty during the day, the other smells gorgeous at night.

  Link to this forum: gardening with kids

  Report message8

• Message 9

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Scotkat (U14381934) on Sunday, 2nd May 2010

  I run a kids garden club at Peel Farm at Lintrathen for primary school children.
  
  Never too young and if you have a raised bed for your son better still .
  
  You could even have his own mini greenhouse.
  
  A great idea Ahopeful.
  
  I have some spare Â鶹Éç Dig in plants I am growing with my kids garden club .
  
  Happy to post some to you for your son to grow on.
  
  
  

  Link to this forum: gardening with kids

  Report message9

Back to top