Gardening, and planting your own vegetables is a lovely activity to do with your children.
It's also a great way to get kids engaged in what they eat. It’s fun, tasty and (can be) truly organic. It’s also not overly difficult (our favorite kind of activity!) and outside, so any mess can be left at the door. Here are some easy starting points for planting vegetables with children. You can plant in anything too so you don’t need loads of equipment.
You’ll need…
- A container of any kind – hunt around your garden for old pots not used anymore
- Soil/fertiliser – available at most garden centers or big box stores
- Stones (for drainage) – get some from your garden
- Plant food - just like us, they need to eat to grow
And some really simple instructions:
- Put stones at bottom of container to help with drainage
- Add soil
- Add seeds
- Water
- Feed weekly (or when you remember)
Here is a handy guide to get you started…
Growing carrots
When to sow: spring and fall When ready: 65-75 days from seed Space needed: thin to 1 to 2 inches apart Depth of soil: 1/4 - ½ inch
Growing green peas
When to sow: early spring When ready: 50-70 from seed Space needed: 1-3 inches
Growing potatoes
When to sow: sow seed potatoes March/April When ready: 90 - 120 after sowing How to tend: Lots of manure! Space needed: 9 inches between plantss Depth of soil: 3 - 5 inches deep
Growing tomatoes
When to sow: when the weather is warm When ready: 65 - 90 How to tend: Sun, ideally a glasshouse! Space needed: 18 inches or more between plants Depth of soil: 1cm
Growing strawberries
When to sow: April/May (get plants from garden center) - put straw under fruit to stop rotting before it ripens When ready: June/July/August How to tend: Well drained soil and sunlight Space needed: 8 inches Depth of soil: 4 inches Simply harvest when ready.
It’s a doddl – give it a go! You'll find some delicious veggie recipes here. If you feel inspired then why not try creating your own children's garden. It can be as small as a couple of pots on a windowsill. Or as big as you have space for!