Depending on where across the country you live, gardening can be a year-round activity or pretty much contained to the spring and summer months. But even if you’re looking out the window right now and see only cold rain or snow, you can begin designing a garden that will burst into bloom as soon as the weather warms up. Start making plans now, and include the kids in the early stages to get them involved and excited. Your local nursery and home improvement stores already have big displays of vegetable and flower seeds, and you can get absolutely lost exploring all of the options available online. Make it a project to plot out your yard and decide where you’re going to put everything.
Emma working hard in the garden!
When it comes to your lawn, though, you do want to be careful. Lawn care in Dallas, for example, is different from lawn care in Buffalo, so it’s a good idea to get advice from the experts, but whether you do it yourself or use a professional lawn care service there are some things an older child can help with. Mowing the lawn, for example, is a classic assignment for a child old enough to handle the equipment.
There are a number of fun ways to introduce even your youngest children to the joys of nature in your own backyard. The thing to remember is not to turn gardening into a chore. Kids love digging in the dirt anyway, and here you are practically giving them a free pass to make mud!
There are a number of fun ways to introduce even your youngest children to the joys of nature in your own backyard. The thing to remember is not to turn gardening into a chore. Kids love digging in the dirt anyway, and here you are practically giving them a free pass to make mud!
Peas
Plant a Whole Salad
Kids are learning a lot more about nutrition in school these days, so bring the lesson home. Even the pickiest little eater can be encouraged to eat salad if he or she has grown it all. Outdoor planting time for most fruits and vegetables is early through late spring, though leeks, onions, radishes, peas, and potatoes can be planted in winter in many regions.
Kids are learning a lot more about nutrition in school these days, so bring the lesson home. Even the pickiest little eater can be encouraged to eat salad if he or she has grown it all. Outdoor planting time for most fruits and vegetables is early through late spring, though leeks, onions, radishes, peas, and potatoes can be planted in winter in many regions.
Cherry tomatoes
Tomatoes are fun because they start growing quickly and can produce straight through to the end of summer. Instead of using seeds, it’s better to buy young plants that have already gotten a good start.
They’ll be available in your local nursery as soon as the weather is right for planting them. There are hundreds of varieties, from modern hybrids to heirloom types, but make sure to include the little cherry tomatoes that kids can pick right off the vine and eat in one bite.
Cucumbers come in either bush or vining varieties, and are easy to grow from seed. They’re very prolific, so you don’t need to plant a lot of them.
They’ll be available in your local nursery as soon as the weather is right for planting them. There are hundreds of varieties, from modern hybrids to heirloom types, but make sure to include the little cherry tomatoes that kids can pick right off the vine and eat in one bite.
Cucumbers come in either bush or vining varieties, and are easy to grow from seed. They’re very prolific, so you don’t need to plant a lot of them.
Summer squash
Zucchini and other summer squashes grow on vines and bloom from beautiful blossoms that are also edible. Just as with cucumbers, don’t plant more than a few unless you want to share them with the neighbors.
Lettuce, spinach, kale, and other leafy vegetables can be grown nearly year-round in some climates. You can start the seeds indoors for a head start in colder areas.
Lettuce, spinach, kale, and other leafy vegetables can be grown nearly year-round in some climates. You can start the seeds indoors for a head start in colder areas.
Strawberries
Strawberries are a crop that everyone loves. There are large terra cotta pots made especially for growing them, but you can certainly plant them directly in the ground.
Sunflowers
Grow Great Big Sunflowers
Some varieties of sunflowers are as short as a few feet, but some grow to over 15 feet tall and will enthrall a young gardener. Check the seed packets to get the kind you want.
They’re easy to grow, and once they mature, there will be plenty of seeds to feed the birds and to toast for family snacks, too.
Some varieties of sunflowers are as short as a few feet, but some grow to over 15 feet tall and will enthrall a young gardener. Check the seed packets to get the kind you want.
They’re easy to grow, and once they mature, there will be plenty of seeds to feed the birds and to toast for family snacks, too.
Marigolds
Start a Speedy Flower Garden
It’s gratifying for kids to see the results of their efforts, so here are some flowers that pop up more quickly than others:
Marigolds. These bright golden flowers germinate in just a few days and blossom only 45 to 50 days after planting.
It’s gratifying for kids to see the results of their efforts, so here are some flowers that pop up more quickly than others:
Marigolds. These bright golden flowers germinate in just a few days and blossom only 45 to 50 days after planting.
Zinneas
Zinnias. These hardy little flowers come in a variety of colors, and some germinate only three to five days after you plant them. It can take them 75 to 90 days to flower, but in the meantime, it’s encouraging for everyone to watch them grow more and more every day.
Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums. Not only are nasturtiums cheerful, but they attract hummingbirds and, if you grown them organically, they can also be used in salads or to decorate even an everyday dessert. They have large seeds that are easy for small hands to hold, germinate in 10 to 14 days, and bloom within 35 to 52 days after that.
