8th April 2018Experts, Hints & Tips

Creating a Kids’ Garden

It may still be cold outside, but there is no better time to start planning a garden for the kids.

I believe that if you give children their very own patch to look after, they are more likely to get involved in the garden and take ownership of what they are growing. And with the well-publicised long-term health benefits of gardening, getting kids started early can only be a good thing!

Here are my three suggestions for creating a kids’ garden:

1. BALCONY

Even without a garden, you can still get children involved in growing. A balcony is an ideal spot for children to start – growing herbs, tomatoes and chillies in some pots can really be the start of a gardening adventure.

2.SMALL GARDEN

If your garden is small and you don’t have much spare space, you could set up a few containers for your kids, and pack them full of plants. Carrots work well grown in containers – start sowing from April and make sure the soil they are planted in is free of stones so that your carrots grow nice and straight! Peas are also worth considering – there’s nothing like the taste of a fresh pea straight from the plant and anything that encourages children to eat green veg is a good thing in my book!

3. LARGE GARDEN

If you have the space, a full-on vegetable patch is a great option for a kids’ garden. They can treat it as their own mini-allotment! Quick-growing plants are perfect for children as they aren’t exactly renowned for their patience! Radishes are ready to harvest about four weeks after sowing so your kids can see quick results. Runner beans are also good as they are easy to grow – just make sure you keep them well-watered. A child-sized watering can is a must for a kid’s garden so they can take responsibility for this too.

Have your kids tried growing vegetables or plants in your garden? What worked well for you? Leave us your suggestions for creating the perfect children’s garden in the comments below.