Great things for kids to plant
Engaging kids in an educational activity is not as tough as it seems if you pick the right one. Age-appropriate gardening tasks are absolutely thrilling to kids, not to mention they are a great learning opportunity.
Your garden is a treasure trove of educational moments, it’s virtually a school of knowledge and experience. An edible garden comes with lessons about food and getting to know all the amazing things the earth has to offer – it may also encourage fussy eaters to step out of their comfort zones. And other plants can be a tool to learn about the ecosystem like pollination, bees and insects.
While you are at home, let your garden become your classroom with this list of great things for kids to plant:
It starts with a long-term garden strategy
Gardening can be daunting if you are not familiar with dos and don’ts. Here are a few things to consider when planning a gardening activity for your children:
#1 Quick germination
Quick results are a big deal for kids. Let’s face it children are not often associated with patience.
#2 Produce a crop quickly
Once germination takes place, you are in for a longer game, but it’s important to find the balance between learning patience and losing interest. The quicker your crop yields results, the better it is for keeping the attention of your little ones.
#3 Low maintenance
Plants that require very little maintenance or complicated treatment are the best for children trying their hand at gardening. A simple bit of water and sunlight should be the most your plants need to thrive so you can turn a windowsill or a sunny corner into a universe of learning. Add watering to your housekeeping checklist, and you can stave off limp, wilted plants and disappointed faces.
#4 Hardy
Plants that can deal with a little bit of rough treatment are ideal, especially with young children. While your kids may not mean to be, sometimes they can be rough on the more delicate plants, so stick to things that can hold their own.
Luckily, there are a whole host of plants that fit this set of requirements. You also don’t need a lot of space to grow plants – you can even get these established in an indoor area with lots of natural sunlight. If space is limited indoor planters are the perfect way to bring the outdoors, inside so that anyone can enjoy a fun gardening experience.
Snap peas
Snap peas grow quickly and are an early crop. So, when it comes to the entertainment factor, these green gems get top marks because they can be enjoyed straight off the vine. The plant germinates in 10 days, and the yield is ready to eat in less than two months.
Potatoes
Who doesn’t love a good potato and kids are no exception? This plant is appealing because rather than seeds, you use the “eyes” of existing potatoes. Not only that, but when its time to harvest, your kids will be thrilled at the number of new vegetables that come from the potato seed.
Radishes
The appeal of the juicy red bulbs that bulge out of the soil is all in their speedy growth. These vegetables are ready to harvest in under a month.
Cherry Tomatoes
Although not as quick as some of their veggie patch counterparts, cherry tomatoes are prolific growers, so they bear loads of fruit throughout the season for maximum entertainment. Not only are they vibrant in colour, but they are sweet and juicy to eat.
Carrots
Nothing encourages kids to eat something quite like growing their own. Carrots are one of those vegetables that are fun to harvest, which make them more fun to eat.
Sunflowers
The aptly named bright flowers are a must for any first-time gardener. The seeds germinate quickly, and they grow particularly tall. You can have endless fun measuring and recording their quick journey to a fully grown plant.
Marigolds
While this flower is not edible, these hardy little flowers can handle a fair beating from young gardeners and thrive. They are a fun and beautiful flower to grow for all ages and level of gardening experience.
Nasturtiums
Low maintenance and edible these flowers need virtually no attention to grow. Young gardeners will love to throw the budding flowers into a salad or to decorate a cake beautifully.
Green Beans
Green beans grow quickly and are prolific. These are perfect in a small space because they don’t become too big and they are easy for kids to reach.
Lettuce
A fun way to encourage your kids to eat salad is to grow your lettuce. It’s a quick and reliable plant that will be ready to eat in no time – some varieties are available to pick in less than a month.
You don’t need a massive garden or heaps of space to make gardening fun for your kids – all it takes is some imagination and a sunny spot.
When it comes to gardening with your kids, dirt is good and messes are bound to happen. For tough stains or stain removing tips take a look at laundry detergents like OMO 3 X Power Capsules. If you are looking for more home cleaning advice, check out Cleanipedia it’s the one-stop solution to all your cleaning questions and frustrations.
