Fun with Kids and Nature: Planting the Seeds of Gardening
Gardening is a super fun way to introduce kids to concepts in biology, ecology, botany, entomology, meteorology, math, and the list goes on… Gardening also fosters physical fitness both with the physical movement needed to plant and maintain the garden and then the healthful veggies you get eat! And finally, gardening with your kids can create happy memories that will last a lifetime.
My parents introduced me to vegetable gardening when I was still too little to walk. I have so many happy memories of helping mom and dad plant seeds, weed, and harvest. I believe it was their introducing me to gardening that kick started my love of the natural world.
Kids love everything about gardening: dirt, digging, worms, bugs, and watching things grow. And it can be easy – even if you only have a small yard or balcony you can still plant some herbs or a few vegetables.
In this blog, I am going to introduce a few easy tips on starting a vegetable garden with your kids.
- Preparing a place to plant
You will want to choose the sunniest area possible because vegetable and herb plants need at least 6 hours (preferably more) of direct sun per day. Once you have chosen a spot, you need to clear the area of other plants, including roots, and prep the soil with organic compost by raking it in. Another easy method is to use raised beds. Do this by clearing the area, laying down newspaper, putting up the raised bed frames, and then filling the frames with a mix of good top/garden soil mixed with organic compost. You can find more information on raised garden beds at Gardener’s Supply Company.
2. Choosing what to plant.
Start by asking your kid(s) what their favorite veggies and herbs are. Then get realistic. Do you have room for just a few herbs in a pot or more room for veggies too?
If you are planting in a pot or have only a very small patch to plant, some good Spring herb choices for the DC area are rosemary, thyme, mint, parsley, cilantro, oregano (think pizza!), and sage. With the exception of cilantro and dill, I suggest buying herb plants instead of seeds because many herb seeds can be difficult to germinate – and remember we want this to be fun and easy for the kids! In the DC area, wait until May 10 or later to plant basil (more pizza!) because it is very sensitive and needs low temperatures to stay above 50 F to survive.
If you have a bit more room, you can plant some veggies too. A few easy vegetables to start from seed in early to mid Spring are: Peas, carrots, kale, lettuce, spinach, arugula, beets, turnips, radishes, bok choy, swiss chard, and our herb friends dill and cilantro. Spring plants to plant are cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower.
Around May 10 or so, after nighttime lows are predicted to stay above 50 F, some Summer veggie seeds to plant are: beans (green, purple, or yellow, climbing or bush varieties); cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash and other compact summer squashes. Veggie plants to plant include tomatoes, peppers (hot and sweet), and eggplants. If you have LOTS OF SPACE, you can also try growing corn, pumpkins, melons, gourds and winter squashes all from seed.
Where to buy seeds and starter plants online:
Burpee – https://www.burpee.com/
Gardens Alive – https://www.gardensalive.com/
Bonnie Plants – https://bonnieplants.com/
The Tasteful Garden – https://www.tastefulgarden.com/
Before purchasing the plants and/or seeds, be sure to read the descriptions of the varieties you are looking at to find out how much space they will need. Tiny seeds and starter plants can get surprisingly big – be sure to designate enough space for the plants you are buying.
3. Other “stuff” you need before planting
In addition to the plants and seeds, before planting you will also need to have a few other things. A garden hose with a wand attachment that offers a gentle spray is essential for a garden. If you only have pots, a watering can will work just fine. You will also want to have on hand:
- Plant/seed markers and a waterproof marker to write what you’re planting on them
- Tape measure or yard stick to measure planting depth, and spacing between seeds, plants, and rows
- Small garden trowel for digging in plants or making seed rows
- Bow rake (unless you just have pots) for raking out your garden bed
- Fertilizer – use a slow release “all purpose vegetable fertilizer” and follow label directions when you plant. Organic options are available.
- Slug/Snail control – personally, I can’t grow anything in my Northern Virginia garden without using a product that protects plants from slugs and snails. Products that contain iron phosphate are legally listed as ok to use in organic gardening and are considered safe around pets and wildlife. Follow label directions when planting. If you are growing in pots on a balcony, you may not need this product.
You can purchase these supplies and more at Gardener’s Supply or at Gardens Alive and at many other online gardening supply companies.
4. Planting
Planting is much more straightforward than many people think. Basically, you put a seed or plant in some soil and then water. To find out how far to space your seeds and plants and how deep to plant the seeds, read the label on the seed package or plant label.
In general, tiny seeds (carrot, lettuce, etc…) should be planted about 1/8 of an inch deep and larger seeds (peas, beans, etc…) should be planted about 1/2-3/4 of an inch deep. When planting seeds, you want to mark you rows with labeled stakes or markers so you know where seeds have already been planted when starting a new row. Making rows in the dirt can be done with a trowel, yard stick, stick, or finger. Some people use string to make the rows perfectly straight. Measure the distance with a yard stick or measuring tape to plant the seeds and make the rows. After putting the seeds into the row, gently move the soil back into the row and then pat down.
When done planting seeds, add any support structures, sprinkle some fertilizer and slug stuff (follow label directions for amounts) on top of the planted area and then water thoroughly with the gentle setting on a hose wand.
As the seeds germinate and the little seedlings get growing, you may need to thin them once or twice. Follow the directions on the seed package for directions on how far apart to thin seedlings. I usually use scissors to do my thinning. And the best part – you get to eat the thinned seedlings as micro greens on a salad or sammie! Yummy!
Planting plants can be done with a garden trowel. Dig a hole slightly wider but the same depth as the plant’s pot. Mix fertilizer (follow label directions for amount) into the soil in and around the planting hole. Use scissors to cut open the plant’s pot and gently upend the plant being careful not to damage the stem or leaves. If the roots appear super thick and root bound, use a sharp knife of scissors to gently loosen them up a little bit being careful not to damage the general root structure. Place the plant in the hole and gently fill in with the dirt. When done planting all your plants and after adding any structures for support, water thoroughly doing your best not to get the leaves wet and then sprinkle on the slug control pellets following label directions.
Tomatoes are one of the very few plants that you want to plant as deeply as possible. Most plants need to planted at, or just above, the soil line they are already at – otherwise their roots could rot. Tomatoes, on the other hands, can generate new roots from their stem. When planting tomato plants, plant them as deeply as the stem will go without burying any leaves.
When planting seeds or plants that need trellising or staking, add the support at the time of planting because you don’t want to injure roots after the plants start to grow.
After planting your garden, you will want to check in on it daily. Watering, weeding, staking, and harvesting are all activities that can be done as a family. I always look forward to spending a few minutes each morning drinking a cup of coffee while checking on my veggies. Kids get excited because each day in a garden can bring something new. Seeds sprout, plants grow, colorful bugs show up (hopefully not too many!), and then comes the harvest. Enjoying homegrown herbs and vegetables with your family is one of life’s greatest pleasures.
If you have any questions or would like additional advice on how to garden, feel free to contact me directly. I offer gardening advice and virtual programs.
Phone: 703 560-0257
Email: [email protected]
Happy Gardening!
Timeline for planting in the Washington DC area:
March & Early April:
Seeds to plant: Peas, carrots, kale, lettuce, spinach, arugula, beets, turnips, radishes, bok choy, swiss chard, and our herb friends dill and cilantro.
Plants to plant: Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, swiss chard, lettuce, parsley, rosemary, thyme, dill, cilantro
Early May – be sure to check 10 day forecast and make sure no frost is forecast before planting the following:
Seeds: pole beans, bush beans, cucumber, zucchini, yellow squash, pumpkins, melons, sunflowers, zinnias,
Plants: tomatoes, peppers, eggplants
Gardening supply resources:
Burpee – https://www.burpee.com/
Gardens Alive – Gardens Alive
Bonnie Plants – https://bonnieplants.com/
The Tasteful Garden – https://www.tastefulgarden.com/
Gardener’s Supply – Gardener’s Supply
