A grand gardening idea: Projects in gardening for kids. These hands-on vegetable gardening projects help teach kids the lifetime benefits of gardening.
Gardening Idea - Gardening for Kids
Growing pumpkins is a great introduction to gardening for kids. The Connecticut Field Pumpkin variety is usually chosen for making Jack O'Lanterns. They typically grow 10 to 20 pounds each, but can grow up to 50 pounds. See how to plant pumpkins in my article, Growing Vegetables, Part III.
Gardening Idea - Gardening for Kids
Put a sweet potato into a glass of water in your kitchen window. Kids love to watch it sprout.
Gardening Tip
Many people grow sweet potato purely for its ornamental value as ground cover or in hanging baskets. It makes a cheap and attractive plant. See how to plant sweet potato in my article, Growing Vegetables, Part III.
Gardening Idea - Gardening for Kids
Children love sunflowers, and especially, mammoth sunflowers. They will be amazed at how tall this attractive plant grows from such a small seed. After harvesting, you can feed the seeds to the birds, make decorations with them in craft projects, or let the family eat them!
Gardening Idea - Gardening for Kids
Let the kids plant radishes or scallions. These quick-growing vegetables will delight the children because they can see the fruits of their labor faster.
Gardening Idea - Gardening for Kids
Section them off their own little garden plot. Let them choose what they want to plant. You can buy child-sized plastic hoes, rakes, watering cans, and wheelbarrows. Allow them to "play gardener." Your child's garden can include flowers (just make sure they're not toxic) and vegetables.
Texas A&M University website, Kinder Garden
A wonderful website with a wealth of resources for getting kids involved in gardening is Texas A&M University's webpage for kids, Kinder Garden. I highly recommend it - it has many gardening-related activites children will love!
Kids Growing With Dutch Bulbs School Grant Program
This grant program is sponsored by the Mailorder Gardening Association. The 12th annual grant awards schools with a package of 200 premium Dutch flowering bulbs and related educational activities. Its aim is to teach kids the benefits of gardening first hand. Let your child's school know about this program!
The NGA's Adopt A Garden™ Programs
The National Gardening Association has an Adopt a School Garden™ program. This is a great program where sponsors adopt schools and the NGA helps the school set up a garden. Read more about it at the link provided.
###
©By Sally Morton, April 2006. Reproduction without permission prohibited.
