Gardening with kids can provide many great outdoor learning experiences.
- Sensory play – as they dig in the dirt, mixing with water and making mud (I recommend giving children a small space for their own use so that they don’t feel tempted to dig where seeds have been planted)
- Scientific exploration through questioning and observing: e.g. What plants need to survive? What bugs and animals come into the garden?
- Language experiences: Creating signs for garden beds, reading books together about different types of plants and how to garden.
- Math experiences through watching plants grow, measuring them and weighing them once harvested.
But the best of all happens once they pick the fruits of their labour. I have found that nothing makes a kid more eager to try out a new vegetable than when it has been once they have grown themselves.
But don’t let gardening intimidate you. Trust me, I am by no means an expert. I am just someone who has tried, failed and tried again, learning as I go—a skill I also want to encourage in my children. My Lockdown v.1 silver lining was that it gave me the chance to really slow down and learn about what it takes to grow a garden at home.
If you are keen to give gardening a go this year and want to get your kids involved, here is my personal list of easy to grow vegetables and fruit. The list contains those I have found to be the most successful, both to grow and consume.
9 easy to grow fruit and vegetables
Spinach
We plant this from seed and just let it grow wild. The kids love picking it off and munching on it as they play in the yard. It can be grown in the ground or a pot and doesn’t require too much in the way of care.
Strawberries
A few years ago, I purchased a small plant from Migros, and that single plant has now taken over the back section of our garden. I am now hoping to be able to make jam from it this year. If you don’t have a large space, don’t fret, strawberries grow well in most conditions. They are perfect for hanging pots on balconies too.
Potatoes
Did you know that you can grow potatoes from potatoes? All you need to do is plant potatoes in the ground and wait for the plant to start sprouting, adding more dirt on top as it grows. The more dirt you add, the more the plant will grow, the more potatoes you will get. Potatoes are not just for gardens either. If you are keen to have them on your balcony, you can do the same process in a large pot.
Carrots
Did you know you can grow a carrot from a carrot top? Just place the cut off carrot top in a small dish of water – once the leaves start to grow, you can plant it. Carrots also grow very easily from seeds. Tip: Selecting a baby carrot variety will mean a quicker growing time perfect for impatient kid gardeners.
Snow Peas
These are great, as they germinate very quickly and produce a lot of peas. Another great snack for the kids to munch whilst they are outside playing. They grow best when they have something to grow on, we use bamboo poles, but they can grow on lattice or on wireframes (Easily purchased from any DIY store.)
Herbs
We always add a variety of herbs to a garden. Not only are they tasty and smell nice, many act as natural insecticides. Thyme, rosemary, mint (be careful as mint will tend to take over any garden space), coriander and basil are our go-to herbs we like always to have handy. These grow well in gardens, planter boxes or hanging pots.
Zucchini
Although zucchini plants can grow quite large when left to grow in large spaces, you can grow them in smaller areas. Tip: To keep the plant smaller, pick the fruits earlier.
Cucumber
Cucumber is another excellent vine that can grow on balconies or in gardens. And another tasty snack that the kids can eat whilst they play.
Pumpkins
For these, you will need some space. Pumpkins grow easily from seed, and pruning keeps the plant smaller and allows it to concentrate its energy on the remaining vines and fruit.
What will you grow this year?
