Simple Garden Projects for Kids

Any age is the perfect age for gardening.

Kid Chef was 20 months old when I shot that video. "No" represented a large part of his vocabulary back then, but I assure you, he enjoyed digging in the dirt! And picking. And weeding. And watering. And tasting.

Why Parents Should Garden with Their Children

Children of all ages reap the benefits of working and learning alongside parents in a variety of garden settings – from tiny herb boxes to bountiful berry patches.

Toddlers revel in imitating their loved ones, which makes them the prime age for gardening. These little helpers have a curious nature that attracts them to the garden, where caregivers can creatively teach and nurture.

How to Start a Small Garden

Small gardening spaces work well for beginning gardeners. Children have a reputation for impatience, so they enjoy gardening projects that produce fast results. Vegetables that grow quickly such as lettuce, spinach and radishes, keep their attention throughout the entire growing season. Radishes take only about 21 days to produce.  A new crop can be sown at least once a month, if the bunnies don't get them first!

Portable herb gardens give the tiniest gardeners – even apartment dwellers – a manageable space to cultivate. Raised flower beds that stand about 12 to 18 inches high also work well for toddlers because they provide a waist-high environment that youngsters can easily dig into. Small raised beds (3 feet by 3 feet, for example) enable preschoolers to explore every inch of soil. And there's just enough room to plant a tomato in the center with a border of other vegetables for herbs.

Best Fruits and Vegetables for Kids to Grow

Choose plants that produce a bounty of fruit. Children want to pick as much food as possible, so plan on some of the fruit getting picked before it has ripened. No worries! A single cherry or grape tomato plant could yield hundreds of tiny tomatoes. Small berry patches provide a fun challenge that encourages little ones to search for hidden treasures among the vines and leaves.

Happy gardening! Don't forget to watch us grow on Facebook.

Until next time,
Tricia