Get your children involved in your gardening

There are a few “rules” that need to be followed with gardening with kids:

1. It needs to be fast. Pick plants that grow quickly radishes, spinach and transplanted material it helps for them to see something green quick.

2. Pick plants that you can clean off and eat while they are standing right in the garden. Do not make kids pick it, wash it, have mom and dad process it, cook it, and then wait until supper before they get to eat it (that’s no fun)

3. Pick vegetables that they like and if they do not like them use melted cheese or ranch dressing. Who does not like cheese and ranch dressing?

4. Give them their own space. This may be difficult in some situations but it is very important that they have their own space for which they are “responsible” but, not a chore chores are no fun. This is not Little House on the Prairie or Swiss Family Robinson where we are talking about the garden being survival. Having their own space can be as simple as having a container garden this can be something as simple as a 5 gallon pail.

5. Make sure that they are part of the planning. Don’t just give them a list of vegetables and a bunch of seeds that they have to go plant. Have them come with you to the garden center or nursery to pick out transplants.

6. MOST IMPORTANT RULE: HAVE FUN!

Some Quick ideas to make it fun:

Plant rows of quick growing plants that spell their initials of name.
Pole Bean Tee Pee
Plants with edible flowers
Red White and Blue Potatoes
Red White and Blue Flowers