Plots for children?

[LostthePlot]

My 6 year old wants to 'help' with growing stuff on the plot and I have earmarked a little bed for him to do this. What I would like to know is what would be a good assortment of plants to grow as different plants require different soil conditions or work better with companion plants. So is there there 'grape' out there who could suggest a good planting scheme for me to try? His plot is 4' x 6'. Many thanks?

[Hazel at the Hill]

No idea on the soil thing, LTP, but just having a think, and I would include:

• Anything with big seeds which are easy for little hands to sow - eg beans/peas
• Somethings which grow underground so your searching for hidden treasure come harvest time eg carrots
• Anything that grows quickly, to counter impatience eg ...say...lettuce?
• Flowers that can be picked to take home eg...dunno..sweet peas?
• Something fun like a sun flower that grows quickly and can be measured each visit...also the head can be cut down and hung for the birds.

Just some thoughts.... and its shows that your never too young to get the growing bug!

[rustylady]

What are his favourite veg? He'll be much more interested if he's growing something he likes eating. I've also found that children like quick results, so do include some radish. My granddaughter grew radish, chives, broad beans and sunflowers last year.

[Two_Sheds]

Just give him a trowel, a stick and a watering can - he'll play in the mud all day long!

[Two_Sheds]

Oh, a bean teepee might be fun - with a gap big enough for him to hide in.

[sanman]

My 3 boys 10,7,5 are very keen to start growing something. My eldest has saw the 3 sisters bed and all of them are very keen on growing that, I think the connection with indians was the attraction.

[LostthePlot]

Plenty of ideas there to help along the way. I'll have to sit down now and make a plan to keep things organised. Thanks a lot.

[shirlthegirl43]

My younger son didn't want to help with gardening last year, but I gave him a pot with dwarf beans in to care for. He enjoyed the speed of growth, the flowers, then watching the pods grow longer until they were the size he likes them best to eat! He has got the bug and this year is trying 2 or 3 different green dwarf beans, 2 types of yellow ones and purple teepee (thanks to Serenity for the seed) so he can compare the flavour of the different types. Cucumbers also fascinated my sons last year as you can measure them every day when you water them. They were both also impressed when we emptied out the pots of potatoes - never seen them so keen to get a boiled spud!! Hope your son enjoys success with whatever he grows.

[Bex]

My youngest son is 7 and he has his own part of the lottie. So far he's got 12 strawberry plants and a blackberry. He chose a few varieties of potatoes, 2 tubers of each at the potato day at Ryton and he's got sunflower seeds and lettuce ready to sow. That should keep him busy. He also helps me on the rest of the plot.

[nick the grief]

Mines 17 & does bugger all (well he did carry two bags of compost down the greenhouse today)

If you look in a suttons ( I think) cataloge they do a range of seeds for kids. There might be something in there that you could use.

I agree with the sunflowers always good, and the beans - you could grow something like Hestia or Hammonds dwarf though so they aren't 4ft above him. How about a marrow then he could see how big he can grow it. And Strawberries would be good as they are nice & sweet

[vicki lorraine]

My daughter is also a budding GYO.
Last year she grew carrots (round ones)
This year she has her own seeds ( a pack for a pound at poundland) which contains 6 different veg and also some beans. ( two varieties for a pound)
She is also growing some of PW carnival squash too.
We bought some Highland burgandy red and salad blue tatties from Ryton and also some blue and red sweetcorn from the seed swap there too.

Her friends have also got involved and are wanting to come and grow with us this year.

[kirsty b]

My daughter (6) is going to be having her own bed on my plot. I'm letting her grow strawbs, sweetcorn, rainbow carrots and her pumpkin for halloween. I daresay she'll help with other little jobs too.

Kirsty

[johnty greentoes]

My 10 year-old has aspirations to plant pumpkin (purple giant) and pumpkin (snowman) and wants to see if they cross so next year he can grow puple snowman.

[Hazel at the Hill]

My 10 year-old has aspirations to plant pumpkin (purple giant) and pumpkin (snowman) and wants to see if they cross so next year he can grow puple snowman.

Boom, boom!

Tell him he can find out if he clears his own patch of docks first!

[johnty greentoes]

Now he's asking about his share of the royalties if Purple Snowman takes off. I pointed out the need to do his share of the digging.