Gardening with a young child

[frogga]

My daughter is only 2 years old and has taken a very impressive interest in gardening. She enjoys going out everyday to see the patches (whatever the weather) and harvesting all the crops. Is there anyone with advice on good crops to keep her interested in this that grow very quickly, as it would be good to keep this interest in her for life. Also can suitable tools be bought for young children?

Andrew

[Pinfold Plotter]

Things like radishes and lettuce grow quite quickly. There isn't much that will put on much growth outside at the moment, but come summer you could plant some dwarf beans in a mini patch for her. Courgettes, if you can get hold of a non spiny variety, would also be good in the summer as they are usually prolific and she could be picking one a day. You could also try something novel like a walking stick kale that will grow taller that her over a few years; we planted some this year and they are up to my thigh now, next year they should be up to my chest the year after that, over my shoulders.

[veggiechicken]

What about putting some peas in a pot indoors. They germinate very quickly and you can pick and eat the leaves as pea shoots. I use Leo brand dried peas and sow them really thickly. Quick, cheap and edible at any stage.

[chris]

seed heads, hips, etc are around now - I explain to my young one about those, bulbs planted ready for spring too - we check them weekly (hehe)

[frogga]

Thanks for the replies, I'm buying her a 1m x 1m raised bed for Christmas and some of her favourite veg seeds. We have leeks, parsnips, carrots and plenty of brassicas in the ground for the winter, and today we are sowing onions, cress and a leaf salad mix to keep her occupied until the warmer weather arrives.

Andrew

[redser]

There's nothing like pulling a carrot. Spotting spuds as you you dig up the earth is exciting for kids too. Picking strawberries and popping them straight in your mouth is pure magic

[gardenpassion]

I have three children and they all love the lottie, they love growing flowers, (cornflowers/sunflowers) and today my 7 year old took to painting old pallets thatI will use for some structure or other! Each have their own area and are offered a range of things to grow, (but to keep in the rotation needed) They love the independance of having their own space so am sure your daughter will love the raised bed. What about planting a few rasp canes just now? I know they take a lot of space, but I have just 4 specifically for the children to pick at when they come up to lottie, keeps them keen!! Cress in an old half egg shell is always a good hit and she could draw a face on it too!! I have just done hyasynths (cant spell it sorry) with the brownies which went well and fun to watch over winter.

[Nes]

My 2 year old spent half the summer popping peas. Kept her happy while I dug, and supplied one of her 5 a day. I also got her a small watering can which she fills from a bucket - a favourite passtime was watering (mostly the paths and making great muddy puddles!). She was also very good at helping to harvest things like beans - mostly she just took my handfuls and put them in the trug - and finding potatoes as I was digging them up. She also enjoyed digging and finding worms, centipedes and stones. She just used a small plastic beach spade and bucket. You can buy nice child sized metal trowels and hand forks if you prefer - you can find these in garden centres and larger supermarkets.

It's the right time of year to plant garlic for overwintering now, so that's a possible activity - easy for little hands to manipulate. You might like to try growing mung beans with her too - they're ready to eat in just a few days.

[chilli_grower]

Hi Andrew.

I also have a 2 year old daughter, and she loved picking and bagging up nice long runner beans this summer....

I can't offer any gardening advice, as I am a newbie to all this! But I can tell you that I loved watching my daughter getting her hands dirty in the soil and compost and running around the garden with runner beans!!!

Some of them were almost as tall as she is!!!

[frogga]

I'm going to take her to the garden centre today and buy her a range of children's tools and a watering can that she can have as an early Christmas present. We have strawberries in towers around the garden that she enjoyed picking through the summer, but would not eat them. Hopefully next year she will be even happier, and I may even have a competition between me, my partner and our daughter to have the biggest potato from a container.

Andrew

[sammy_roser]

An old one but a good one is having a competition to grow the tallest sunflower. The heads provide bird food throughout the winter as well.

[Two_Sheds]

There's nothing like pulling a carrot.

There's nowt wrong with planting a few supermarket ones in the new bed too ~ something for her to see an instant result.

[BUFFS]

i found perpetual spinach was very good as they can pull one or two leaves off each and come back for more a few days later,counting them and alloting them was interesting,so many for nan,so many for grandad,and so on through the household,but you do have to recount ,to show nan,when they are brought inside,watch their face when you look at the cooked veg and ask whose is whose,trying to figure out how to share them...they tend to like veg they have picked themselves..