Starting out with kids

[HoofyLoo]

Don't worry, I've already grown the children! They are still little 3 and 4 yrs but have started taking an interest in helping and growing things. The eldest has asked if she can grow carrots this year.
I'm a novice myself and scrapped any ideas of a vegetable plot when I realised I can't dedicate enough time. However, I have been thinking of getting some of the vegetable grow bags from wilkos:

"Wilko" Wilko Grow Bag Vegetable 2pk at wilko.com bag

My thinking being if the kids lose interest I'm not left with half the garden dug over or lots of pots and it might actually make me remember how much I loved gardening.

Do you think these are a good starting point? I was thinking of chantenay carrots, rocket, tomatoes and maybe peas (I've got bamboo to build a frame)?

Have you any other suggestions? We have a patio area that I was going to put these vegetable grow bags on, it gets a fair amount of sun.

Thank you - oh and I'll post this under novices too!

[HoofyLoo]

starting with kids

Don't worry, I've already grown the children! They are still little 3 and 4 yrs but have started taking an interest in helping and growing things. The eldest has asked if she can grow carrots this year.
I'm a novice myself and scrapped any ideas of a vegetable plot when I realised I can't dedicate enough time. However, I have been thinking of getting some of the vegetable grow bags from wilkos:

"Wilko" Wilko Grow Bag Vegetable 2pk at wilko.com bag

My thinking being if the kids lose interest I'm not left with half the garden dug over or lots of pots and it might actually make me remember how much I loved gardening.

Do you think these are a good starting point? I was thinking of chantenay carrots, rocket, tomatoes and maybe peas (I've got bamboo to build a frame)?

Have you any other suggestions? We have a patio area that I was going to put these vegetable grow bags on, it gets a fair amount of sun.

Thank you - oh and I'll post this under novices too!

[darcyvuqua]

Egg shell heads with cress to fill the empty gap for impatient kids

And yeah it is a good starting point I started with a few tubs/pots then added more and more then decided on an allotment you will soon realise how addictive it is and how interested your children become

Good luck


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[HoofyLoo]

Ahhh we have lots of egg shells due to keeping chickens! That's an afternoons activity sorted! A bit of wet kitchen towel and cress seeds in the bottom from what I remember?!
Thank you!

[darcyvuqua]

Ahhh we have lots of egg shells due to keeping chickens! That's an afternoons activity sorted! A bit of wet kitchen towel and cress seeds in the bottom from what I remember?!
Thank you!

Yeah I usually save that stuff for wet days but no harm in starting now

Hope you enjoy


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[rozza2014]

Hi,

We got our allotment the other week, and have started with 2 children (3 and 6).

They really enjoy planting things and seeing them grow, so we intend to start them with some lettuce and radish, so that they can see some result quickly.

Although we are still clearing our veg beds and getting rid of weeds. The kids love helping to dig, but hate picking out weeds .

I would defo suggest doing some sort of lettuce. Perhaps get the kids to plant some sunflowers too?

[Bren In Pots]

Two-sheds made grass heads with the kids at school i can't find her post so instead heres one of google.

Cutest Grass Heads - Step by Step Instructions to Make

[bretty666]

It may be too late to use my tip this year but i cheat. the kids 3+7 have a small raised bed each. i overwinter a few crops ..let the kids plant a load oc seeds then in the night i transplant a few overwintered veg into their plots otherwise all they see when there are just seeds in their patch is a tidy digging space.....but with some greenery in it they dint dig and are impressed at the rapid growth rate....but then again im a nutter?

[veggiechicken]

I've merged these 2 threads so that all the answers are in one place

[Mumbles]

We have a couple of beds in our back garden and my daughter (4) is always nagging for her own growing space and we've just got an allotment so have said I'll make her a little bed of her own on there. She loves gardening and is always going out to check there's no bugs eating my plants, going to let her lose with this new bed, cant wait to see what she does with her own space


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[darcyvuqua]

We have a couple of beds in our back garden and my daughter (4) is always nagging for her own growing space and we've just got an allotment so have said I'll make her a little bed of her own on there. She loves gardening and is always going out to check there's no bugs eating my plants, going to let her lose with this new bed, cant wait to see what she does with her own space


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How old is she?


4 what a plonker!!!


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[Methe]

Mine are 5 and 9 and I took their bikes to the allotment last weekend and they spent 4 hours playing dr who riding up and down. It was nice to be able to ignore them and know they were safe.

Mine hate picking out the weeds too. I did manage to bribe them in to pick out stones... 2p a stone! It worked for an hour or so

[RedThorn]

I started with my eldest when she was 4, she absolutely loved helping dig up potatoes, getting to dig and find treasures at same time, what kid wouldn't. She's 9 now, and I'm working away from house for last few weeks, sent me a pic, she's taken it on herself to plant me seeds for me and popped them in heated propergators all off her own knowledge of the growing seasons . I'm so proud of her.

[MrsCordial]

Hello. I have a 5 and a 12 yr old, both of whom get very excited about sowing seeds and seeing things grow. DS (5) gives me a running commentary each morning on what's germinating on the windowsills! They both enjoy starting things off in windowsill planters and really enjoy eating the end results. My 12 yr old bought some seed potatoes last weekend and got very fed up planting every single one, but I think at 12 she's old enough to start shouldering some of the graft as well as doing the fun bits.

My first thought was don't grow carrots in growbags as they won't be deep enough, but I'm sure you knew that Personally I don't like growing in pots and bags as I'm bad at keeping them watered, but I'm fortunate to have a big veg patch. It gets weedy but it's basically ready to roll. In your situation I'd prepare a small part of the garden. Even if the big ideas don't work out, you'll never regret having a patch with a few herbs in it. As the children get older and you have more time you can expand the veg patch. Last spring/summer DS was four and it was the first time since his birth that I'd really gone for it with the veg patch. Now I'm in my stride and it's just a case of preventing him trampling the seedlings!