Are you constantly asking how to get your kids eating more vegetables? It can be a struggle., but if you get them involved in growing their own, kids can take a much bigger interest in eating their veggies. The list below will give you an easy start to growing your own vegetables with your kids.
WHY GARDEN WITH KIDS?
Gardening with kids has many benefits. It’s good for the kids, good for you, and good for the environment.
In today’s age, we should take every opportunity to get out from behind our devices and do some good outside. Gardening will make your kids spend more time outside, while also giving them something they are responsible for. A small task of weeding and watering a plant each day requires consistency and responsibility for your kids.
Also, teaching kids how to garden allows you to spend some quality time together, engaging in a timeless human activity. It gives them the chance to eat fresh, nutritious, and delicious produce regularly. Lastly, the more involved your kids become with their food, the more they will learn about and appreciate the food cycle.
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WHEN TO START GARDENING WITH KIDS
You can start teaching them how to garden anytime. In the winter and off-season, we start planning next season’s garden. We usually look back at old notes, seed catalogs and talk about what plants grew the best in specific areas of our garden last year. We decide what new plants we want to try, and what old ones we will keep in the rotation. Get your kids involved with the planning, and have them help sketch out a diagram of the garden.
Since kids can be so impatient, begin by choosing a few of the easiest vegetables to grow. Try getting started by growing seedlings indoors as well. We like to get plants started indoors during the late winter and early spring months, then transplanting them outside once the frost lifts.
With small pots or styrofoam cups and a bit of soil, your kids can start planting seeds like beans or tomatoes. Depending on the size of your container, these plants can grow to a variety of sizes before they’re ready for the main garden.
Planting the easiest vegetables to grow inside during the winter months will keep your children interested in gardening, and give them something to look forward to checking up on every day.
Getting started gardening with your kids is easier than you think. However, it’s important to choose the right vegetables. Remember, some vegetables can take months to harvest, and your kids could get impatient and lose interest.
In the winter months, we set up a small hydroponic garden in the kitchen. Here we grow microgreens and start seedlings to plant in the main garden when spring arrives.
If you don’t have hydroponics, get a few small pots and place them near a window with a lot of natural light. For outdoor gardening, we have a small patch of garden designated the kids’ zone. With some assistance, they plant their seeds and seedlings and are responsible for watering and weeding their garden every day.
7 Easiest Vegetables To Grow With Your Kids
Check out seven of the easiest vegetables to grow for new gardeners and children.
BEANS
Kids love growing beans. Green beans grow fast and provide a high yield. Plus, kids can harvest and snack on them right in the field. The short plant allows children to harvest the plant themselves. And the high yield means they’ll be busy harvesting for awhile!
Kidney beans are another easy option for growing vegetables indoors with kids. Just grab a few dried kidney beans. Then place them between two layers of damp paper towel in a glass jar. Put the jar in a warm, sunny window. Keep the paper moist. Those beans should sprout in a few days and be ready to transplant to a planter in about 10 days. This simple seed germination activity for kids helps them learn about how plants and vegetables start to grow.
POTATOES
Growing potatoes is easy, and kids love to dig them out of the ground. Try using the eyes from potatoes you have eaten. This can be a great lesson for kids, showing them how to reuse parts of old plants to grow more.
CHERRY TOMATOES
Tomatoes grow incredibly fast and keep kids excited. A single plant could produce many tomatoes. Many plants will continue ripening new tomatoes on the vine for weeks. Try growing tomatoes from seeds or seedlings.
Tomatoes are also one of the easiest vegetables to grow in containers indoors. Find a sunny, warm spot in your home and watch them grow.
LETTUCE
Possibly the easiest vegetable to plant and grow successfully, planting lettuce gives your kids something simple to start with. We suggest buying lettuce seeds or seedlings and starting with a good variety.
The different colors and leaves will keep your kids’ interest. And lettuce grows fast. Your lettuce plants could be ready to harvest within three to four weeks depending on the variety. As an added bonus, they will continue to grow throughout the season, so your little ones can keep on harvesting.
CARROTS
For some reason, kids seem to love growing carrots. Carrots are just plain fun to harvest! Even better, even the fussiest eaters will be excited to try their own homegrown carrots.
Also, you can buy seeds for different colored carrots, like purple ones. Purple carrots, you say? This will definitely keep your kids interested.
PUMPKINS
These don’t necessarily grow quickly, but it’s a joy for every child to grow their own pumpkin for Halloween. By the time the fall harvest arrives, the kids will be excited to harvest their pumpkin and start carving their own Jack-O-Lantern.
RADISHES
Some kids might not like the taste of radishes, but they’re extremely easy to grow. They’ll grow just about anywhere, and sprout within a few days. They’re ready to harvest in about 30 days. Quick enough for your kids to find out if they like the taste.
Some of the easiest vegetables to grow are the most simple and delicious. Whatever you decide to grow with your kids, they will enjoy it. Gardening will teach them responsibility, and keep them outdoors appreciating nature as much as possible. Even the fastest-growing plants take a few weeks, so it will also teach your kids patience. Get started planning a garden with your kids today, and have everything ready to go by the time spring arrives.
