Four Ideas for Gardening with Kids

“The love of gardening is a seed  that once sown never dies.” -Gertrude Jekyll. 

I remember being a little girl, and I was always playing in the “dirt.” My Grandma had the most impressive garden full of snapdragons. My brother and I would make them talk and hiss at each other. Let’s just say that was always one of my favorite parts of going to her house. To this day, I believe spending time in my Grandma’s garden was the catalyst to my love for horticulture. I may not have realized it then, but I am truly grateful for it. Think about your childhood, can you recollect a moment in time that brought you to plants that you may have forgotten? Take a deep breath and try to remember. What did that moment look like? Smell like? Plants have a way of connecting us to our memories.

Over the years we have learned that gardening assists to lower stress, reduce anxiety, and encourage inquiry and exploration within both children and adults. The benefits of the connection with nature certainly outweigh the dirty clothes and leaf litter that may be tracked in the house. Whether you have 10 acres or a 5×7 patio, there are opportunities for you to build memories with your children, niece, nephew, or even your dog! (Our dog LOVES to be out in the garden, you’ll meet her soon enough.) We’ve compiled a list of four easy ways to garden with your children. Our little one excitedly runs out the door ready to “go to work,” just about every Saturday morning. So get to work! Take the kids outside for some Vitamin D and get their hands dirty!

Four Ideas on How to Garden with Your Kids

1. Create an herb garden! This is great for those with apartments or small patios. You can use decorative containers, nursery pots, terracotta pots, or maybe even upcycle a colander! Pick up some soil and herbs from your local retail nursery or Home Depot and you’re in business! The best time to plant herbs is from October to May. Florida’s rainy season in the summer can put a damper on herb growth.  To learn more about growing herbs in Florida, we recommend utilizing the UF/IFAS resource, ‘Herbs in the Florida Garden.’ Linked here: Herbs in the Florida Garden – Gardening Solutions – University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences 
2. Plant sunflowers in your yard, raised bed, or as a border along your property line. There’s just something about sunflowers that kids LOVE! They grow quickly, so kids can see the progression easily. Shoot, grab a yard stick and have the kids measure the progression of their sunflowers. (Do I hear a science fair project calling?!) We suggest reviewing information about sunflowers here: Sunflowers – University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (ufl.edu). We purchase most of our sunflower seeds from Johnny’s Selected Seeds (johnnyseeds.com). Sow your seeds in March-April for a nice summer bloom before the heavy rains!
3. Fairy Gardens are a great way to showcase your child’s creativity. Head to your local nursery or Home Depot for a terracotta pot, some succulents, and soil. You can add your own touch by purchasing fairy garden benches, cottages, etc. or just upcycle your child’s old toys! Fairy garden, how about a Hot Wheels garden?! The opportunities are endless, plus succulents are low maintenance and are great for patios. Check out this great how-to by Home Depot for help: Fairy Garden Ideas (homedepot.com) 
4. Earthboxes are perfect for the gardener with minimal space, but love produce. Earthboxes are small in size, but can house tomatoes, peppers, squash, and even corn! They have a larger upfront cost (roughly $70 per box, but that comes with fertilizer & soil), but are easier to maintain than raised beds or row crops in your yard. Connecting your kids to the process of growing fruits and vegetables encourages healthier eating in the kitchen. You can purchase your Earthbox here EarthBox® | Successful Container Gardening Systems or in Palmetto, Florida. 

If you plan on growing vegetables or fruits, be sure to utilize the UF/IFAS Home Gardening Info Site. You can enter your zip code to learn when you should plant certain crops! Home – Florida Fresh (ufl.edu) We hope you are encouraged to take your kids outside, enjoy our gorgeous Florida weather, and explore the wonderful world of gardening!