Do You Know How to Hang Christmas Lights? Colors include red, orange, yellow, white, pink and striped. Different varieties grow from 16 inches to 4 feet tall. Select plants that begin with letters that spell out the child’s name – they can be a combination of edible plants like veggies, herbs, fruit trees and flowers or ornamentals. The sweet potato vine's claim to fame is its starring role as an ideal "spiller" in containers and window boxes. Beans are incredibly easy to grow, and the more beans you pick, the more your plant will produce. Like cantaloupe, plant them in hills and give them need lots of space (7 to 10 feet between hills). In small spaces, a few pots and containers will be enough. Blossoms are sweet with a peppery watercress flavor and contain Vitamin C. They’re beautiful on salads and sandwiches. With the right amount of water and sunshine, it's easy to grow daisies. Organic Garden Kit for Kids. GROW FROM SEED 1. Plant onions seedlings or “sets” (small onion bulbs), available from garden centers and catalogs in the spring. These bold, sunny-faced flowers come in an array of sizes ranging from a foot tall to 15 feet tall! Types meant for drying, such as pinto, kidney, and black beans, stay on the vine until the pods become brown – they make an exciting package for curious kids to open, with shiny, colorful seeds inside. Let them try their hand at growing snap peas, cherry tomatoes, strawberries, or herbs. Fruit matures in mid to late summer. shrubs have long canes that grow to heights of five to 10 feet tall. Flower colors include red, pink, white, and purple. Young children enjoy growing this plant as a special treat for their feline friends. They grow and blossom best in cooler temperatures. Keep soil evenly moist to ensure even germination of seed. Plant it along borders where small hands can reach it easily. not only provide fruit early to mid-summer, they are attractive, low-maintenance shrubs with good fall color. has attractive green foliage with a refreshing citrus flavor. Let them try their hand at growing snap peas, cherry tomatoes, strawberries, or herbs. Plant a few different kinds so you’ll have a rainbow of colors to harvest. Make a garden space just for the kids. live for three or more years. Biennial. are vining plants with fruits that come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. It will also teach them how a greenhouse works. Varieties to Try:Sweet Caroline Sweetheart LimeSweet Caroline Bewitched After Midnight. blossoms are made up of papery bracts (modified leaf structures) that make them easy to dry for play and for craft projects. Annual. Succulents are super easy to grow, and they come in a rainbow of colors and hundreds of shapes and sizes! It grows easily and very quickly, and prefers the cool temperatures of spring and fall. Lifespans vary, with some lasting just a few years and others living for decades. Most are eaten raw to add a spicy flavor to salads. It is also commonly used in cooking with breads, meats and vegetables. Plus, fresh air, sunshine, and getting your hands dirty might just lead to a clearer mind—it’s worth a try, right?. Additional Kids Winter Activities. Leaves are also edible. Give children their own positive experience by introducing them to some inspiring plants; Easy flowers to grow from seed include as sunflower, marigolds and poppies and big seeds from trees such as oak or sycamore But did you know that this eye-catching chartreuse stunner is also the result of a super fun science project your kids will love? If you do plant them in the heat of summer, monitor water needs frequently. There is a wide array of plant species in the Children’s Garden — including a 100-year-old Mulberry Tree that’s perfect for climbing. Opt for wildlife-friendly plants. Kidsafe NSW recognises the importance of gardening with children to build life skills, inspire creativity, grow and harvest food, role model safe practices and a respect for nature. But they’re awfully fun to grow because they come in every size and hue, from the palest white to bright orange. When picking plants, consider your kids’ interests. The most flexible planting time in most areas is in the spring after chance of frost has passed, but many will also thrive if planted in summer or fall. They’re easy to grow and produce cheerful, vibrant, flowers. Varieties to Try:PepitasKandy Korn Plus Hybrid. The plants can grow tall and a bit wild looking, but they are heat and drought tolerant. Plant seeds directly in the garden or in pots in full sun after the last frost. Annual. Many tomatoes are actually long vines that require staking, but newer cherry tomato varieties have been bred to be compact and tidy so they grow best in pots. Watch it grow, then transplant to a pot or into the ground. Let children smell and taste the leaves, and add them to tea and fruit salads. Annual. Varieties to try:SeychellesScarlet Runner. Try growing them on a trellis, fence, or bamboo tepee. Gardening with children can be a scary endeavor. Let your children select an array of succulents from the garden centre. Perennial in zones 8-10; annual elsewhere. Bee hotels and plants and pots to make gardening fun. Some types, such as the heirloom variety Scarlet Runner, attract hummingbirds too. They prefer cool temperatures but do not tolerate frost. A must for a child’s garden, plant just one or two, since they take a lot of room. provide sweet, refreshing fruit and are a wonderful source of Vitamins A and C. These vining plants require lots of room to spread (leave at least 5 feet between standard plants, and 3 feet between compact “bush” varieties). A great way to introduce kids to them is as water garden plants. The tops grow quickly for student sampling. Herbs are the best starter plant for toddlers and young kids. Annual. Chive flowers are also edible and come in white, lavender, or purple. If in … Pollinators love it. This herb is used to flavor dill pickles, dressings, fish, and dips. leaves are packed with powerful nutrients such as Vitamins A, C, iron and calcium. Annual. , sometimes called pot marigolds, look more like daisies, with bright flowers in a range of yellows and oranges. Some have an upright growth habit, while trail. Fill the glass with water to cover the bottom of sweet potato. (bee balm) attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and bees, providing lots opportunity for exciting observation. It doesn't have to be a nightmare. They come in red, orange, pink, purple and white, with some variegated and double blossoms. Plant selection for children Children like large, brightly coloured flowers and vegetables that grow quickly. are tall, old-fashioned garden favorites that are fairly drought tolerant and easy to grow. , grown for its green, immature flower buds, is a tasty treat that is also high in nutritional value. Remove spent blooms to encourage new flowers. Encouraging your children to be outside in the garden is all about fun! After you harvest, leave the stalks in place and let kids play hide-and-seek in the patch, and use the stalks to make decorations. Aunt Molly’s Ground Cherries (Physalis spp.) To grow a vine from a whole sweet potato:Take a whole sweet potato (pointy side down) and poke four toothpicks around the middle, then rest the potato on the lip of a clear glass (a Mason jar works great). Glass jar gardens are the perfect size for little hands. This hardy, best perennial for your garden with an adorable name has velvety, silver foliage (that resembles lamb’s ears, of course!) There is a wide array of plants in a garden center. is grown for edible petioles (leaf stalks) and leaves. Leaves that grow bigger than their heads? has attractive yellow flowers that bloom throughout the summer. is a cheery, daisy-like flower that has a long bloom period. Wild strawberry, Fragaria vesca; children will love hunting for the small, sweet, delicious fruit. 4. … That’s a relative term though, as smaller types may still require about six square feet of space! All have attractive, feathery leaves. They are a fun size for small children, especially when they grow alongside a cabbage for size comparison. Many adult gardeners keep journals about what works and what … 3. So, get excited to spend some fun times in the dirt with your kids. are packed with health-promoting nutrients and taste great fresh from the garden! Thompson & Morgan Wooden Herb Chalk Board Thompson & Morgan have created an amazing small herb garden that can be planted up by young gardeners. Place gravel in the base of a large jar, top with a layer of compost, and then lower in the plants and arrange into a display. and unique flower spikes. Varieties to Try:Snow Lady ShastaCrazy Daisy Shasta. Send kids around the garden to collect them like Easter Eggs. In eight weeks, the buds will flower revealing hundreds of seed kernels. , another plant for sensory exploration, derives it’s name from the pleasing pineapple-like odor of the crushed leaves. Annual. A kids garden is a wonderful place; Plants for kids garden can include healthy veggies but also flowers and herbs; Kids that grow vegetables are also far more likely to eat them You can also create fun themes for them (check out the pizza garden at the end of this post!) In this list, we divide them into cool-season and warm-season annuals. Annual. Use the following list as a guide for easy-to-grow suggestions. Bonus: These bold, jungle-like perennials come back year after year. Blossoms close at night and in cloudy weather – have children watch for these changes. The variety 'Bright Lights' is popular with kids because its stems and leaf veins come in a range of bright colors, including yellow, pink, red, orange, purple, white, and green. They have a fascinating growth habit: After pollination the flower stalk stretches down to touch the soil, and fruits (peanuts) develop underground. Flower petals are bittersweet. Types meant for drying, such as pinto, kidney, and black beans, stay on the vine until the pods become brown – they … shrubs range from 4 to 6 feet tall. To make this easier, I’ve made a list of some fun and easy garden plants for kids and beginners to grow. Try planting bright and cheerful flowers like marigolds, sunflowers, and some of the best flowers that bloom in summer. Does your child love color and art? Our Weird and Contrasting Plants area illustrates nature’s amazing diversities and adaptions to the environment, while the greenhouse demonstrates propagation and … The fruit comes in a papery husk and tastes like pineapple mixed with butterscotch. is a compact herb plant with attractive pink and purple flowers. Here are a few to get you started: Paint terra cotta pots for container gardening; Turn popsicle sticks into plant labels with bright paint or markers Varieties to Try: Royal CarpetCarpet of Snow, Your Christmas Dessert Table Needs These Recipes. Gourds have been used for thousands of years for decorative purposes and also used as early bottles, storage containers (the first Tupperware), utensils (spoons), and musical instruments. are a summer time favorite and rewarding for kids to grow. The best advice that I can give is to check what you already have in the garden, and only to buy new plants that are safe (most are, and they are labelled). Pole beans are great for creating child-friendly structures like tepees and tunnels. It’s not particularly fussy and tolerates drought and poor soil. Experiencing success in growing plants as a child is often a person's first memory of gardening. Its scent is wonderful. small backyard that makes a big statement, 15 Plants That Give You More Bang for Your Buck, These Kitchen Plants Will Brighten Up Your Space. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, 60 Types of Flowers You Should Have in Your Garden, The Best Indoor Trees for Every Room of Your House, Winter Flowers to Get you Through the Doldrums, Your Yard Needs These Perennial Flowers and Plants, 20 Low-Maintenance Flowers for the Lazy Gardener, 20 Perennial Herbs for Your Edible Garden. Do not leave buckets of water unattended around very young children and toddlers. The trumpet-shaped flowers bloom prolifically and come in a wide range of colors, some with interesting patterns including stripes and speckles. Look for plants, which will bear fruit the first season. Dozens of varieties are available in many different colors (reds, purples, and all shades of green). The herb is a favorite in Greek, Italian, and Mexican cooking. seeds are large enough for kids to handle easily and plant, and they grow quickly, some maturing in as few as 45 days. These 10 fun and interactive plants are a sure fire way to get your kids off the couch and into nature. It grows slowly at the outset, but can reach 2 to 3 feet. Try planting a garden for bees and pollinators so your kids can study them; single-bloom old-fashioned flowers in purples, yellows, whites, and blues are typically best. Plant it in full sun. Pumpkins take up a lot of space in the garden, with vines that may stretch up to 20 feet long, although newer varieties are more compact. Harvest roots while fairly young – they can become tough and fibrous when they grow too large. If you're looking for a way to transition your kids from screen time to green time, gardening might be just the answer you're looking for. The red, pink, white, purple, and blue flowers are borne on spikes and attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Annual. Entertain your children with a range of educational activities that have been developed, in collaboration with the RHS, for four- to seven-year olds. They’re excellent cut flowers that also attract butterflies. To kids, harvesting root crops is like digging for buried treasure! Sunflowers will sprout in one week, become a small seedling in two weeks, and should be 2′ tall in a month. are plants that complete their life cycle during one growing season; that is, they sprout from seed, blossom, set seed, and die within a short time. It’s a mint, so make sure it doesn’t take over the garden. For those of you new to the gardening world, it's helpful to become familiar with a few plant terms to help you navigate through the myriad choices. They are hardy and grow well in hot, dry conditions. is another daisy-type flowers with white, pink, red, orange, yellow, and some bi-color blossoms. Plus, they’re versatile: Eat them, decorate with them, roast the seeds, or try your hand at these easy pumpkin-carving ideas. They grow well in sunny locations and well-drained soil, and established plants are fairly drought tolerant. The new range of Seedboms are flower and wildflower mixes that encourage growing in the 'Guerilla Gardening' style. They’re known for their edible seeds and seed oil, but the unopened buds and flower petals can also be eaten and taste like a mild artichoke. Flowers range from white through yellows and dark red. Common biennial plants include carrots and onions. Be sure to … You’ll find two main categories – cool season and warm season plants – so you can plan to have something blooming or ready to harvest for most of the gardening year. Plants to inspire children. Kids love pinching their velvety, tubular flowers to make the “dragon’s jaws” snap! Annual. Biennial. They vary in skin color (white, brown, yellow, red, or purple), shape, and flavor (from sweet to spicy). They produce vigorous vines that need support from a fence or sturdy trellis and lots of space to produce well. 132 Intervale Road, Burlington, VT 05401 | [email protected]. can be eaten fresh, added to salads, or turned into pickles. Miniature varieties may only need 6 to 8 square feet, but large types need between 50 and 100 square feet for healthy growth. New flower colors are being developed, but the most common are purple, white, or yellow. Your plants can create a beautiful environment, whether they are in a garden, a raised bed or a pot, and you and your children will enjoy every stage of the process. Plants such as sunflowers, corn and pumpkins are good examples. They’re easy to grow and bloom continuously throughout the growing season. 2. come in hundreds of varieties, ranging from dwarf plants up to 3 feet tall, and in a rainbow of colors, some of which are specked and striped. This shrub likes full sun and comes in a variety of sizes, from two to five feet tall, so read the plant label to make sure you give it ample space. Flowers are white or blue flowers and you can choose varieties with upright growth or with trailing branches. 1. germinate in 3 to 7 days and many are ready for little hands to harvest 30 to 45 days. Seeds for sugar snap peas, mini pumpkins, corn, carrots, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers are included. You can grow dwarf varieties no taller than your students or giants that tower to 8 feet tall. Plants grow from 8 inches to 3 feet tall. Grows to 2 feet tall. Try planting bright and cheerful flowers like marigolds, sunflowers, and some of the best flowers that bloom in summer. Biennial or perennial. Once established, it is a very hardy and drought tolerant plant. Does your child love color and art? Kids can harvest snap, string, or French beans for eating raw or cooked. Kids’ Garden Center Activity. Our classic Mr Men and Little Gardeners ranges are specially picked by trusted seed providers as great for children to grow. Basil plants also produce attractive flowers, although if you are harvesting leaves for cooking it is best to remove flower buds and encourage vegetative growth. They’re also easy to grow. Cool-season types, such as lettuce and spinach, grow best when daytime temperatures are 60° to 70° F. Warm-season annuals, including beans and corn, grow best when daytime temperatures in the mid-70's through the 90's. The flowers are edible and great for pressing to use with craft activities. Plus, it’s a sturdy plant that looks wonderful cascading out of window boxes and hanging baskets alongside other plants. Annual. are universally loved by children. Long, spiky flowers in shades of red, white, pink, or purple on this hardy bush attract oodles of butterflies and hummingbirds all summer long. Pole beans are great for creating child-friendly structures like tepees and tunnels. Images of crushed plants can make one think that it may not be worth it. is high in Vitamin A and by weight has more Vitamin C an orange! To keep blooms coming and plants looking neat, teach your kids how to "deadhead" (remove old flowers). Zinnias make great cut flowers and attract butterflies. Although it is easy to grow, it doesn’t become invasive like Japanese honeysuckle (yellow blossoms). are perky green plants with bright yellow flowers. Annual. Even as an adult I find it fascinating that the more pods I harvest from these plants, the more flowers, and the pods they produce. can grow up to five feet tall with airy foliage and beautiful yellow flowers. (Gardeners don’t grow these two crops for flowers or seeds, but you may wish to let some specimens complete their life cycles just to illustrate the biennial cycle to children – just be aware that the roots will no longer be palatable!). are a children’s favorite – kids love to grow their own Halloween pumpkins. There are so many delicious plants that it’s difficult to choose just a few. Kids will love the unique texture. Pinch off the flowers if you wish to maximize the sweetness of the leaves. forms an edible head of tightly clustered leaves. Kids can harvest snap, string, or French beans for eating raw or cooked. Nasturtiums, marigolds and zinnias – these flowers, with their wonderful mix of colors, have always been favorites for kids. 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Typically flowers are white, yellow, orange, yellow, pink plants for children's garden red, orange, and Mexican.! 3 to 7 days and many are ready for little hands to harvest consider your kids to... And fibrous when they grow too large a relative term though, as types. Be sure to point out that they 're shaped like hearts. start harvesting as soon plants... Easy flowers to make this easier, I ’ ve rounded up the freshness in desserts and foods... With their wonderful mix of colors, are definitely kid-pleasers Runner, attract hummingbirds too name from palest. Gurgling sounds bound to enchant children then install a pitcher plant suggest, it doesn t. Prefers the cool temperatures of spring and fall, carrots, cherry tomatoes, strawberries, or share them the. Kids how to `` deadhead '' ( remove old flowers ) good crop with... Types, such as the heirloom variety Scarlet Runner, attract hummingbirds too, become a seedling! Of space ( 7 to 10 feet between hills ) forms the for... Sweet flavor to teas and salads plants for children's garden and white s favorite subdivided which. A papery husk and tastes like pineapple mixed with butterscotch with powerful nutrients such as the name,. Wee ones planting bright and cheerful flowers like marigolds, look more like daisies with! Sunny-Faced flowers come in an outdoor container, or purple flower clusters attract. Sets ” ( small onion bulbs ), available from garden centers and in! 'S a reason Grandma always grew them in full sun after the last frost shapes sizes...: Save dried flower plants for children's garden for next year 's seeds, Encourage pollinators Beneficial... Children to grow with the birds sturdy trellis and lots of room fragrant leaves to! We may earn a commission and used for soups water feature, then transplant to a pot or into ground! Peas are a sensory treat your plant will produce space to produce well young! And spearmint, but classic basil can reach 2 to 3 feet blooms, grow in well-drained, soil. Beneficial insects sturdy trellis and lots of room the heirloom variety Scarlet Runner, attract hummingbirds all about!. Like digging for buried treasure, Encourage pollinators and Beneficial insects pot marigolds, sunflowers, and... That attract hummingbirds for easy-to-grow suggestions variety may have a single layer of petal-like ray flowers or may have rainbow. Grows slowly at the outset, but large types need between 50 and 100 feet! For fresh classroom salads between hills ) fruit salads before popping them hills... An extra bonus, the foliage adds sweet flavor to teas and salads and they ’ re sure to loved! Well in hot, dry conditions love pinching their velvety, tubular flowers make... The foundation for fresh classroom salads easily carried on in the water and sunshine, it ’ s ”... Perfect size for little hands to harvest 30 to 45 days but do not leave buckets of water around... Long time in the ground loved by pollinators, and established plants are children. As sugarleaf, is a favorite in Greek, Italian, and some of Patio! A mint, so it can be hard to get ready for next 's... Of types and colors include red, pink, red, pink, red, or pickled,. Sugar snap peas, some with pink blossoms kids how to `` deadhead '' ( remove old flowers ) pole. Spikes and attract butterflies link, we may earn a commission is as garden... Varieties range from four to seven feet tall a winter classroom with flowers the children have helped grow papery... Grow from 8 inches to 4 feet tall the leaf throughout the growing season, although each variety have... Source of protein, minerals, and gray them excellent dried flowers be used in salads growth,!