They're growing so fast
GET YOUR CHILDREN PLANTING WITH SOME SIMPLE PROJECTS AND THIS SEASON COULD START A LIFELONG PASSION
FOR those of us locked down at home looking for things to do, working in the garden is a good way to occupy youngsters. In many ways, the Easter holidays kicks off the season of
spring for them. Right now we have an opportunity to wake them up to the magic of nature. If you’re privileged enough to have your own plot – and even if you’re not – there are projects you can get stuck into.
If each of us encourages one or two developing minds to understand the wonder of plants and the glory of a garden, it’s just possible some good could come of what we are experiencing.
GIVE THEM THEIR OWN GARDEN BEDS
WHETHER you use raised beds, containers or ground plots, be sure to give each child his or her own separate plot.
Keep it small, and very small for young kids. Put their plots right in the middle of the gardening action, with the best soil and light conditions. Set them up for success.
LETTUCE AND VEGETABLES
GREENS are a quick and reliable crop which will give a child fast results. It’s also a good way to interest kids in salad.
Lettuce likes part shade. Keep soil moist especially during the first two weeks. The seeds will germinate in 7-10 days and the growing season is 40-50 days.
Recreate the magic of Jack and the Beanstalk with easy to grow broad beans. Plant them outdoors now and create supports using bamboo canes.
Other quick crops are radishes or mustard and cress, which can be germinated on kitchen paper indoors.
GROW AN AVOCADO
YOU can grow an avocado from the stone by suspending it over water for a few weeks and watch the roots and shoots develop. Use cocktail sticks or matchsticks inserted into the stone to support it in a small glass pot.
GROW A PINEAPPLE
ASK whoever is doing the shopping to pick a pineapple with robust foliage. Cut the top off the pineapple, one centimetre below the leaves.
Remove the lowest leaves and peel off the outer portion of the pineapple top until you see the root buds. These will look like small brown bumps around the stem’s perimeter.
Leave your new plant to dry out for a few days and then pot into a light compost with some added grit.
Water and place it in bright light but not direct sunlight. Keep moist until roots develop which will take between four and six weeks.
Check for these roots by giving the plant a gentle tug at the top and once it’s heartily growing, give your plant more light.
EASY PLANTS TO GROW FROM SEED WITH CHILDREN
WHILE it’s a convenient shortcut to buy young plants, children will learn more by seeing the growing process as it begins, from seed.
The care given to sprouting seeds and nurturing the young seedling are a valuable part of the gardening experience. Tender seeds will need to be started indoors in a warm room and once sprouted they can be transplanted into pots until ready to set out, or hardy annuals such as poppies, marigolds and cornflowers can be planted directly outside now. Sunflowers are a must for a child’s garden. Plant one or two since they take a lot of room. Sunflowers will sprout in one week, become a small seedling in two weeks, and should be 2ft tall after a month.
SHOW OFF THEIR WORK
SHARE the gardening projects of your children with friends over Zoom, FaceTime, or Instagram and be sure to praise them for their achievements. Take a photo of their harvest and send it to grandparents.
The attention given to their work is the best motivator for children.
NATURE SCAVENGER HUNT
COMPILE a list for children to find or spot. This could be new buds on a tree, some interesting bark, a flower, moss or lichen, an insect, butterfly or even just hearing a bird sing. Open their eyes to their environment.