Growing with Kids: Life Lessons in the Garden

Some of my fondest memories growing up in Corralitos, near Watsonville, are of planting my own little garden in the back yard. My mother had a big vegetable garden and apple trees behind the house, but I had a little space in the corner that was my own.

I planted flowers and succulents, and I’m sure it wasn’t the prettiest garden in the world, but it was mine and that was what counted.

These days, with so many families getting back to the earth and growing their own food, there’s no reason kids shouldn't get into the act. In fact, children can learn a lot of valuable life lessons from just taking a seed and putting it in the soil, and then finding out how to take care of it as it grows into a beautiful plant.

They'll learn to follow directions, protect the seed or seedling from harm, water it with care, and nurture it as it continues to grow.

Besides all that, you’re giving them an excuse to dig in the dirt. What kid doesn’t like to do that?

It’s fun to grow fruits and vegetables, but flowers are fair game as well—whatever seems to appeal to your child is the right choice. However, it’s best (especially if they’re younger) to stick to varieties that are easy to grow and will sprout quickly.

It’s also not necessary to be the world’s most wonderful gardener yourself, or to know the scientific reasons why plants grow the way that they do. All you need is a willingness to show your youngsters the right steps.

Picking out the seeds: Sure, you could buy seedlings, but putting a seed in the ground and watching it sprout is an experience that kids will love. And seeds are cheaper to buy than starter plants.

Some of the most kid-friendly plants include beans and peas, sunflowers, radishes, carrots and lettuce, and you can easily grow them in containers—great for families living in apartments or who have limited yard space. Marigolds, cosmos, poppies and nasturtiums are colorful, fun, and easy to grow from seed. (And you can eat the nasturtiums if you want to—they’re edible!)

Other supplies: You’ll want to get some topsoil mix or potting mix (how much depends on the size of your garden project), containers, if needed, and fertilizer. It’s a good idea to go to a garden center, such as Orchard Supply Hardware, Lowe’s or Home Depot so that you can get advice for your specific needs.

Choose a spot: Find a sunny area in the back yard (or where you can put your container), although some tender plants may need a bit of shade if the weather gets really hot. Mix your topsoil or potting soil with backyard dirt until it’s nice and crumbly.

With your children, read the directions on the seed packet to find out how deep the seeds need to be planted, whether the plant prefers sun or shade, and other considerations. You may not need to add fertilizer right away—check the directions first. Some seeds with tough coats, like peas and nasturtiums, should be soaked overnight before planting.

Planting the seeds: The most important thing is to keep the soil moist so that the seeds can germinate. If they dry out, they’ll probably die, so you and the kids need to be vigilant on this (and we are starting to come into some warm weather). You will probably need to water them every day in the beginning and maybe twice a day if need be.

Make markers: Write on old plastic cutlery or Popsicle sticks to make markers for your seeds, so you can remember what was planted there. When the seedlings come up, it’s often hard to tell at first what kind of plants they're going to be.