The best way to teach children about growing their own food is to get them out in the garden and show them how, rather than tell them about it. Many children are not interested in eating their vegetables much less growing them. Teaching children at a young age about where their food comes from helps them develop an interest in all fresh foods. Allowing them to plant and harvest vegetables with a little guidance will create an appreciation and love of both growing and eating their vegetables.
Teach children the love of gardening early and they will not only learn to love their vegetables but reap the benefits of a healthy body and lifestyle.
Varieties to Grow
- Bean, Green Snap ‘Asparagus Bean’ is an extremely prolific climbing vine. The common name, yard long bean comes from bean pods which reach an amazing yard in length. Beans are best picked when smaller but allowing several to grow to their full length will give children something to talk about with their friends as well as a lesson in saving seeds for the following season.
- Lettuce ‘Tom Thumb’ is a miniature butter-head type lettuce. The flavor is very sweet and buttery. The plant produces a head that is perfect for a single salad so grow enough for each child to have their own bowl.
- Onions ‘Pearl’ also known as pickling onions. These small onions can be harvested when they are the size of a marble. Children will get a kick out of tossing these into a salad bowl at lunchtime or adding them to pickled cucumber mixes.
- Pumpkin ‘Baby Boo’ This small pumpkin has edible white flesh. It reaches maturity at 2 to 4 inches wide. Baby Boo sometimes produces odd shaped fruits which are a lot of fun to add to the Thanksgiving centerpiece along with ‘Little-Jack’ pumpkins.
- Radish ‘Easter Egg’ This radish is a great mix of colors including white, red, pink and purple. Pull them when they are as small as marbles for colorful additions to salads. They may also be allowed to grow a bit larger. These radishes do not have the ‘bite’ that others typically have and so children are more apt to try them.
- Squash ‘Sweet Dumpling’ has a sweet orange flesh surrounded by ribbed, creamy skin with green stripes. The fruit matures at about 4 inches wide and makes an excellent stuffing squash.
- Tomatoes ‘Tommy Toe’ is an old favorite which is always loaded with tiny grape to quarter-sized fruits. This is a true anyone can grow tomato plant. Grow in a hanging basket or patio pot and pick often to encourage more fruit.
Also Try These
Baby Finger or Thumbelina Carrots; Easter Egg Eggplant; Patty Pan, Sunburst or Tiger Squash; Miniature Chocolate, Red or Yellow Bell Peppers, Little Mini Ball Beets and West Indian Gherkin Cucumbers.
Choose plants based on ease of care, space available and personal taste. Look at the unusualness of a plant and the fruit it bears. Children tend to gravitate toward the ‘oddball’ in the bunch and will enjoy sharing their gardens with friends even more when they have something their friends have never heard of.
For more about gardening with children read the article; “ Container Gardening with Children ” and try some cut-and-come-again vegetables by following tips found in this article; “How to Harvest the Same Vegetable Multiple Times”
Jacqueline Cross - Ms. Cross is a freelance writer and when not writing or traveling and reading for research, she enjoys creating various gardens on her ...
