How To Get Kids Into Gardening

These days, children spend far too much time indoors fixed to their screens, but if they could be tempted out into the garden, they'd soon realise there's fun and excitement to be had in spades.

A recent study conducted by Airtasker revealed that 29% of millennials are taking up gardening as a pasttime, but what if we could get them feeling green-fingered much, much earlier?

Here are some tips on how to encourage children to get into gardening...

1. Give them their own space

Kids love planting seeds – remember sunflower competitions at school? So, providing a sunny spot where they can watch them sprout is sure to keep them entertained. Choose easy-to-grow varieties such as radishes, speedy salad leaves, peas, potatoes, beetroot or tomatoes to add vibrant colour, while producing healthy options for mealtimes. Flowers and herbs such as mint, chives, nasturtium and marigolds can be a simple and satisfying addition too.

To choose from a range of easy-to-grow seeds, visit Thompson & Morgan.

2. The right tools for the job

From tiny trowels to wee wheelbarrows, there's a huge variety of gardening products available that are just the right size for children's green fingers. Kids will likely be put off by equipment that dwarves them in height, but once they've got something suitable, they'll be happy to get stuck in with raking, watering and digging. See below for products...

3. Select your own seeds

Let children choose which seeds they'd like to plant and they'll be much more likely to get involved. Whether it's a favourite they love to eat or something a bit more weird and wonderful – pineberries and cucamelons or 'mouse melons' are unusual but easy to grow – kids will have fun nurturing their personally picked fruit and veg.

4. Build a trellis fort

Create a fun shape – like a tepee or a tunnel – out of branches, logs and twine. Let children plant vining plants near the base of the structure (sweet peas, honeysuckle and clematis work well). As they grow, show kids how to guide the vines upwards, making an enclosed space perfects for privacy and shade.

5. Enjoy the fruits of your labour

There's nothing better than sampling home-grown produce! Let kids plan their own meals that feature the fruit and vegetables they've nurtured and harvested. Children will be much more likely to get their five a day, when they're taken the time to grow them.

The Vegetarian Society has an extensive range of recipes that are primed for preparing with kids.

Five green-fingered gift ideas for kids of all ages

1. Trio pack of bee, butterfly and meadow patch seeds

Grow flowers rich in wildlife-friendly nectar and pollen

Butterfly, Insect, Wood, Moths and butterflies, Pollinator,

Not on the High Street

BUY NOW: £8.99

2. Garden wheelbarrow and tools

Younger children can get involved in the garden with their own watering can, secateurs, loppers and wheelbarrow

Clip art, Bucket, Plastic, Garden tool, Vegetable, Tool, Side dish,

John Lewis

BUY NOW: £15.00

3. 3-piece kids' garden tool set

Every budding gardener needs the basics!

Household supply, Household cleaning supply,

Homebase

BUY NOW: £8.97

4. Older children's garden tool set

Perfect for children over 7, each tool has a solid ash handle and carbon steel head

Tool, Lump hammer, Shovel, Drill accessories, Metalworking hand tool, Garden tool, Makeup brushes,

Spotty Green Frog

BUY NOW: £62.99

5. Grow your own cucamelons kit

These mini watermelons actually taste like cucumber – perfect when added to summer salads

Not on the High Street

BUY NOW: £8

For more on tips on gardening with children – as well as wonderful wild-swimming spots and the forgotten craft of charcoal burning – pick up a copy of our August issue, on sale now!

Yard, House, Home, Backyard, Building, Garden, Landscaping, Shed, Landscape, Plant,

Country Living

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