"Childrens Garden"Creating an Absolutely Successful Garden just for Kidsby: lorien1973 Whether or not your child has ever shown an interest in gardening before, creating an Absolutely Successful Garden just for Kids is sure to peak your child’s interest and creativity.
By using the same “square foot garden method of gardening” concept so familiar with novice and experienced gardeners alike, children can create an easy to manage garden of their own, whether indoors or out. Growing small vegetables, herbs, flowers, or a combination of all three can be as easy as 1-2-3, sure to delight children ages 4 to 12 years of age. Here’s all you need:
 Childrens Garden Ingredients *For each windowsill garden – 5 to 6 small empty plastic yogurt containers that have been thoroughly washed and rinsed (small Dixie cups can also be used), AND the top portion of a Styrofoam, 1-dozen egg carton *For an outside garden - empty plastic ½ gallon or 1 gallon milk carton that have been thoroughly washed and rinsed. An adult should cut the top 1/3 off each container only the bottom portion will be used. *A variety of small vegetable seeds and/or a variety of small herb and flower seeds *Commercial-quality potting soil mix *A plastic spoon (for a windowsill garden) or a plastic cup (for an outside garden) *A small wooden dowel or unsharpened pencil (for making holes for seeds) *A plastic watering container (smaller for an inside garden, larger for an outside garden) *A small pointed object to be used under adult supervision only - such as a (large) nail, a knitting needle, or a small pointed wooden dowel (for making excess water drainage holes)
************************************************************* For UK deliveries of children's ( and adults ) gardening tools try Crocus UK 
Childrens Garden Tools UK From homepage: click on 'garden tools and products' - then 'Tools' - then 'children's tools'
For US deliveries, Amazon have a colourful range of children's gardening tools.
Indoor Childrens Garden *Select a windowsill in a sunny location that receives at least 5-6 hours of sunlight per day. *Under adult supervision, carefully poke 3 holes in the bottom of each container. *Arrange the containers inside the Styrofoam egg crate top. This will serve as the tray to collect excess water drainage from the containers. *Fill each container with the gardening soil mix to about 1 to ¾ of an inch from the top. *Using the small wooden dowel or unsharpened pencil, make a hole in the soil, in the center of the container. This will be the seed hole. Refer to each seed packet for the appropriate depth the hole should be for each particular type seed. *Place 2 – 3 seeds in each hole cover with soil, and pat gently. (Appropriate vegetable varieties for an indoor garden include baby carrots, radishes, and baby spinach. Flowers grown should be small, compact varieties such as viola, impatiens, violet, and some varieties of daisy, to name only a few. Herb choices should also be those easily started off in a small container of course, as plants mature they can later be re-potted using a larger container, or planted outside.) *Water each container thoroughly keep soil moist during seed germination. As seeds sprout, water as needed. After seedlings have grown their fist two supportive “leaves,” keep only the healthiest looking plant. Discard the other(s), or transplant in a separate container.
Childrens Garden - The learning curve:
Children will delight as they watch their windowsill garden grow. Keeping a daily journal on the progress of their garden will add to your child’s enjoyment, and keep garden interest at peak level. Pictures of plant development can be drawn, colored, and kept in the journal, posted on the refrigerator, or sent to grandparents. This is also a good time to educate your child about the germination process of seeds and how plants develop and grow. Besides packaged seeds, mature, dried seeds gathered from plants in your own garden can be used. The tops of carrots or eyes of a potato that include part of the flesh can also be planted, and make attractive container plants of interest to children.
The Childrens Garden - outside:
Outdoor Garden *Under adult supervision, carefully poke 4 – 6 drainage holes in the bottom of each empty plastic milk carton. *Place containers outside in a convenient location, such as along side the house, that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. *Fill with potting soil to within two inches of the top. *Using the small wooden dowel or unsharpened pencil make holes in the soil up to 3 for ½ gallon size container, or 5 for the gallon size. *Place up to 3 seeds in each hole cover with soil and pat gently. (Consider planting zone when making seed selections. Good vegetable varieties for the larger, outdoor containers include carrots, radishes, spinach, small pepper varieties, small okra varieties, leaf lettuce, and bib lettuce small compact bush bean and cherry tomato varieties can also be grown in the gallon-sized containers. Appropriate flower and herb selections are nearly endless!)
*Water thoroughly keep moist during germination process. Once seedlings sprout and have at least two (supportive) “leaves,” select one healthy plant from each group (planted in each hole) to keep discard or transplant the others in separate containers. Children will thrill as they watch seeds sprout, grow, and take on “wings” of leaves. Confidence, pride, and enjoyment are sure to soar as plants mature and thrive under their “expert” care. Your child will shine as mature vegetables and herbs are added to the menu, knowing that they contributed to the family meal, all by themselves. And flowers given as gifts, or placed on the table as a centerpiece, will reward your child with a sense of real accomplishment that money cannot buy. For more ideas about gardening with children and some projects as well, please visit us at Online Discount Mart.
Happy Gardening! More "Childrens Garden" Reading
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