Introducing Toddlers to Growing Stuff - And when is too late for Tomato Plants?

Wolfsbane2k

Hi,

I've got a well protected west /south west facing wall with patio underneath that is a beautiful sun trap, and i want to grow some veg in it, ideally something I can put together this weekend with help from my 19 month old to get him interested in gardening. He loves smelling flowers & herbs at the moment, and i would love fresh basil again.

I'm thinking that this weekend I can plant tomatos in something like this http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7204452.htm is a good start, protects from the birds and dog, and wondering if i'll still get a crop this year?

Suggestions really appreciated!

Farway

I don't know where you live, but assuming not halfway up Ben Nevis then toms outdoors are fine now

You do not need a mini green house, and be aware they blow down, overheat and generally are PIA

As you have suntrap, just plant the toms in the earth, if you can try and get a fail safe variety, like Money Maker. many will poo poo this one, but as you are trying to get your son "into" gardening" then you really do need an easy option

And remember radishes, dead easy & quick

Basil is not the easiest of options TBH, but you could cheat & but a pot from the supermarket and plant it out

Birds never worrry toms, dogs, I guess depends on leg cocking, only you know the answer to this one, assuming dog & not b1tch

azzabazza

By chance I have just been watching Chelsea this afternoon. There was a quick trailer for the CBBeebies adult website with tips for gardening with children. To be honest I hardly paid attention. Might be worth your while having a look.

sooty&sweep

Hi
What about peas or beans ? You can get varieties that can be grown in pots. When I was little my mum grew peas but they never made it to the kitchen as we ate them straight off the plant.

Salad leaves.

Strawberries but not sure if its too late to get hold of plants now ?
Jen

Rummer

Broad beans are a good one to grow with children as they grow fast and you can eat the produce. Sunflower seeds are also fun!

lobbyludd

my experience with under 5's is that however quick the crop the growth will be too slow for inquisitive minds. even cress. But they will enjoy being with you, messing about in earth, digging, dibbing, patting down, watering etc. Just don't plant anything you care about growing/cropping with a toddler - they are unlikely to connect the seed planting with the sprouting, or sprouting with growing, or growing with cropping and at some point they will dig up/drown/bury the seeds/seedlings/plants (or another nearby).

That's not to say it isn't worth doing at this age- it is, and as they grow, seeds and plants and food growing will be a part of their life. My near six year old is just about at the stage where she expects seeds to take the time they take to sprout after being chief dibber every year. But it really doesn't matter what they plant at the stage you are at.

Choochi0

I just want to reflect what the above poster said.
I got an allotment last year and my daughter is now 20 months.
She doesn't really know what is going on, but she is having fun and learning new things so it is still well worth it (even when I catch her trying to eat a snail).
At this time of year in a sunny sheltered spot you shouldn't need a cover - unless it is more for protecting the plants from your son when you can't keep a close eye on him. Although, my daughter would find a way in, she isn't called Houdini Baby for nothing!
My tomatoes are going to go in grow bags against the front of the shed.

Cally_Smart

My best memories are being about 6 and being given a little patch of garden of my own to plant a packet of seeds in(radishes they were )and being the impatient thing that I am ,every week I pulled one or two up and 'nibbled' the roots to see if they were ready to eat.They tasted of hot radish I can remember the taste now(I dont think they got any more than pea sized before they were all gone!) and it gave me a life long interest in gardening.
I agree most children (I've had 4) have the attention span of a butterfly but they're in the fresh air,digging about in the soil with some child sized garden tools ,getting very grubby,learning from you.Everybody wins!
Some weeks later they will discover the bright red strawberries ripening on the plants,the furry little goose berries that make them pull funny faces because they're so sharp and the tomatoes you can pick and put in a salad together.

DigForVictory

It's almost never too late for tomato plants.

Basil - CHEAT! Slugs & co will have any baby plant before it has a second leaf (voice of pained experience) so watch a supermarket plant get decimated or just enjoy it in a tub indoors.

Mustard & cress on wet paper towels (or on cottonwool in eggshells) for the quick hit.

Beans whilst slow to start grow wonderfully tall, eventually & planting them is fairytale fun.

REEN

I agree that toddlers don't have the attention span for growing things, but mine loved having a bit of ground or a pot to play with. Miniature gardens in seed trays were popular, with stone paths and mirror ponds, inhabited by little plastic dinosaurs! Child-sized tools are a good investment, especially watering cans. Those little plastic boxes with a magnifier in the lid are great for inspecting bugs.
By involving your little one you will teach him that gardens are not just for kicking a football around.

System

I think your tot might be a little too young to really understand whats going off too. My LO is 15 months almost and she loves plants...but destroys everything if she can!! So I tend to walk her around the garden and let her touch the plants and flowers... she enjoys it but soon gets bored and wonders off.

I'd suggest introducing him to growing when he is probably another year older. You could always help him grow one of those cress heads or something

I'd also plant lots of colourful flowers around the garden and take him around to look at them. He will love the different colours and textures. Just make sure he doesn't eat anything. OR buy/grow edible flowers like English Marigolds and lots of herbs. x