By Kate Scriven
Spring has arrived in Thurston County. The trees are leafing out, the flowers are blooming, and the pollen is coating the cars and patios. Along with the change of season comes the urge to get outside again. For some, this takes the form of the welcome return of dry(er) hikes and bike rides. For others, the lure of digging your hands deep in the awakening soil is too much to resist.
For the last several years the popularity of backyard gardening has been on the rise. People are more conscious about the origins of their food and are equally conscious about their household budget. Gardening can address both of these concerns and in a temperate growing climate like the Pacific Northwest, we are perfectly placed to harvest the bounty of the earth. And the benefits of gardening with your family can extend beyond a nutritious and budget friendly meal.
Gardening with your children offers a host of natural, teachable moments. Lessons in the lifecycle of a plant – from seed to seedling to plant to harvest – are inherent. But embedded in the scientific learning is the chance to teach your child patience, persistence, and responsibility. Allowing them the opportunity to succeed, or fail, in their own small corner of the garden can breed life lessons that extend far beyond the borders of your yard.
So, how to successfully execute a Children’s Garden? While there isn’t a “right” or “wrong” way, there are a few guidelines and tips to keep in mind. Whether you have five acres or just a pot on the patio or balcony, your child will blossom with pride as plants grow and thrive under their care.
Give your child a space all their own. This space allows them free reign in the planning, care, and ultimately the success of the space. And, if you are a bit of a control freak like me, it allows you to “let go” of the need to tidy the rows and create order. It is their garden, not yours; an important part of the learning for both parent and child. If you have a larger garden or flower beds, carve out a corner. If you only have a patio, designate one or two containers as your child’s responsibility. The space need not be large, just theirs.
Sow seeds directly into the soil after mid-April when the soil warms. Enrich it with compost or a garden mix. The quality of the soil will help plants thrive and create success for your little gardener. Soil amendments can be purchased by the bag or in bulk by the pick-up truck load depending on your needs.
While purchasing “starts” or baby plants is a tempting way to have an instant garden, it bypasses the joy gained by planting a tiny seed and watching it emerge as something entirely new. Plan a visit to the garden center and browse the seed rack. But choose wisely – some plants are fool-proof growers and some are sure to disappoint.
Chris Watkins, a 20-year veteran at The Barn Nursery in Tumwater, suggests quick-growing sunflowers and zinnias. “Choose the single stalk, tall varieties of sunflowers,” she suggests. “Once they sprout, kids can literally measure their growth with a ruler each day.” Charting changes on a graph or garden journal will engage kids in their garden’s progress. Plus, the mammoth flowers are super fun and provide food for birds come fall.
For vegetables, Watkins suggests pole beans, siting Blue Lake as a reliable variety. Peas are a favorite for munching and sprout early in the season, providing self-serve snacks in late June. Be sure to provide beans and peas with a trellis or structure to grow up. “Create a bean tee-pee using bamboo or other long poles,” shares Watkins. “Create a base large enough so when the vines leaf out, kids can crawl inside to play. It’s a magical space all their own.”
Other vegetables to consider are pumpkins, carrying interest through the fall and hopefully providing a homegrown jack-o-lantern. Potatoes are fun for kids to plant (you just pop hunks of “seed potato” in the ground) and come harvest, “it’s like an underground Easter Egg hunt, turning the soil to see how many you can find,” says Watkins.
Watkins also suggests adding perennials along the borders of a child’s garden, such as Salvia Suncrest ‘Fire Dancer’ or Golden Delicious Pineapple Sage. The vibrant flowers of these hardy plants attract bees for pollination and hummingbirds which thrill as they zoom by.
Not enough space for a veggie patch? Pots or planter boxes filled with a rich soil mix can grow anything from flowers to veggies to herbs. And having your child plant and care for something used in the kitchen, such as basil, chives or sage, extends the experience further. They will revel in being asked to “harvest” from their herb bed to add a bit of flavor to dinner.
Leaving all practicality behind, plan and create a miniature garden, fit for a fairy, with your child. Tiny groundcovers and miniature shrubs are popular and easily found at a well-stocked nursery such as The Barn. Plant the tiny garden with succulents, for easy care, such as “Hens and Chicks” which send out “babies” from the mother plant with vigor. Choose a shallow bowl, old bucket or even and old shoe to create a unique display your child can design and call their own.
Set aside a patch of soil for your child this spring, in a garden bed or container, and watch them take charge of a tiny piece of their world. You’ll find joy in the pride they feel in their accomplishments and as the flowers and plants begin to bloom, so will your child.
Thrifty Thurston highlights inexpensive family fun in Thurston County. The weekly series focuses on family-friendly activities throughout our community. If you have a suggestion for a post, send us a note at submit@thurstontalk.com. For more events and to learn what’s happening in Olympia and the surrounding area, click here.
