by Amy Grennell

Created on: March 11, 2009

Planting Vegetable Seeds with Children

Starting seeds with children can be a great educational lesson as well as a productive part of your family life. And if you have picky eaters chances are they will at least try something that they have grown themselves.

There are some seeds that need to be started indoors and many that do not need to be. Make a list of everything you will be planting this year and then decide which ones need that head start. You can also look at seed catalogs together and plan out your garden with your child. When shopping for seeds bring your children along with you so they can be involved from the beginning. Find a small size shovel and gloves that fit them so they can actively participate.

Most vegetable seeds can be broadcast directly into the garden. Vegetables that should usually be started indoors include tomatoes, peppers and melons. These are heat loving plants that could use that extra start to the season indoors so they will mature on time in your garden. For outdoor planting the best kid friendly seeds include: peas, carrots, lettuce, green beans, cucumbers, and potatoes. You can also plant colored varieties of beans and broccoli or potatoes. We regularly grow purple beans and purple carrots that my 4-year-old daughter loves. While you are planting the seeds you can also measure the depth for a math lesson while you are at it or count the seeds out of the package if they are big enough.

Sunflowers are a popular flower for kids to grow alongside vegetables. My daughter loves to grow them every year and then measure how tall they are getting. They sometimes reach 12 feet high!

Herbs are another plant family that should be started indoors especially chamomile, basil and any perennial herbs. Other herbs like dill and cilantro can be directly planted into the soil. They also re-seed themselves depending on the climate. Avoid planting mint except in a pot or it will take over the garden. Mint is nice for kids to pick and chew on though so consider a pot of mint somewhere in the sun.

Make a routine out of checking the seedlings in the morning together. We often plant seedlings into smaller pots and keep them near the house where my daughter can water them. Make sure to supervise children while they are watering seedlings so they don't drown and destroy them. Older children can have gardening chores like watering or light weeding if they know the difference between weeds and plants.

After picking their harvest from the garden teach your child how to prepare the vegetable if needed (shelling peas or snipping the ends off green beans or washing off the potatoes if you are going to eat them soon).

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