Gardener-In-Training: Planting Seeds & Other Kids Garden Ideas

The sun has been shining during this period of self-isolation at home, inspiring lots of people to get out into the garden and to start growing.

If you're lucky enough to have a large garden then the possibilities are endless, but there are plenty of ways to make even the smallest back yard fun for kids and full of opportunities for growing and gardening. Kids will be amazed as they watch seeds turn into delicious fruits and vegetables that they can eat - and gardening is a great way to reconnect with nature, get some much-needed fresh air, and expend some energy!

Gardening as a family is a chance to teach kids of all ages how their food is made - and there are many ways to get involved, from growing your own food to garden-themed craft projects, and outdoor play activities.

Growing tomatoes is one of the best gardening ideas for kids as they are easy to grow, and they produce lots of delicious, nutritious fruits that can be picked and enjoyed throughout the summer. KS1 kids will love sowing the seeds, as it is a chance to get their hands dirty, as well as learning how the tomatoes on their plate have been grown. Why not try a range of other fruit and veg - salad leaves, radishes, potatoes and peas are also easy to grow, making the most of your outdoor space or garden.

What You'll Need:

Tomato seeds

Potting soil

Small pots or seed trays

Method:

March and April are the best months to sow tomato seeds, so get the kids to fill plant pots with soil, watering it using the hose, a jug or watering can. Next, sprinkle a couple of seeds onto the wet soil, and cover with a bit more soil. These pots should stay indoors, away from the frost. Let the kids keep watering the soil, watching to see when the seeds begin to sprout and the plant starts to grow.

Once the seeds have turned into little plants - called seedlings - it's time to move them outside into the garden. Get your children to hold each plant in their hands, gently squeezing the pot until comes away from the soil. Before putting the plants into the ground, get the kids to look closely at the amazing roots that have grown out of the tiny seeds that they planted just a few weeks ago.  Once in the garden, these plants will need to be watered regularly, which kids love to get involved with - but the best part comes a bit later, when the family can head outdoors to pick and eat fresh, juicy tomatoes straight from the plant.

For more detailed instructions on growing tomatoes, follow the steps in this video

Attract lots of beautiful butterflies to your garden with a DIY butterfly feeder - which can be decorated with beads, sparkles and flowers, and filled with 'nectar' and fruits. Butterfly feeders can be made from different household items, like an old plate, dish, or bowl - and it is a great way to up-cycle baby and toddler crockery, which is perfect for the job as it tends to be made of plastic/acrylic that won't break easily, and they are often brightly coloured. If you don't have a spare dish or plate, then an aluminium foil tray or empty tin can will work just a well.

What You'll Need:

An old plate, dish or bowl

Colourful decorations, such as glass beads, stickers and flowers (fake or real)

String and ribbons

A sponge

Sugar

Method:

Just like the kids, butterflies love colour and reflective surfaces - so get creative as a family, decorating your plate or tray with lots of fake flowers, colourful ribbons, glass pebbles and sparkly beads - use whatever you have in the house to make the feeder look fun, bright and beautiful.

Make the butterfly food by mixing 10-parts water to one-part sugar in a pan, heating the mixture until the sugar has fully dissolved, then leave to cool. Soak a brightly coloured sponge in the sugar water (the yellow kitchen sponges are great for this) then place the wet sponge in the centre of the butterfly feeder, along with flowers and leaves from the garden. Find a nice spot outdoors where you can watch the butterflies come to feed - and get the kids to top up the sponge regularly with the sugar water, making sure that the sponge is always wet through.

Follow this video for further instructions

Before planting your seeds out in the garden, why not have a crafty afternoon making plant labels as a family? One simple idea is to use old ice lolly sticks for the labels. They are easy to make, adding fun and personality to your outdoor space, and then you won't forget what you have grown in a few months time...

What You'll Need:

Wooden ice lolly sticks

Acrylic paints and brushes

Permanent Markers

PVA glue

Method:

First, make the labels by glueing the ice lolly sticks together. Put glue at the top of one stick, then glue another stick horizontally, to make a 'T' shape. Glue on either 1,  2 or 3 sticks to make thin or thick labels, and then let the glue dry completely before decorating.

Now it's time to get creative - painting the sticks with your favourite colours and patterns. Using permanent marker, write the name of each plant onto the label - it is a good idea to write it in pencil first, before going over it in pen - then add drawings and other details or decorations. Why not make bilingual labels - with the plant names written in both English and French, Spanish, German or any other language. Finally, paint a thin layer of PVA glue to protect them against the British weather.

The much-loved kids story Jack and the Beanstalk is the inspiration behind this quick and easy garden idea. Great for those without much outdoor space, this fun gardening project begins life in the house before being moved outdoor into the garden as soon as the plant is big enough. Kids will love making the props and planting the bean, and then watching as the beanstalk grows taller and taller.

What You'll need:

Plastic cup or plastic bottle from the recycling with the top cut off

Potting mix

Broad beans

Long stick (either a twig from the garden, a kebab stick or two ice lolly sticks that have been glued or taped together)

Paper and pens, plus tape or glue

Method:

Create a fairytale castle using the pens and paper, and once complete, tape or glue the picture onto your twig or stick. Puncture a few holes into the bottom of your plastic cup for good drainage, and then have the kids fill the cup almost to the top with potting mix. Next, push one or two broad beans into the soil, then add the castle to the pot. Make sure to keep the soil well-watered over the next few weeks, and watch as the beanstalk grows closer to the castle. Once fully grown (at around 20-30cm) transfer the plant to a bigger pot or into the garden - with a larger stick as a support.

A simple way to stop birds from eating the plants in your garden, the kids will have lots of fun gathering materials to create their crop protectors. Get the kids to use their imaginations to build butterflies and insects from different scraps and material from around the house - like plastic drinks bottles, yoghurt pots and bits of bubble wrap. Use any waterproof materials that you can find - and have fun coming up with lots of ideas depending on your stash of materials.

What You'll Need:

A range of waterproof objects, e.g. plastic items from the recycling that have been cleaned and dried

Garden wire or pipe cleaners

PVA glue

Sticky tape

Red string or plastic

A sturdy stick or a cane

Method:

Use your imagination to create a bug or butterfly from the household materials you have gathered - there are no rules to follow, other than to have fun whilst making it! Why not use the pipe cleaners to make 'wing' shapes, which can be covered with bubblewrap or material, and decorated with permanent markers? Or use a plastic drink bottle as the butterfly's 'body'. Make antennae from wire or pipe cleaners - and don't forget to add a bit of red string where the insects proboscis or 'nose' would be. Once finished, simply attach the insect to a tall stick using string or wire, and place it somewhere visible in your outdoor vegetable garden.

For more crafty fun in the sun, why not make your own nature collage? Download the steps below!