Fun is a Kid’s Garden

 Read more Oily Rag articles by Frank and Muriel Newman 
 
Many thanks to those who have shared their favourite gardening tips. A number of readers have remarked that gardening is very much a family activity and how otherwise reluctant youngsters seem to appreciate the taste of greens more if they grow them themselves!
 
Nannie Suzanne from Okere Falls in Rotorua writes, “When my grandchild was a preschooler and I looked after her during the day, we spent many long hours in the organic veggie garden. One thing Emma wanted to do was to grow something herself, by herself. We chose the silver beet that we purchased then Emma planted them, watered them, and cared for them. Now I am thrilled to say that she will go down to the garden, pick the leaves, wash them and above all loves to eat her silver beet. All you Nannies give it a go!”
 
The good thing about a kids garden is that it does not need to be big… something about a metre square should be enough. We recommend a raised garden, using a timber frame with a minimum height of 150mm (and if they get tired of gardening it can always be turned into a sand pit!).
 
Place the frame on a flat sunny spot free from shadows and chilly winds. Line the bottom with newspaper then fill the frame with a mix of topsoil and compost or growing mix – you will only need about one-eighth of a metre or half a trailer load. That’s all there is to it! You’re now ready to plant, and you won’t need special equipment – just your typical beach bucket and spade will do fine!
 
You could grow anything but to avoid disappointment start with things that are easy and do not require sprays. Try various types of lettuce, dwarf beans, mini tomatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, silver beet and capsicum. If you have space try water melons and pumpkins (grow the giant ones and use the shell to make a Halloween face). Start by growing what the young gardeners like to eat (chocolate!).
 
The most exciting thing about gardening is seeing seeds germinate. Reader G.G, says “If planting large seeds like beans use the inners of toilet rolls, part fill with seed mix, put in the seed and top up. You can get about 12 of these to stand up in an ice cream container. And in due course plant out the whole tube. No transplant shock. The cardboard will rot away quickly.” That’s a great idea for kids – what a novelty, planting seeds in toilet rolls!
 
If you don’t have a section, create a container garden. One reader uses 10-litre paint pales. They drill drainage holes in the bottom, place a layer of stones then fill with potting mix. Any container is okay – like a recycled bathtub. Paint up the pots into all sorts of designs to give colour to the “garden”.
 
P & J Funnell write, “One can grow tomatoes inside. Transplant seedlings, put in a warm sunspot & you've got a plant growing!”
 
Share your kids garden tips with others by going to the oily rag website and sending your in your tips. www.oilyrag.co.nz.

* Frank and Muriel Newman are the authors of Living off the Smell of an Oily Rag in NZ. Readers can submit their oily rag tips on-line at www.oilyrag.co.nz. The book is available from bookstores and online at www.oilyrag.co.nz.