Nasturtiums are a child’s delight. Easy to grow these flowers look great in a border or in
a pot with climbing support. Our 4 year old gardener planted seeds in several pots and waters them faithfully everyday. At this point she has lots of rich green leaves in each pot.
Blooms are expected any day. Typical colors for Nasturtiums are reds, yellows and,
oranges. You’ll see her accomplishment early in August. Flowers continue to bloom into
late October.
PHOTO TEEN
Getting a teenager to help in the yard is so worthwhile. It gets him or her out of the house away from the iPhone, computer and TV. You benefit by having another pair of hands helping. In this case our teen helper is weeding the landscape preparing the ground for the growing season. Tackling weeds is a big job here in the Pacific Northwest. This year the prolonged wet weather has made them grow
Easy Plants for The Young Gardener
Choose plants that are quick to germinate and grow or that have sensory delights for children. Radishes germinate easily, mature quickly, (about 20 to 25 days), and kids seem to love to pull them out of the ground. There’s an ‘Easter Egg’ blend with round radishes in an assortment of colors. Sweet peas are extremely fragrant and pretty. (Soak the seeds in water overnight for easier germination.) Sunflowers and hollyhocks are magical.
You might want to use some transplants also. Try bedding plants such as lamb’s ears (which are soft and wooly), pansies, and Johnny jump-ups (their little faces are fun). Chocolate mint is an easy-to-grow herb. In fact, all mints are so easy to grow and invasive that they are best planted in containers submerged in the garden (unless you want them to take over). Marigolds and cherry tomatoes are other good choices.
Go to a nursery near you with your child and look at the bedding plants. Let your child choose something that he or she likes. Most bedding plants are fairly easy to grow, and the nursery should be able to steer you in the right direction.
