If children's first experiences with gardening are fun and successful, chances are good that they'll develop a green thumb that will stay with them for life. Children delight in the unexpected. Many of our favorite garden vegetables are now available in unusual colors or sizes.. It is very rewarding for adults and children alike to eat produce harvested out of their own garden. The funny colors just add spice to the experience. Bean seeds are big enough for children to handle easily. They can go directly into the garden after the last frost date when the soil is warm. Radishes have small seeds, but they germinate and mature quickly so they might be just the ticket for an impatient child. Cherry tomatoes produce loads of sweet, bite-sized fruits. Children enjoy picking and munching them right from the plant.
In the flower department sunflowers, are a rewarding crop.. Show the kids how the flower faces turn during the day to follow the sun. Four o'clocks, Mirabilis jalapa, are another plant that is sensitive to the sun. They are bushy plants with trumpet-shaped flowers of pink, yellow or white that open in the late afternoon. They are also fragrant. The seeds are big enough for children to plant easily. Four o'clocks reseed easily so you can enjoy them again next year while you and the children move on to a new plant project. And don't forget snapdragons, Antirrhinum majus, a flower children have loved for generations. It is fun to pinch the blossoms gently to make the dragon's mouth open. Snapdragons come in many colors and sizes. These plants appeal to the kid in any of us. Let new gardeners start with fun and easy plants and let curiosity and wonder about growing things naturally take root. Before you know it you'll have enthusiastic assistants for future gardening projects.
