We don’t usually have to deal with the harsher winter months here in Florida. However, now that spring is here and we don’t have to deal with the occasional cold front, it’s a great time to step outside and try putting together a garden. Gardening is a relaxing hobby that’s both mentally and physically rewarding. If you have a limited amount of experience but want to try your hand at it, here are some of the best spring vegetables for beginners to grow.
Why You Should Start Gardening With Your Kids This Spring
Garden time is always fun, but it’s even more exciting when you get your little ones involved! Gardening with your kids is an excellent family activity that can keep you entertained all summer long. Plus, it’s an excellent way to encourage your little ones to explore the world around them and develop healthy eating habits as they grow older. And let’s not forget, it’s loads of fun!
Where Do You Start Teaching Kids to Garden?
It’s always best to start with bigger seeds as small hands will find them easier to handle. You should also Guide your children towards easier starter plants such as sunflowers which will help bring bees and birds to your garden. These pollinators are an integral part of the gardening process. There are some cons to planting sunflowers but you can decide if they are worth it in your garden. Here’s a list of plants that grow quickly and produce fruits (or seeds, in the case of sunflowers) throughout the growing season, which can keep your child’s interest piqued: sunflowers, pole beans, snap peas, radishes, marigolds, carrots, zucchini, and pumpkins.
Starting from Seeds
If you’re starting from seeds, it’s essential to teach your kids how to plant, water, and germinate them. They’ll be thrilled to see the first seedlings appear and curious about what comes next. You can even create your DIY starter kits, a great project for your bored little ones during Spring Break right before planting season starts.
Alternatively, buying seedlings from your local farmer’s market or nursery is a great and affordable way to start your young gardener’s experience. It’s also an excellent opportunity to show your child how to pick out the heartiest-looking seedlings, so you get the most from your plants. After you visit the Farmer’s market, you can also have a nice picnic lunch before heading home with your goodies!
What Age Should Kids Start A Garden?
While kids of all ages are welcome to help with gardening, it’s essential to have some basic skills before getting started. We recommend starting your children around kindergarten age. This is a great age to get kids interested in gardening, as they are willing to learn, can handle seedlings without destroying them, and have the motor skills to help.
When Do You Start Gardening?
When it comes to the timing of planting, it depends on the gardening zone you live in. For us in Florida, we can grow most things year round. However, most garden preparations begin in February if you’re starting with seeds. Let your children choose what they want to grow and get the seeds started indoors, which is a great way to teach them about the germination process.
Don’t forget to involve your kids in pulling weeds and adding mulch to the soil. As kids, most of us loved getting our hands dirty, and our kids are no different! When it’s time to plant the sprouts outside, let them in on the fun, too. Teach them how big of a hole to dig and how to water a seedling for the best results.
What Are The Best Spring Vegetables to Plant?
Gardening with your kids is an excellent opportunity to bond and connect with them while teaching them a valuable life skill that they’ll cherish forever. So get those little green thumbs ready and start building your garden with your kids this spring with these vegetables!
Radishes
Radishes are a fantastic crop for anyone to try and grow. Radishes don’t require as much water as other crops, and they grow much faster and help provide a sense of accomplishment. You can easily grow radishes in the ground or in a structure like a shipping container farm or greenhouse.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are hearty and some of the best spring vegetables for beginners to grow. With proper water and sunlight, your cucumbers will thrive for many harvests. A rookie mistake is to plant too many seeds at once because once your cucumbers start coming in, you can expect to have a lot of them. A single cucumber plant may provide anywhere from 10 to 15 cucumbers per harvest!
Carrots
Carrots are crunchy and delicious, come in many colors and varieties, and are easy for beginner gardeners to grow. So long as your soil is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, you can expect your carrots to grow in around 60 to 80 days. Then once you harvest, you can make delicious meals like Carrot Ginger Soup!
Green Onions
Green onions are a fantastic addition to any garden. Not only are they easy to grow, but they also regenerate. After the bulbs of your onions finish growing, you can cut off the green parts, which will continue to grow directly from where you cut them. The green part of this onion is perfect in salads or as a garnish for almost any dish. If you’re a fan of these slightly spicy green vegetables, you can plant a sustainable source of them right in your yard.
