7 funs ways to get kids out in the garden

If you have a child in your life who's interested in growing plants, why not make a space in the garden where he or she can explore the wonder of helping things grow. Here are seven fun ideas kids' love.

When it comes to gardening, a key rule for you (as the grown-up) to remember is don't be too exacting. For children the thrill is in the process itself, not in producing something perfect.

To help instill a love of gardening, here are some fun activities and suggestions.

To keep kids interested, sow quick-sprouting plants, such as lettuce, radishes, nasturtiums and marigolds.

• Take them to a garden centre and allow them to choose a few easy bedding plants, such as petunias, to add instant colour to their garden.

You can create a further sense of ownership by providing a child-size watering can and tools.

• A sign with the child's name in the plot is a nice, additional touch.

Plant varieties that bear unusually coloured or shaped fruits, instead of the "standards" we always see.

• Blue potatoes, purple broccoli, speckled bush beans or rounded yellow cucumbers are great fun for kids to watch grow in the garden.

A tunnel of flowering climbers becomes an enchanting playhouse for children.

• Anchor wire hoops in the ground and plant an easy-to-grow climber, such as morning glory or scarlet runner beans.
• Remember not to get frustrated if children accidentally trample plants. That's not their intention. They're only having fun in the garden – the whole point of this exercise.

Scratch the child's name or a silly face lightly into a young pumpkin growing on a vine. Over time, the drawing will grow and take shape, much to your child's delight.

• You could always plant your child's initials in the soil with garden greens; red or green leaf lettuce or radishes work nicely.

Plant easy-to-grow mint. When it's ready, whip up a batch of solar mint tea with your child by filling a two-litre glass jar with water and a handful of mint leaves.

• Cover the jar with foil and let it sit in a sunny spot for two or three hours. Then pour into glasses, add ice and a dollop of honey, and have a tea party.

Stimulate a budding gardener's imagination by using an old sneaker as a planter.

• Help your child poke a couple of holes in the shoe and fill it partly with soil.
• Plant little rosettes of hens-and-chicks in the holes, firming the soil with your fingers.
• Add soil to the shoe's top opening and plant more rosettes there.
• Then, nestle the sneaker into the soil amid some flowers or herbs.

Mark a square in the soil and plant sunflowers on the outline to create a private garden "room" for children. As the sunflowers grow, they'll create the "walls" of this magical room.

• Be sure to leave a little space for the door.
• Add some child-size furniture (such as chairs or tables) to complete the experience.

Getting your child to enjoy gardening is not only a wonderful way to enjoy some time outside in the sun, but it's a great way to get them interested and excited about food and where it comes from.