How to Make a Kinder Garden

Do Kids love vegetables? Sure they do, corn , carrots, potatoes, tomatoes (in the form of ketchup, or spaghetti sauce) and - did I mention corn and carrots? Most of the time, it's a really difficult task to make sure they get the vegetables each day that will assure proper nutrition.

Smart mothers have long known that letting children help prepare meals is a promising way of getting them to try new things. Take that idea one step further and work with your child or grandchild to tend a garden. You will see him/her enthusiastically growing, preparing and eating vegetables.

Preparation - Stack the Building Blocks

Choose any spot in your yard that receives a full six hours of sun. Make sure it is safe from pets and other disturbances. This may require attaching wire fencing and stakes around the garden plot. Use string wrapped sticks or a garden hose to mark out the area. Once the plot is decided upon, edge the area with bricks, stones or other materials to keep out grass or weeds.

Another option, and my personal favorite, is to form raised garden beds with untreated lumber. For a child's first garden form a rectangle, placing the boards on edge and attaching them with nails or screws. Consider a 4'X8' plot as a good starter size.

Good soil is the groundwork that results in healthy, productive plants. The soil needs to be loose enough to allow water to drain through. Adding organic material to your existing soil will give you the perfect mix. If you're already a gardener, you may have a compost box. Natural compost is wonderful, but you can also purchase commercial compost at your garden center. Mix the compost through your dirt to a level of 6 to 8 inches thick.

Before allowing your child to jump in the dirt box (much like a sand box at this point) and toss seeds around, sit down at the kitchen table and make a garden plan with him/her. Start by making a list of the vegetables and/or flowers you will plant. Draw a penciled rectangle representing the 4'X8' garden plot. Now, draw in the plants in the location you've chosen for them. Let your child color them using crayons or markers. Below your garden picture write the name of each plant and using the markers draw the color next to it. You wouldn't want to start your planting and not remember if the pink marker location was green beans or tomatoes. Next we'll look at a few suggested choices for your Kinder Garden.

• Marigolds

  These days marigolds come in deep orange, gold and yellow. They will make a bright spot in the garden. These can be sown by seed indoors during the late winter months or sown directly into the ground in spring when the soil begins to warm or can be purchased as plants. Insects don't like marigolds, so it is a natural way of keeping them out of your garden.

• Cosmos

  Your child will dance with joy over the beautiful pink or white blooms. These will make beautiful table arrangements when the harvested vegetables are served.

• Sunflowers

  These flowers grow fast. Your child will be amazed as they move upwards and over their heads. When the flower heads are full, they can be lopped off to dry. Then the seeds can be rubbed off and placed on a cookie sheet in the oven to roast. Sunflower seeds make healthy snacks.

• Cucumbers

  As the cucumbers grow, find a bottle for your child to slip over the small vegetable. When the cucumber grows larger, it will be fun for him/her to contemplate how such a large vegetable got into such a small bottle.

• Radishes

  The seeds of this vegetable sprout in less than a week. Have your child write a word in the dirt with a stick and plant the seeds accordingly. When the seeds sprout the word will be green with evidence.

• Pumpkins and/or Zucchini

  Choose one or both of these squashes. You'll want to make a mound of dirt and place three seeds in the dirt on top. Placing the mounds in opposite corners of the garden plot might be a good idea. They will grow quickly and need a lot of space, so don't plant other seeds to closely. When your three seedlings sprout, choose the strongest one and thin by pulling out the other two.

• Lettuce

Choose a seed mix that includes a variety of greens and reds. The mixture of colors will be especially appetizing to your child.

• Green Beans

  Make a tepee out of three poles, attaching them at the top with twine. Stick them into the ground over where the seeds are planted. The pretty blossoms of runner beans are edible and make a nice addition to salads.

• Tomatoes

  These can be purchased as plants in your garden center if you hadn't thought to plant them indoors in late winter. You'll want to purchase a wire tomato cage for each one to steady them as they grow.

Acclimate Indoor Seeded Plants - Tough Love

Before replanting your indoor seedlings or any plants you may have purchased at an indoor garden department, place them in a protected area outdoor, such as a porch or patio. This will allow them to get used to the temperature and conditions before planting them a few days or a week later.

When to Plant - Little Seedlings

Wait to plant your seeds or seedlings on a cloudy, windless day. Follow directions on the back of your seed packets and water planted seedlings well. Lawn chairs can be placed over the seedlings to protect them for a few days.

Most importantly, remember this is your child's project. Be there to guide and help as needed. It's easy to take over once the greenthumb bug bites you.