Vegetables for Children to Grow.

We are always being asked for suitable crops for children to grow. Today The Daily Telegraph suggests:

• “Broad beans: Sow broad beans now, either straight into the ground or (faster and more fun) in pots on a sunny windowsill, either five seeds to a 6in pot or in individual 3in pots labelled with each child’s name (sow two per pot in case one doesn’t germinate, and thin out the smallest). Choose a dwarf variety such as ‘Sutton’ that needs little staking, and plant out in the garden when three inches high.

• Sunflowers: When you’ve planted out your broad beans, re-use the pots for sowing sunflowers, which stand a better chance of surviving slug and snail attack when started off inside. (I know they’re not strictly a crop, but the flowers help attract birds and pollinating insects to the garden).

• Tomatoes: ‘Tumbler’ is a good choice for children, as it’s a bush variety that doesn’t need staking and has cherry-sized fruit that are perfect for popping into little mouths. We grow ours in an apple crate about 60cm off the ground, which allows the fruit to spill over without touching the ground. Larger-fruited tomatoes that need staking and pinching out can also be good for older children. Give a plant to each person in the family to look after and see who gets the best fruit! Growing from seed is easy but needs heat for germination - I often buy small plants and plant outside in May.

• Strawberries: These are great in raised beds, as the slugs seem to keep their distance, but run a length copper tape around the rim to make sure. Can be planted out now.

• Sweet corn: This has a reputation for being tricky, but children love corn on the cob, so it’s worth persevering. The key is to plant in blocks of at least eight plants in a sunny spot, with seedlings a foot or so apart, and to keep well-watered.

• Pumpkin: A good way to keep the ground beneath your corn moist is to let a pumpkin plant romp through it, covering the ground with its large hairy leaves. The more the pumpkin is fed and watered the bigger it will get - good fun for Hallowe’en.

• Herbs: The different smells and textures of thyme, rosemary, basil, marjoram and mint are greatly enjoyed by children, and can be used in salads and in your cooking. Plant in a large container (mint needs a separate one) or in open soil.

• Climbing beans: These look splendid trained up a simple tepee made from tall bamboo canes. Choose attractive purple or yellow-podded varieties of French bean. Start off in pots, planting out only when the weather is reliably warm.”

Click on the image below to visit amazon.com & find out more about this book called ‘Gardening with Kids’ or visit the TopVeg bookshop

This excellent list of crops, compiled by Elspeth Thompson, in the Daily Telegraph, includes vegetables which children will enjoy growing and eating!