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Gardening Gifts for Mom

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Mother’s Days 2019 is Sunday May 12. That means we are less than a month out from mom’s BIG day. If your mom is a gardener I have some fantastic gardening gifts for mom to help you out. Or maybe YOU are the gardening mom and want to give your family some ideas this year. Just send them this article and let them go crazy!

gardening gifts for mom for mother's day

My family often gives me gardening gifts and I have created a “wish list” on Amazon to help them out. I know my family has appreciated that and I absolutely love that they aren’t wasting their money on another bottle of perfume! How many years did you get a Christmas or birthday wish list from your kiddos? This is your big day, so it is ok to tell them what you’d like.

Now if your mom isn’t one to ask but you know she loves her garden; these are all solid choices for her gift this year.

Gardening Gifts for Mom

Why does every mother deserve gifts on Mother’s Day?

gardening gifts for mother's day

Well I am not going to tell you that EVERY mother deserves a gift on Mother’s Day; but most sure do. Most moms are the super heroes of their home; juggle it all (not discounting dads, just different). They shop, clean, micro-mange appointments and laundry while trying to do homework (or homeschool) and provide healthy meals for their loved ones.

And most of them gave you life. Even if you’re adopted, she poured life into you, right?

Mom deserves her special day and a gift or gifts that you can afford and she’ll love.

What’s the best gift for your mom?

Every mom is different but today we are going to go over gardening gifts for your mom. I’m going to assume if you’re still reading this that your mom loves to garden; so getting a gift that celebrates her passion is always going to be appreciated.

Mom’s That Grow Vegetables

For this article I’m going to focus on moms that have vegetable gardens, in terms of recommendations for her gifts. Now let’s talk gifts for garden people!

Mother’s Day Gifts for Gardeners

Gardening Tools for Mom

Help your gardener mom have the best success with any or all of these gardening tools for Mother’s Day.

If you really want to go all-out you could put all of this in the garden wagon for the ULTIMATE Mother’s Day Gift!

Garden Kits for Mom

Composting Gifts for Gardening Moms

Every vegetable gardener knows the importance of soil and how composting is part of that. These garden gifts are great for composting moms or those who’d like to be composting.

Garden Decor for Your Gardener Mom

A few items to help spruce up mom’s garden.

Garden Moms – Gifts She Can Wear

Gardening Gifts for Moms Who Love Coffee Too

Check out all these awesome gardener’s coffee mugs!

Gardening Books and Magazines for Mom

Some of my favorite books and magazines for vegetable gardeners.

DIY Gardening Gifts You Can Make for Mom

Here are a few of my DIY projects that would be great to make for you garden-loving moms this year!

I hope these gardening gift ideas help you pick out something (or make something) amazing for your mom!

Flowers to Plant in Vegetable Gardens

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Flowers for vegetable gardens? Yes, you read that right! Flowers are not only beautiful but are amazing companion plants for your vegetables. Flowers can deter bugs, attract beneficial insects like pollinators, enrich the soil and even improve the flavor of the vegetables in your garden. I have 7 flowers that you should consider planting in your veggie garden!

flowers to plant in vegetable gardens

What are some tips on gardening for beginners?

Maybe you’re just starting your first vegetable gardening and this whole companion planting thing seems a bit much. Don’t fret! I have some great tips for beginning vegetable gardeners to get you started right from the get-go!

Know your planting zone. This is KEY for planting the right vegetables at the right time. Trust me if you live in Augusta, Maine then you won’t be planting at the same time those here in Phoenix, AZ! Find your planting zone here!

Start Small! The biggest mistake I see in new gardeners is trying to go too big right from the start. When I started my vegetable garden it was ONE 4×4 bed. Yep, just one. Add one each season or each year as you feel more comfortable and have success.

Plant what you eat. Don’t start planting crazy veggies, just plant what you already know you and your family enjoy eating. This will make the most out of your garden and garden experience.

Pick seeds and transplants that work for your area. Again, zones / areas come into play when picking the right variety of any vegetables. SeedsNow does a great job of offering varieties by gardening zones.

For More Tips See – Advice for New Gardeners

How should I prepare soil for a vegetable garden?

This is a great, and very important, question. Your soil is the foundation for your garden. If it isn’t rich, healthy and full of life, your garden won’t be either. Compost is really the key here. Either you need to be composting or you need to find a good source for your compost.

More on Vegetable Garden Soil

What is your favorite vegetable to grow?

I have 10 vegetables that I plant every year because they are delicious and VERY easy to grow.

  1. Radishes
  2. Carrots
  3. Tomatoes – See my guide to growing tomatoes at home.
  4. Swiss Chard
  5. Sweet Potatoes – How to grow sweet potatoes.
  6. Peppers – especially Bell Peppers
  7. Lettuce
  8. Beets
  9. Onions
  10. Zucchini – Tips on growing summer squash.

You can read more about easy to grow vegetables here!

Flowers to Plant in Vegetable Gardens

Ok now that we’ve gone over some gardening basics let’s get down to those flowers you want to plant in your vegetable garden!

Borage in the Vegetable Garden

Often referred to as the “bee plant”, borage is a great at attracting bees to your garden. Without bees and other pollinators we wouldn’t have any growth! Borage will also attract other beneficial bugs to your garden. Borage will also repel pests like horn or tomato worms and cabbage moths! And if that wasn’t enough for you, borage planted near your squash will actually improve its flavor.

Find out more about Growing Borage for Health and Home.

Add Some Marigolds

When it comes to planting flowers in the vegetable garden, NOTHING beats the marigold. Marigolds are a beautiful and powerful companion plant for your vegetables. They will attract pollinators and repel pests. Marigolds are especially good at protecting your tomatoes from nematodes (nematodes), slugs and tomato horn worms. They will also keep beetles, slugs and leaf hoppers at bay.

See more about Marigolds in Your Garden here/

Calendula in Your Vegetable Garden

Calendula is a wonderful medicinal herb as well as a companion plant. However it is important to plant it strategically. Calendula will repel beetles and horn worms but can attract the dreaded aphids. However, t is a great “trap crop” to plant next to vegetables that are often plagued by aphids; the aphids will munch on the calendula and leave your peas alone.

How to Make & Use Calendula Oil

Lavender as a Companion Plant

Lavender is one of the most universally wonderful plants around. But let’s just keep the talk to lavender in your vegetable garden. Lavender will work to repel bugs like cabbage moths. But it will also help to keep deer, mice and rabbits away as well; they don’t like how aromatic it is. Lavender is particularly good for Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and celery.

Planting Nasturtiums in a Vegetable Garden

Nasturtiums are another great trap crop for aphids and do well in cooler fall temperatures. Planted with squash they will give them protection from squash bugs and beetles.

Try planting your nasturtiums with broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, kale, kohlrabi, pumpkins, radish, squash, tomato, and potatoes.

BONUS: Nasturtiums are edible!

Are Sunflowers Good Vegetable Companions?

Sunflowers aren’t often listed as a companion plant for vegetable gardens but you really should give them a look. They offer shade for crops like lettuce as well as attracting pollinators. They can attract aphids too so planting them with chives can help to repel them and still get the benefit of the sunflower.

More on How Sunflowers Help at Garden

Zinnias in a Vegetable Garden

Zinnias are master magnets for bees and hummingbirds. You know why bees are good but did you know that hummingbirds eat nasty pests from your garden too? I love them because they’ll eat whiteflies which have been an issue for us in the past.! The zinnia will deter cucumber beetles and horn worms but attract predatory wasps that feast on aphids, caterpillars, beetles, scale, and flies!

I love to plant flowers for their beauty and scent; and I did this long before I became a vegetable gardener. Now I choose beauty with the power of companion planting – that is a win-win for me.

What are you favorite flowers to plant in vegetable garden?

See my list for the Top 10 Companion Plants

Also see 6 Flowers to Grow in the Vegetable Garden

Growing Tomatoes At Home

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Growing tomatoes at home is a great for beginning and veteran gardeners. There are so many ways to successfully grow tomatoes that it may be the perfect first food to grow! I’m going to share everything I know about growing tomatoes to help you get started or to have bigger and better harvests.

Growing Tomatoes At Home

Once you start growing tomatoes at home and taste the rich flavor, you’ll never want a store-bought tomato again. And don’t just limit yourself to the standard red beef steak – there are a rainbow of tomato colors and flavors that await you. Grow them outdoors in bed, in boxes, in pots…you can even grow some tomatoes indoors. You’re going to love your homegrown tomatoes!

How to grow healthy tomatoes.

Growing tomatoes, healthy tomatoes, comes down to a few basics.

  • Seeds
  • Season
  • Soil
  • Light
  • Water
  • Pruning

Tomato Seeds – What You Need to Know

Growing tomatoes takes a good quality seed is the start to a great tomato garden! There are so many tomato varieties to choose from! Some people prefer to grow heirloom tomatoes for their flavor and history others prefer a hybrid (which is NOT GMO necessarily) for their vigor. I recommend trying a few of each to see how well they do in your area and garden.

What is an heirloom tomato?

growing heirloom tomatoes

According to Wikipedia, “An heirloom tomato is an open-pollinated (non-hybrid) heirloom cultivar of tomato. An heirloom tomato is usually a variety that has been around for generations and cultivated for its unique characteristics…heirlooms have history.

I do think it is important to grow heirloom tomatoes but you’ll need to find one that does well in your climate.

What is a hybrid tomato?

Simply put a hybrid tomato is a purposeful cross-pollination of two varieties for tomatoes. The end-goal is to produce a tomato with the best traits of both varieties. This could be bigger fruit, more heat or pest resistant, early maturity and plant size can also be factored it. Hybrids are not genetically modified or GMO and do not need to be feared.

What Do Determinate and Indeterminate Tomato Varieties Mean?

All tomatoes are either determinate or indeterminate.

ace 55 determinate tomato

A determinate tomato will reach a “determined” plant height and will not grow higher. These tomato plants will produce fruit in 1 – 2 months, at the end of their branches. Great for canning and sauces because most of the tomatoes will be ripe and ready to harvest at one time. Check out Ace 55.

mortgage lifter indeterminate tomato

An indeterminate tomato plant will grow to an undetermined size, especially if not pruned. They can grow over 5 feet tall fruit throughout the growing season. These varieties are generally trellised but I have had HUGE tomato plants that I left to their own devices that filled up a 4×4 box (and gave me lots of fruit). Check out The Mortgage Lifter.

Where can I buy tomato seeds online?

I buy most of my tomato seeds from Seeds Now. They are a small, family owned, company that offers quality organic, non-gmo, seeds.

You can see more about seed catalogs here!

Can I grow tomato plants from seeds completely outdoors?

You can if you live in a warmer climate. But even here in Phoenix, I prefer to start my tomatoes indoors and transplant them to my garden.

When is the best time to plant tomatoes? When growing tomatoes in most areas you’re going to want to start your seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your area’s last frost of spring. How long do tomato seeds take to germinate? Tomato seeds will germinate in 7 to 14 days when started indoors. You can transplant them to your garden, raised beds or pots when the soil is warm.

How to plant tomato seeds.

When growing tomatoes from seed you’ll want to plant your tomato seeds in potting soil (see more on soil below). The seeds should be planted about a 1/4 inch deep in seedling pots that are 3 – 4 inches in depth so they have room to grow. Keep the indoor seedlings in a warm, ventilated area, with plenty of light. Be sure to keep the soil moist, but not overly wet which can cause fungus.

Frugal DIY Starter Pots
How to Use Seeds and Transplants in Your Garden

What’s a good soil mixture for tomato seedling transplants?

Let’s talk soil for growing tomatoes! Tomatoes are heavy feeders and the soil you plant them in will effect their flavor. I recommend a rich soil, amended with plenty of compost. Tomatoes do prefer a slightly more acidic soil but if you focus on richness you should have great plants and big harvests.

Other than good organic compost you may want to consider these amendments:

Alfalfa meal
Blood meal
Fish meal
Leaf mold (how to make leaf mold)
Bone Meal
Worm Castings (consider growing your own – Worm Factory Kit )

I’ve had good luck with my DIY Soil Mix.

Where to plant tomatoes.

You’ll plant your tomatoes in a sunny spot where they have access to sunlight for 6 to 8 hours a day. Morning sun is best because too much heat can actually burn your tomatoes (a big consideration in climates like Phoenix).

Plant with growing in mind. I plant mine in 4 x 4 raised beds, 1 plant per bed. If planting directly in the ground give them 48 inches of space.

Watering tomato plants.

When growing tomatoes you want to keep the soil moist but down drown them. Over watering or inconsistent watering can cause the tomatoes to split or develop blossom end rot.

Can tomatoes be grown in a pot?

Yes they can, and very successfully. I love growing tomatoes in fabric pots that will keep your plants for getting root rot.

For determinate tomatoes you’ll want a container that is at least 18 inches in diameter and 24 inches for your indeterminate tomatoes.

Follow the same guidelines for soil, water and sun.

What are tips and hacks to growing tomatoes?

Every gardener has their own tips and hacks for growing tomatoes. Here are a few for you to consider and try in your own garden.

  • Use eggshells – Adding shells to your soil before planting can give your plants a calcium boost while growing. Which can help prevent blossom end rot. More uses for eggshells.
  • Coffee grounds – Mixing some coffee grounds into your soil can help to repel snails and slugs; as well as adding some nitrogen into your soil. More ways to recycle coffee grounds.
  • Epsom Salt – great if soil test shows you soil lacks magnesium. More uses for Epsom salt.
  • Mulching – mulching around your growing tomatoes will help to conserve water, prevent weeds and keep the soil warm.
  • Offer support – Growing tomatoes need the support of stakes, cages or trellises.

How long does it take a tomato plant to grow?

This is a harder question to answer because things like variety, area, etc will effect that. But when growing tomatoes you 2 to 3 months of growth before you’ll be able to harvest anything, shorter for cherry-type varieties.

Common Tomato Pests and Disease 

Tomatoes are a great beginner plant because they are generally easier to grow than many other fruits and vegetables. But they can suffer from blossom end rot, early and late blight and many other diseases. Most of these can be prevented with crop rotation, companion planting, and following good water practices.

Horn worms, aphids and white flies are just a few of the pests that you can face when growing tomatoes.

See: Controlling Aphids Naturally and more on Tomato Pests.

Pinching and Pruning Tomato Plants

I have often let me tomato plants grow naturally without pruning or pinching of any kind. But the school of thought is pinching off the suckers that sprout up in the middle of two branches, can help your plants use nutrients and energy more efficiently. By pruning your tomato plant’s yellowing leaves you give the overall health of your growing tomatoes a boost.

When to harvest tomatoes 

Growing tomatoes means harvesting when the fruit is firm to the touch but has a bit of give to it. Fruit that is ready to be picked should pull way easily from the vine. A tomato will tek up to 8 weeks to ripen on determinate plants and up to 12 weeks on indeterminate plants.

How to store tomatoes

Your homegrown tomatoes should be stored at room temperature, though in warmer climates the refrigerator might be better. If it is too warm the fruit will continue to ripen and rot.

Try making tomato powder out of your extra tomatoes. Or freeze or can your tomatoes for later use.

Growing Basil Everything You Need To Know

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Growing basil in your garden, raised beds, in a pot or even indoors, is easier than you might think! Having fresh basil anytime you want is great for your kitchen and even has some medicinal purposes. Today we’re talking everything you need to know about growing basil! The only problem I’ve ever had growing basil is using it all!

growing basil in the garden

Growing Basil Everything You Need To Know

Growing Basil Varieties

growing basil

Before we get into the nitty gritty about growing basil in your garden, let’s talk basil varieties. There are types of basil you may never have even heard of, but you should considering adding them to your herb garden.

how to grow basil

Growing Basil Soil Requirements

Basil is a fairly easy herb to grow with very little soil requirements. Make sure your soil in enriched with some good compost, plenty of drainage with a pH of 6 or 7 ( what is soil pH? ).

Growing Basil Planting

I prefer to start my basil plants indoors and transfer them to my raised beds or pots when the soil will stay warm. When starting seeds you only want to lightly cover with soil and keep the soil moist during germination. You can certainly start your basil with an established transplant from a garden store as well. Basil should be planted where it will get at least 6 hours of sun and 12 to 18 inches apart. I have found the more space you give basil, the bigger it gets!

Caring for Growing Basil

Your growing basil should need little to no additional fertilizer as it a light feeder. It likes moist soil but do not let it get soaked too often because this can lead to root rot and fungus. Basil can occasionally have pests like aphids but generally the biggest issue with growing it is making sure the soil isn’t soaking wet for too long.

Growing Basil in Containers or Indoors

Basil will do very well in a container. Make sure your pot can accommodate a large basil plant. The pot should have good drainage as well and be set in an area that gives it the 6 – 8 hours of required sunlight. You can grow more than one variety of basil in a single container if it is quite large.

You can also grow basil indoors! Again you’ll want a larger pot with good drainage. Keep your indoor basil where it will get adequate sunlight – in a windowsill or near a sliding glass door should work if sun comes in for at least 6 hours there.

Your basil plant may require re-potting because they grow quickly and get large. Keep an eye on it.

Harvesting Basil From Your Garden

One of the most wonderful thing about growing basil is the ability to continually harvest the leaves! You’ll want to harvest your basil when you plant is over 6 inches tall and has some leaves to spare. Simply pinch the leaves, gently, from the stem. You can also use scissors but I find pinching goes much faster. You should also pinch off flowers from your basil plant to keep it producing leaves. Pinching the flowers will also encourage the plant to get fuller as well.

You’ll want to harvest all the basil leaves before your first frost! Don’t worry, it is an annual so it will come back!

freezing fresh basil

Storing the Fresh Basil

Once you’ve harvested your basil you’ll need to store what you do not immediately use.

  • Keep Fresh Basil in your fridge is best done by putting them in a mason jar and covering them loosely with a plastic bag. This should keep them fresh for a week or so.
  • Drying and Dehydrating Basil is great for large batches of basil. There are several methods to accomplish this task. See Drying Your Herbs
  • Freezing basil is a wonderful way to preserve the fresh flavor! Wash the leaves then blend in a food processor with just enough water to make it a puree. Pour the basil puree in to ice cube trays and freeze. Once frozen you can pop them out and put them in food storage bags for later use. I recommend using silicone ice trays for this task.

Basil as a Companion Plant in Your Garden

Basil can be a wonderful companion plant for your vegetable garden! Plant near your bell peppers, beans, beets, tomatoes, asparagus, tomatoes, cabbage and eggplants. Basil will make your tomatoes taste even better!

More on companion planting!

How to Use Fresh Basil

Most people think pesto when it comes to fresh basil. And pesto is amazing! But you can use it to make infused oils, in your salads, as a pizza topping, and to add lovely flavor to chicken and seafood dishes. Using fresh basil will always give you the most flavor; much more than dried basil.

See Recipes for Fresh Basil

Growing Basil for Medicinal Purposes 

Basil is said to be a powerful medicinal herb with many uses.

  • Can reduce fevers
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Antioxidant
  • Reduces pain
  • May be a cancer fighter
  • Fights the development of diabetes
  • Protects the liver
  • Boosts immunity
  • Reduces stress

Learn how to use herbs as medicine!

Growing basil in your herb or vegetable garden is really beneficial. It is a hearty plant that will give you more than enough basil for your dishes all year long!

Growing Rosemary

Growing Giant Basil

Gardening with Kids

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Gardening with kids should be part of our family legacy. Gardening teaches so many wonderful skills, not to mention kids love to eat what they grow! I’d like to share my 10 reasons for gardening with kids and some great ways to get them started.

gardening with kids

Gardening with Kids

I believe a child’s garden should be part of every family’s backyard farm. My youngest daughter has always been in the garden helping; I’ve seen the difference it can make first hand. But for now I’ll share my Top 10 Reasons to get Gardening with Kids. I hope it encourages you to get your children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews out in your vegetable garden very soon!

10 Reasons To Start Gardening with Kids

Gardening with Kids
My daughter, years ago, starting seeds for her garden.
  1. A Child’s Garden Encourages Healthy Eating – when kids grow fruits, vegetables and herbs they eat more of them. They are excited to try produce that, normally they’d have turned up their noses to. Kale is a perfect example, or Swiss Chard; my kids looked sideways at these veggies when I brought them home from the store. But once we had them growing in the garden, that they helped to plant and tend, it was a different story!
  2. Gardening with Kids Teaches Them a Valuable Life Skills – when children garden they learn to provide for themselves. Growing our own food isn’t a skill most modern adults have, much less children. This is something that should be passed on as a legacy of self sufficiency.
  3. A Child’s Garden Teaches Appreciation – When I kid knows first hand the time and work that went into providing the food they are much less likely to waste it. They learn to appreciate the fruits of their labor, so to speak. Many adults find this when gardening for the first time too!
  4. Kids Gardening Means Less Screen Time – In our modern world our children spend a lot of time in front of tvs, computer, tablets and phones. There is nothing like a garden to get the out in nature!
  5. Gardening with Your Kids is Family Time – when parents (or guardians) garden with children you create a special bonding time. This is create face to face time, no distractions. I’ve been able to have some pretty awesome conversations with my kids over soil.
  6. Kids that Garden Will Grow Up And Pass It Down – A child’s garden can become a legacy and a beautiful vintage skill that gets passed down from one generation to another.
  7. Gardening with Kids is Great Exercise – That’s a win-win for both of you! I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that kids these days are not active enough. I’ve seen research that says this generation may be the first to live a shorter life than their parents. I know gardening can’t fix it all but digging, hoeing, building boxes, pulling potatoes…you can get that heart pumping and break a sweat!
  8. A Child’s Garden it Educational – As a homeschool family we look for opportunities to teach outside of the “box”. A garden offers kids a natural learning opportunity. Gardening really is science! From seed growth and photosynthesis to how the soil is alive. Older children and teens might enjoy Gardening for Geeks as a text. For younger children check out this free gardening curriculum. Don’t forget the math of planning a garden and figuring cost of growing vs buying at the store.
  9. Gardening with Kids Teaches Problem Solving – If you are a gardener you know that every beginner has issues. But most of us use our failures as lessons but learning how to fix them; kids will too! They’ll learn from your experience and from doing their own reading and research.
  10. Your Child’s Garden Will Give Them a Sense of Pride – When a kid serves their friends and family a salad full of the vegetables from their garden there is a real sense of accomplishment and pride. There is nothing quite like providing food for the people you love. Not to mention the bonus of sacrificing their time and energy to the benefit of others (giving).
gardening with kids

The Best Vegetables for Children’s Gardens

These vegetables are great when you first start gardening with kids! They are easy to grow, will grow in a variety of spaces and most kids love to eat them.

Radishes 

In my experience, radishes are the easiest vegetable to grow. They’ll grow in boxes and pots too. Radishes are also pretty fast vegetables so they’ll be something to harvest quickly. Because they are a root vegetable you’ll want to start these where you plan to grow them, no transplanting. I know store-bought radishes are not everyone’s cup of tea but there are some amazing varieties that have more mild or sweeter flavors. See Radish Seeds

Carrots

Most kiddos love carrots – a sweet root veggie. No while carrots are pretty easy to grow, they do take some patience because they are slow growing. In my years of gardening I have never found one that grows as fast as the seed packet says it will; but they are worth the wait. I have grown carrots in pots, 6 and 12 inch garden boxes with equal success. And you’ll never have a better tasting carrot than the one you eat right out of the garden! Did you know there are purple carrots? See Carrot Seeds

Tomatoes

Most gardeners will tell you to start with tomatoes as a beginner. They are one of those vegetables (which are actually a fruit) that will grow just about anywhere. Growing tomatoes are good for learning how to prune for growth and you can keep growing the same tomato bush for several seasons. Kids typically like cherry tomatoes but you might be surprised by all the fun smaller varieties that you can grow! We love the Yellow Pear.

Zucchini

The hardest thing about growing zucchini is what to do with it all! With a good harvest we can usually share quite a bit with neighbors, friends and family; because we get tired of it. I recommend starting your zucchinis inside about 4 – 6 weeks before you’re ready to plant them outdoors. We often the Black Beauty variety. See my tips on growing summer squash. 
Be sure to check out these amazing zucchini recipes for your harvest!

Bell Peppers

Bells are a wonderfully sweet pepper that kids usually love to eat. They are truly an easy vegetable to grow too! They typically do well in warmer weather and ours have survived the the long hot Phoenix summers! They also come in a wonderful rainbow of colors, though that does not really change the flavor in my opinion. See Bell Pepper Seeds

family gardening with kids

Tips for Gardening with Kids

  • Make it fun – they are more likely to do it again if you have fun with it.
  • Set goals together – decide what your goals are for your garden. Maybe a salad or salsa garden only to start?
  • Keep it simple – sometimes just starting a simple herb garden is best. Don’t feel like you need a dozen square foot garden boxes!
  • Keep it organic – your children really don’t need exposure to any pesticides!
  • Order some seed catalogs to look at together. See Seed Catalogs You Need!
  • Plant what you eat first – sure I encourage variety and trying new things but the first few veggies should be ones they eat already.

Further Reading for Your Child’s Garden

Here are a few books you may want to consider as you dive into gardening with your kids.