by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener
Gardening is the ideal outdoor learning experience. Whether growing in containers, raised beds, or the ground, the rewards of growing vegetables are plentiful. When children see the process from seed to harvest, they are more likely to taste vegetables they might not normally try.
Pumpkins
Growing pumpkins to harvest in the fall can feel almost magical to a child. The best varieties for children to grow are smaller Sugar Pie Pumpkins or miniatures like Mini Jack. For an enhanced learning experience, pair the planting with a children’s book like The Pumpkin Circle by George Levenson or The Pumpkin Book by Gail Gibbons.
Cucumbers
There are many different varieties of cucumber. Try growing a few different types to compare; Lemon, Armenian, or Pickling. Maybe even a tiny hybrid variety called a cucamelon (Mexican Sour Gherkin). Take the gardening experience one step further and pickle some cucumbers to teach children where pickles come from!
Snap Peas
Sugar snap peas have a long season in the Bay Area and can grow in both cold and hot weather. Seeds prefer cooler, moist soil and can even be started in an area with indirect sunlight. Sugar snap peas are fun for kids straight off of the vine and give children the opportunity to learn the techniques of “safe harvest,” or how to harvest vegetables without damaging the plant. When planting sugar snap peas, try to avoid planting shelling peas nearby, as biting into a rigid pea pod thinking it’s a crisp sugar snap pea can prove disappointing to a child!
Root Vegetables
Children enjoy pulling root vegetables like carrots, turnips, beets, and radishes out of the ground. Root vegetable seeds tend to be smaller, so helping children get good spacing is key to making sure their growth is not stunted. Growing roots will teach children simple gardening skills like spacing and thinning. Here’s an article on how to make seed tape, which works well for smaller seeds.
Purple Beans
Green beans are fun, but enter purple beans and little minds are blown. Grown on a bush or a vine, they are easier to spot and taste just as delicious as green beans. For an extra bonus, show children how purple beans turn green when they’re cooked.
Thanks to our temperate climate, Pumpkins, Cucumbers, and Beans can be planted from seed until mid-August in Alameda. Root vegetables and snap peas can even be planted even later and grown through the winter. Happy Planting!