The magnolias of Kensington are gradually erupting into bloom and signalling that spring is upon us. With longer days and daylight after school, now is the perfect time for gardening activities with your children.
Gardening is a great way to build an understanding of the natural world, to spend time outside and to create something. Nothing is more satisfying than planting a tiny seed and watching it grow, creating a sense of magic to rival Harry Potter, especially a giant sunflower. Or digging for potatoes, like a treasure hunt for huge gold nuggets.
Growing food excites children and there is nothing better than eating something straight from the plant. Even if you live in an apartment, you can still have a few pots on a windowsill. Strawberry plants grow well in window boxes, cherry tomato plants can provide fruit for over four months and salad crops can be eaten straight away. If you have a little more space, why not give your children their own area to be their garden and give them a seed catalogue to choose their own crops? Younger children might prefer to grow flowers or create a ‘fairy garden’, but they enjoy the sense of ownership and responsibility which comes with their own patch.
Carnivorous plants fascinate children, finally a plant that can kill and eat things. While Venus fly traps are the most well-known, there are also pitcher plants which trap insects in tall tubers, sundews which capture them in sticky glue and bladderworts which suck tiny insects into their roots. These can be exciting plants for children to own but need unique conditions to grow. In the wild they grow in swamps, so to create a garden for them, an old bucket or pond is useful as a base. They also need acidic conditions, so use rainwater rather than tap water. Learning about what specific plants require covers many topics of the science curriculum.
Older children might like to try their hand at propagation – creating new plants. While seeds are the obvious example, many perennials are grown from cuttings or division and A-Level biologists might like to try micro-propagation in agar jelly. While numerous studies have shown the effect of spending time outdoors on mental health and wellbeing, some have shown effects more specific to gardening. Lowry et al 2007, found that the effect of interactions with microbes found in the soil, had a similar effect on the brain to antidepressants and could make people feel significantly happier.
If you don’t have any space to garden, there are still many amazing gardens to visit around London. The world-famous Kew Gardens has fantastic greenhouses and blossom. RHS Wisley, in Surrey, has extensive borders, orchards and interactive features. Holland Park has a wonderful Japanese Garden with streams and acers. Next month will also see the famous Chelsea Flower Show take place. This is a great introduction to gardening with many stands, specialist growers, floral displays and show gardens. It’s an brilliant day out and the best introduction to the glamour of plants!
Top plants to grow with children:
- Runner beans
- Strawberries
- Potatoes
- Tomatoes (sungold is an excellent variety)
- Cress
- Nasturtiums (have edible leaves and flowers)
- Sunflowers
Written by Ed, a Bonas MacFarlane tutor.