By Andrea Steere
news@joplinglobe.com
The first day of spring is right around the corner, and gardening season has just begun. But this year, gardeners can let children in on the fun.
Gardening with your child is a simple way to bond and have fun together, while also providing an early educational outlet.
LaTonya Ruth, an early childhood special education teacher with the Early Childhood Development department of the Joplin School District, has used gardening to teach math concepts, science and social studies.
“We talked about things like area, taking care of the earth and saving money,” Ruth said. “They can grow their own food instead of buying it at the store.”
Ruth’s class grew beans, tomatoes and carrots so the students could see the fruits — or vegetables — of their labor and also have a snack.
Children also like to pick out cherry tomatoes, watermelons, pumpkins and strawberries when seed shopping, said Gayl Navarro, owner of Ozark Nursery. Navarro agrees that children can learn something from gardening.
“They can learn even they can grow food and be self-sufficient,” Navarro said. “They also gain a sense of accomplishment.”
Some plants that are ready to plant now include lettuce, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. Mike Shade, manager of The Botany Shop, said that onions and potatoes are also ready to plant.
“It’s cheap to buy a pack of radishes and they grow in a month or two,” Shade said. Onions also grow fast so you can eat them sooner, he said.
For those without a garden, or children who prefer the indoors this time of year, potting vegetables inside is also an option. Shade also emphasizes that enough water is essential for any plants to do well, especially indoors, as well as good potting soil.
According to Kiddiegardens.com, cress, cherry tomatoes, lettuce and parsley can do well on windowsills with plenty of sunlight. The best part about those plants is that they are easy to take care of — and can even take some abuse, such as overwatering, from amateur hands.
Other ideas
If your child is bored by the idea of gardening regular fruits and vegetables, Kidsgardening.com offers a few suggestions to spark their interest.
A couple of unusual plants not found in the average garden are the “sensitive” plant (Mimosa pudica) and lambs’ ears (Stachys byzantine). The sensitive plant recoils when touched gently. The plant known as lambs’ ears bears leaves that feel as soft and hairy as a real lamb’s ear.
Peppermint plants — which come in a variety of flavors, including chocolate — are easy to take care of, but can also spread like a weed. Plants such as parsley, dill, milkweed and thistles can also add some interest to a garden by attracting butterflies.
During warmer weather there are also ground cherries and peanuts to add interest to a garden. Ground cherries (Physalis pruinosa) look like Chinese lanterns but taste like a tomato and also appear annually.
Whether you choose traditional plants or something special to entice your child into the garden, it is sure to be a fun learning experience.
“Gardening can teach (children) to have pride in the community and how to care for things,” Ruth said. “They also like to dig in the dirt.”
