How to Make a Childrens Garden: Kid Sized Beds plus Crops
Knowing how to make a childrens garden starts with beds kids can reach plus plants that grow fast. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions notes plants that grow plus mature quickly are ideal for holding a child’s interest. Let kids help design the garden from the start.
The short answer
Build narrow beds that children can reach from both sides without stepping in. Involve kids in the design plus let them choose some plants. Pick plants that grow plus mature quickly, along with pretty flowers. Give each child tools suited to their age. Plan short activities matched to each age.
How big should beds be for children?
NC State Extension notes typical raised bed widths are 3 to 4 feet for a bed you can reach from both sides. Choose a width that lets you work the center comfortably. You should never need to step into the bed, since that compacts the soil. Even a bed 8 to 12 inches high offers easier access.
South Dakota State University Extension advises a bed four feet wide or less if you can reach from both sides. Make it 3 feet or less if you can reach from only one side. It notes small raised beds are a manageable space for new gardeners. Height can suit people of all ages. Allow 3 to 4 feet between beds for a wheelbarrow.
A plot of land is not required. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions notes a container garden works just as well for kids.
Which crops grow fast enough for kids?
UF/IFAS notes quick growing plants hold interest, as do pretty flowers plus food crops. Plants that need less expertise make a first garden simpler. NC State Extension notes enough lettuce for a salad can grow in a 12 inch pot. Radishes plus carrots also grow in 12 inch containers.
NC State Extension notes leafy greens like lettuce plus spinach can grow in as little as six hours of sun. Radishes can too. They do much better with eight hours or more.
| Idea | What kids do | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Container garden | Grow plants without a plot of land | UF/IFAS |
| Salad pot | Grow lettuce in a 12 inch pot | NC State |
| Themed garden | Grow plants for pizza, salsa or salad | UF/IFAS |
| Pollinator garden | Watch for wildlife | UF/IFAS |
| Compost pile | Add scraps plus watch waste turn to plant food | UF/IFAS |
| Garden art | Paint rocks or signs for the garden | UF/IFAS |
Source: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions plus NC State Extension.
Which features hold kids’ interest?
UF/IFAS suggests sensory gardens, vegetable gardens plus cut flower gardens. You can make themed gardens like pizza, salsa or salad. Pollinator gardens plus bird gardens offer wildlife viewing. Miniature fairy gardens add a whimsical touch.
Match tasks to age. Toddlers might play in the soil or look for bugs. Older kids can help with weeding, watering plus mulching. Ask children what they think should be done next. Journals or scrapbooks can log the progress of the garden.
How to: step by step
- Choose a sunny spot with at least six hours of sun.
- Make narrow beds children can reach without stepping in.
- Let kids help plan the layout plus pick a few plants.
- Sow fast growing crops like lettuce plus radishes.
- Add a theme such as a pizza or salsa garden.
- Hand kids tools that suit their age.
Troubleshooting
Kids lose interest: slow plants. Choose plants that grow plus mature quickly.
Soil gets packed down: kids step in the beds. Build beds narrow enough to reach the center from the side.
Tasks feel too hard: activities do not fit the age. Give toddlers soil play plus older kids watering or mulching.
For related reading see raised beds for cannabis, square foot gardening for cannabis plus planning an outdoor cannabis garden layout. Kind Seed Co also stocks cannabis seeds.
Sources
- Gardening with kids, UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions
- Vegetable gardening for beginners, NC State Extension
- Accessible gardening: raised beds, containers plus garden tables, NC State Extension Gardener
- Gardening in raised beds plus containers in the Northern Great Plains, South Dakota State University Extension
FAQ
What are the easiest vegetables for kids?
Choose plants that grow plus mature quickly. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions notes these hold a child's interest, as do pretty flowers. NC State Extension notes lettuce for a salad can grow in a 12 inch pot. Radishes plus carrots also grow in 12 inch containers, so kids can start small.
How do I hold kids' interest in gardening?
UF/IFAS suggests specific activities that build a feeling of accomplishment. Let kids help design the garden plus choose plants. Try themed gardens like pizza or salsa. Ask open ended questions about what the plants need next. Painting rocks or a garden journal adds a creative outlet.
What size bed suits children?
NC State Extension notes typical widths are 3 to 4 feet for a bed reached from both sides, so no one needs to step in. South Dakota State University Extension advises 3 feet or less for a bed reached from one side. Even a bed 8 to 12 inches high is easier to work.
Can kids garden in containers?
Yes. UF/IFAS notes a plot of land is not required, since a container garden works just as well. NC State Extension notes containers need more frequent watering plus feeding than beds. Choose container heights that suit the child. Lettuce, radishes plus carrots all grow in 12 inch pots.
What jobs suit each age?
UF/IFAS suggests matching activities to age. Toddlers might play in the soil, make mud pies or look for bugs. Older kids can help with weeding, watering plus mulching. Children of all ages can help plant seeds, watch the first sprouts appear plus add scraps to a compost pile.
