Gardening is an amazing hobby you can do to bond with your children. Allowing your kids to have their own children’s vegetable garden provides you with fresh plants in your backyard, and it is also a fantastic way to get youngsters outdoors. Moreso, it gives them an insight into where their food is grown.
Having your own kid-friendly vegetable garden is a terrific way to get kids outside and show them different crops and their nutritional values. The garden has something for everyone, irrespective of age.
That sounds fantastic, but you may realize that your expectations may meet some harsh reality. No worries, this article got you covered! Here’s a list of some of the common expectations and realities of planting a children’s vegetable garden.
Expectations of Growing a Children’s Vegetable Garden
Here are a few reasons and common expectations you may think of when growing a kids’ vegetable garden:
01: To Take Advantage Of A Year-Round Harvest
The growing process does not have to finish with the last produce from the garden. You may wish to make cultivating edible fruits and veggies an all-year endeavor. During the frigid winter months, go through seed catalogs with your children to select what to grow next season. Get an indoor grow light and have those tomatoes, beans, and pumpkin plants growing in the early spring. Kids will be enthralled by the development process, whether indoors or outdoors.
Have fun with whatever you grow in your garden. Most likely, children and parents will enjoy their time together and learn new things. And keep in mind that the youngsters will get dirty; it is all part of the fun!
02: To Cut On Cost
Producing your food at home might help reduce the cost of your grocery expenses, but it can also make you spend a lot. That is a bit harsh, but there will be expenses associated with starting a garden. The scale, style, vegetable patch, and region you intend to grow your vegetables will influence how much you invest.
03: To Earning More Cash
When you cultivate your veggies for consumption, you will not have to go to the marketplace every day to purchase your food; this can help you save and plan for the seasons when your vegetable garden might not provide the vegetables you need.
On the other hand, if you have a vast piece of land to cultivate, you could generate income from the more veggies you grow.
04: To Reduce Your Food’s Chemical Exposure
If you cultivate your veggies, you will not have to worry about contamination. You can limit the chemicals and fertilizers in your garden, or you may avoid them entirely. There are several eco-friendly solutions available to help keep your veggies fresh.
05: To Promote A Healthy Diet
Every diner will be unable to resist sampling vegetables cultivated in the backyard! Try it directly from the backyard or cook it with your family at home. You might discover a new tasty food item!
Growing vegetables is a popular technique for many people to foster healthy eating habits. When you have veggies in plenty, it is easy to choose such a vital and nutritious option over unhealthy foods from the market.
06: To Have An Exercise Platform For The Whole Family
Even though growing vegetables can take a lot of effort, gardening as a family makes it more enjoyable. It is an excellent time to talk without being distracted by electronics.
07: To Instill Responsibility In Kids
Vegetables need a lot of attention. From irrigation to pruning, understanding how to protect and care for vegetation teaches children a valuable lesson in responsibility.
08: To Teach Children To Plan And Have A Sense Of Organization
Certain plants thrive in specific periods of the year. Some thrive when placed close to another species. Others grow well in lines, while others can spread across the garden. A children’s vegetable garden allows you to talk with your children about planning and research.
09: To Foster Environmental Stewardship
Children who realize how much work, commitment, and attention go into producing food will appreciate the importance of farming and why it is crucial to care for our planet.
Realities of Children’s Vegetable Garden
Growing a vegetable garden with your children is not as easy as you may think. Here are some of the realities that you may encounter:
01: Costly First-Time Investment
To get your kid’s vegetable garden going, you will need to invest some money initially, as with any new effort. Though they are one-time expenses, they might add up when you have to plan your yard for expansion.
02: Time-Consuming
When growing vegetables, you must keep an eye on the garden daily to monitor drainage and growing conditions. Gardening is time-consuming, and you need to put in the effort to reap any significant yield.
But for those who desire to grow the majority of their food, it will not be realistic without the extra effort.
03: Food Supply Shortages Might Arise
If you opt to produce all of your vegetables in your home garden, you may have a terrible year and not have enough supply. In this unfortunate circumstance, your garden may not sustain your household food demand.
04: The Vegetable May Suffer From Soil-Related Issues
If you are in a location that lacks nutrient-rich soil, it may take a while to prepare the garden for planting vegetables.
05: Not All Vegetables Are Simple To Cultivate Because Of Poor Weather Patterns
Some plants may be challenging to grow, even if you are a seasoned gardener. Some vegetables may suffer from poor weather conditions and die. Furthermore, several crops are susceptible to pests or illnesses. You may face pest invasions such as vegetable insects and spud bugs.
Nobody can foresee or control nature, and it is not worth worrying about. However, there are methods for influencing the atmosphere during extreme weather events.
During intense heat, you can place canopies or fabric over your vegetable garden for particular shade-loving species on a specific day.
06: Physical Effects on Your Body
Sometimes, your back may suffer after or while gardening. If kneeling or bending over bothers your back, avoid it. Yes, there are instances when you cannot even imagine the agony. However, there is a way you can make it more pleasurable. Elevate your plants or garden beds so that you may lean on the edge and grasp the bed midway.
Final Words
Gardening is not easy, especially when kids are involved in the process. Please be patient; some children may exhibit instant attention and suddenly become bored a few minutes later. A simple irrigation session can sometimes evolve into an unplanned sprayer water park and scare kids away.
Do not worry much about it. Keep in mind that the objective is to make the children’s vegetable garden a learning and fun memory. But, even if your kids do not carry on your vegetable gardening hobby, they will surely recall they got to have outdoor fun in the garden with the family.
