Summer Holiday Gardening Fun with the children

July is a fantastic month for kids to get involved in gardening, as plants are growing rapidly and there's plenty to see and do. Here are some tips and activities for young gardeners especially suitable for the summer holidays:

What to Plant in July (Quick Growers & Fun to Harvest):

• Radishes: These are super quick, often ready in as little as 3-4 weeks. Kids will love the fast results! Sow them directly into pots or a patch of soil.
• Lettuce/Salad Leaves: Another fast grower that can be harvested regularly. You can sow small batches every few weeks for a continuous supply.
• Dwarf French Beans: July is the last month to sow these for an autumn crop. They're fun to watch climb and harvest.
• Carrots: While some varieties take longer, you can still sow fast-maturing carrot varieties for an autumn harvest. They're exciting to pull up from the ground!
• Peas: If sown early in July, you might get a final crop before the colder weather. Kids often love shelling and eating peas straight from the pod. Yummy!
• Perpetual Spinach / Chard: These leafy greens are resilient and provide a continuous harvest.
• Flowers for Bees & Butterflies:
  • Sunflowers: A classic for kids! Plant large seeds and watch them grow tall. You can even have height competitions.
  • Nasturtiums: Quick-growing and colourful, their flowers and leaves are edible, adding a peppery kick to salads.
  • Marigolds: Easy to grow with bright, cheerful blooms, and their seeds are easy for little hands to handle.

Fun Gardening Activities for Kids in July:

• Harvesting Time! This is the most rewarding part! Get kids involved in picking ripe vegetables like peas, beans, lettuce, and any early tomatoes or courgettes. They'll be more likely to eat what they've grown!
• Watering: July can be dry, so keeping plants watered is essential. Kids usually love to help with this, especially with a watering can. Remind them to water the soil, not just the leaves. Potted plants and hanging baskets may need watering twice a day.
• Deadheading: Show kids how to snip off spent flowers (like roses or marigolds). This encourages the plant to produce more blooms.
• Building a Bug Hotel: Create a habitat for beneficial insects. You can use old plant pots, bamboo canes, twigs, and leaves. Kids will enjoy observing the creatures that move in.
• Making a Fairy Garden: This is a creative project using a pot, compost, small plants (like creeping thyme), and miniature accessories.
• Creating a Sensory Garden: Choose plants with interesting smells (mint, lavender), textures (lamb's ears), and tastes (herbs, edible flowers).
• Composting: Teach kids about the life cycle of plants by composting food scraps and garden waste.
• Nature Walks & Observation: Encourage children to look for and identify different plants, insects, and birds in the garden. A nature journal can be a great way to record their observations.
• DIY Garden Art: Paint pebbles, make cane toppers from recycled materials, or create garden stepping stones.
• Making Seed Bombs: A fun and easy way to spread wildflowers. All you need is natural clay, compost, and wildflower seeds.
• Pressing Flowers: Collect beautiful flowers from the garden and press them to make keepsakes, bookmarks, or cards.
• Building a Bee/Bird Feeder/Water Station: Help local wildlife by providing food and water, especially during hot spells.

General Tips for Gardening with Kids:

• Give them their own space: Even a small pot or a designated patch of ground can make a child feel more invested.
• Choose easy-to-grow plants: Fast results keep enthusiasm high.
• Involve them in all stages: From choosing seeds to harvesting and even preparing the food they've grown.
• Be patient and embrace the mess: Gardening can be messy, but it's part of the fun and learning!
• Talk about what's happening: Explain why you're watering, how plants grow, and the role of insects.
• Safety first: Teach them about safe handling of tools and identify any plants that shouldn't be touched or eaten.

Enjoy your July gardening adventures with the kids.