Let kids create their own garden, and other tips for instilling a love for growing things

By JESSICA DAMIANO Associated Press When I was a kid my friends and I spent long summer days outdoors picking daisies observing roly-poly also known as pill bugs holding caterpillars and trying to catch fireflies lightning bugs It s still not hard to entice the under- set to make mudpies smell flowers and eat string beans off the vine but as children get older and turn to screens nature exploration often falls to the bottom of their boredom-buster lists With a little creativity however parents can nurture an interest in the great outdoors and inspire a lifelong love for gardening The key is starting kids young and giving them ownership This image provided by Jessica Martin shows three children gardening in Islip Terrace New York Jessica Martin via AP This image provided by Jessica Martin shows a toddler learning to tend plant in an Islip Terrace New York garden Jessica Martin via AP This image provided by Jessica Martin shows young children tending to a garden bed in Islip Terrace New York Jessica Martin via AP Show Caption of This image provided by Jessica Martin shows three children gardening in Islip Terrace New York Jessica Martin via AP Expand Let them pick the plants Take children to the nursery and let each decide what they would like to grow Annuals and perennials should be limited only by the site s conditions sunny poor drainage and their non-toxicity children tend to put things in their mouths Leaves and stems of tomato potato and rhubarb for instance are toxic so if you grow them you ll need to monitor little ones closely if you re uncertain about a plant call the national Poison Control center at - - - for guidance Otherwise let the kids have complete control Vegetables should be ones they like to eat they ll take pride in a meal that includes ingredients they grew themselves Growing edibles can also play a role in influencing a lifetime of healthy food choices While you re at the nursery pick up chosen child-size rakes hoes spades and gloves or scout for used ones at neighborhood garage sales or online marketplaces Ordinary kitchen spoons can also be used for digging Let them lay out the garden and name it Back at home let each child use a yardstick to measure a -square-foot plot of land to call their own If you don t have garden space give them a container be sure to poke drainage holes in the bottom Name the area or container for the child and let them design a sign that reads for instance Olivia s Garden or Noah s Nasturtiums Let them name their individual plants too They will feel protective over them and take pride in their development Offer advice on plant care Teach kids that gardens need to eat and drink like they do and that gardens too get cranky when they re hungry or parched Show them the responses then let them figure out when their plants need water or fertilizer Observe the sun s movement across the sky together and if viable situate the plot where others can admire it Be available to offer advice but don t insist on perfection Teach children not to step on plants but let them get dirty Mistakes are often the best teachers so if they insist allow them to pick an unripe tomato They will swiftly learn that an unripe tomato doesn t taste as good as a ripe one and that an early harvest is wasteful The same goes for immature potatoes garlic carrots and radishes These are the lessons that stick Hang a calendar somewhere visible in their bedroom or on the refrigerator to schedule watering and weeding Let them take responsibility for checking it and alerting you when those tasks need to be done Traversing off completed items will also impart a feeling of accomplishment I know it does for me Gardening offers food and flowers yes but it also teaches patience responsibility and the satisfaction that comes from nurturing something over an extended period It s also relaxing and creates precious one-on-one time that they ll remember long after the flowers have faded And that s the best harvest of all Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice For more AP gardening stories go to https apnews com hub gardening