On top of all that there's the fruit and veg. Constants in the garden are my tiny dwarf apple tree (there is an apple tree for every size of garden, trust me) and my autumn fruiting raspberries which are currently producing loads of fruit which my son is devouring just as raspberries are becoming difficult to find and expensive in the shops. I don't get that. I've only recently got rid of some trays of lettuce (sown in seed trays which lasted from about June to August and saved me loads of cash).
My french beans are romping away, much tastier than beans flown in from Kenya or Egypt and so easy to grow. They're a dwarf variety but I've grown climbing versions before which means you can plant them in virtually no space at the back of a border and the upside is they have nitrogen fixing bacteria in their roots so they actually help the other plants! Genius!
Tomatoes are a piece of cake to grow. If you've never tasted a tomato grown outdoors just ripened in the sun, you've not tasted tomatoes.
So my lawn is about 6 metres by 3 metres. My garden is small. In previous years I've grown radishes, courgettes, potatoes (in pots) and chillis have been a huge success.
I think gardening can be a fantastic way of chilling out but also involving your child in the food they eat. My son is already fascinated by plants (obviously be careful, it's sensible to set a rule of 'no eating unless you've asked mummy first) but I often take pieces of herbs and crush them for him to smell. I did that yesterday in someone else's garden with some Lemon Balm (Melissa) and there was a look of interest on his face.
Anyway. Sights, smells, tastes, there is something potentially in a garden for babies and toddlers of all ages. All you need is a windowbox to grow herbs, all you need is a countryside walk to pick blackberries at this time of year (but save some for us, I feel a batch of bramble jelly coming on...)
I've linked this up to 'Oldies but Goodies' on 'Hobbies'
Aw thanks for linking up this fabulous post - the photos are amazing! My OH is the keen gardener/veg grower in this house, I just don't have the patience to wait for it all to grow but thoroughly enjoying eating them, as do the kids. I agree that it's a great hobby to involve children in. Thanks for linking up :)
ReplyDeleteI think I took the photos on my own! This is an old post...
DeleteOh I am so envious of your marvellous array of plants! My garden is a bit of an eye-sore at the moment, but I'm planning on making raised beds to grow veg and herbs in. I love watching things grow and it's something I hope my little ones will appreciate, as they get older.
ReplyDeleteOh I wish my garden was as productive this year. It's just asleep.
DeleteI love gardening and I am having withdrawal's with this horrible weather! I am hoping to try growing some veg next year in a patch :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's worth growing chillis inside. The only reason I've not started this year is because I'm not sure I'm going to be living in the same house come the summer.
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