"Anything out of the ordinary interests kids," says Kathy Bond Borie, editor of Kids Gardening at the National Gardening Association. Children love extremes.
Huge flowers and veggies like sunflowers and pumpkins are hits. Mini varieties also stir their curiosity. Think fragrance, texture, color and performance. Plant seeds-watching them sprout is half the fun, yet starter plants offer instant gratification and color. Combine both for best results.
Kid-friendly plants to try:
- Speckled Lima Beans sprout in just ten days.
- Thumbelina (mini) carrots are perfectly pint size.
- Lamb's Ear is a fuzzy, fun-to-touch plant.
- Roses, lilacs and lavender are heavily scented.
- Moonflower blooms only at night.
- Carrots, potatoes and beets are fun to dig up at harvest time.
Adapted from an article by Jennifer Nelson, a freelance writer in Neptune Beach, Florida.