Teaching Kids to be Sustainable — Plant NOW for a Spring Harvest!!

Want a way to sustainably live and create an amazing experience for your kids?

There are many plants we can sink into the ground in April and have them on our dinner table before the temps go past 70 degrees. Kids will love getting out in the yard, learn about producing food for the table, and will be more likely to eat more vegetables.

Lush green rows of mesculan, spinach, chartreuse lettuce, turnip and beet greens, and broccoli should go in during this month. Don’t forget snap peas (the leaves and tendrils of snap peas are edible and quite delicious), shell peas, carrots, onions, radishes, broccoli, and cauliflower. There is nothing quite like a beautiful Spring salad to boost your vitamin, mineral and fiber intake…and boost you and your kids right out of winter doldrums.

You will nourish not only your bodies, but you can create experiences for you and your kids that they will always remember. Get your kids away from their video games and outside enjoying the warming weather. Gardening is a great way to spend family time, bring in a wonderful harvest, preserve food for the winter or emergencies and teach your kids defensible ways of living.

Cool-season crops are those that germinate in cools soils and perform best at temperatures from 40–70 degrees, namely Spring and Fall. Plant these vegetables as soon as the soil is workable. Take a handful of soil and form it into a ball. Squeeze the ball tightly. If it crumbles when you open your hand, the soil is ready. If it keeps a tight shape, it contains too much moisture. Delay working the soil until it dries out more.

April 30th is roughly the last frost date much of the country so you’ll need to carefully protect your plants until frost is no longer in the picture. You can opt for row covers or plastic milk jugs to protect the plants from frost. Remove these covers during the day to gain the warming sunlight.

Plant using seed packets or seed pods, such as each Miracle Grow seed pods. If you are getting started late, use seedling starters in the garden. Learn to harvest your own seeds in harvests to come. Work with your kids to teach them how to check the soil, plant spacing and how to water. They’ll love the opportunity to dig in the soil and will appreciate watching the plants grow and will likely want to enjoy the bounty! Gardening is a great way to get kids to love vegetables and fruits.

Recommended Early Plantings:

Note: Harvest times shown reflect planting at the earliest plant date listed.

Please note that these dates are subject to considerable variations due to region, weather conditions, varieties, dates planted, cultural procedure utilized (i.e., raised beds verses in-ground plantings) and other factors.

Enjoy the dramatic beauty of the many exciting varieties now available. The countless shades of green are thrilling and many bold new colors of these crops are available. Consider heirloom varieties, offered again alongside hybrids because of their exceptional taste.

Plan with your children to excite their interest. Create a separate area that can be just their own. They’ll be thrilled with what they are able to harvest and will learn wonderful traits. Think about the possibilities of instilling sustainable living with your family and reap the rewards of preparedness!