Get out in the garden, have fun and create some colour and food !

It had finally stopped raining today, so it was a great day to get out in the garden to do some bits before we get into Winter. Get the children out in the garden, getting some fresh air and learning about the natural world around them, through just being and doing. If you only have a small area or limited budget it's amazing what you can do in just a few pots, or squeeze them in with some other plants .

We planted some bulbs, you should have enough time to plant them now, before the end of November preferably. Bulbs are always good as they amaze you, you start with something that looks dead and lifeless and then suddenly comes to life in the spring, with wonderful colour. We planted daffodils, tulips and some crocuses. Just in the beds, mixed in with the other flowers and vegetables. They should produce some welcome spring colour.

You can just as easily pop a few bulbs into a couple of pots, and come the spring you will have some spring colour. You can then replace these bulbs next spring when they have finished flowering with some easily grown vegetables to have some home grown produce. I will post more suggestions come spring time. It's also fantastic for children to see how things grow, and the process it goes through, a great way to learn about something by watching and doing.

Also if you have the space for a few vegetables now, its the perfect time for planting garlic and onion sets. You want the roots to take off and get established, but not too much greenery on top, that should start next spring. Now we have the cooler days, that should prevent too much top growth while still leaving enough time for work beneath the surface to be carrying on before the even colder weather arrives.

Other veg that can be autumn sown now for an early crop next year are arctic king - lettuce, carrots - nantes frubund, and broad beans - the sutton. These are all specific varieties for autumn sowing to produce an earlier crop in the spring, so extending the growing period and providing fresh vegetables for longer. Children just seem to love the magic of growing food and then eating it, it brings it alive and real for them rather than just buying it in a shop or supermarket.

Don't be scared give it a go, you don't have to do loads maybe just start with some carrots which always seem to be popular with children. Find a space in a border, you can mix them in with flowers, or get a tub or pot and plant them in that. Give it a try and see what you get. Even if you only get tiny carrots the kids will love eating them raw and whole. I have a daughter who is a veg phobic but she will eat home grown carrots, raw, especially if she has grown them herself. So even if you have a fussy eater and you think, "they will never eat that", get them involved and you may be pleasantly surprised. Try getting them involved right from shopping for the seeds all the way through the process.

Don't get disheartened if they don't want to be involved all the way through either, mine like to go off have a bike or scooter around, have a play, and then keep coming back, remember their attention span is still quite short but they will be taking it all in, and think they are involved.

So go and have some fun with your children and make some food and spring colour.
If your children are really getting into the gardening they just love to have their own tools like mummy and daddy. This set is just great and also comes with a watering can, all kids love watering.