As spring approaches, gardening can be a fun, hands-on activity for you to enjoy with your family.
It’s a great way to get together (and get mucky) out in the fresh air, panting and sowing flowers, fruit & vegetables for you and your children to enjoy together.
To begin with, you will need basic gardening tools such as a hand trowel and fork, planters and of course your choice of seeds or bulbs. You can find a great selection of gardening basics within the Poundstretcher Gardening section of the website and in store.
Although gardening can be tricky, there are several plants which are very easy to grow, leading to a successful start to gardening. Here’s our guide to five fool-proof fruits and vegetables to grow with your family.
Peas
Peas are very simple to grow at home and can be started in organic compost in pots indoors. The best time to sow your peas is in early spring.
But be warned: pea seeds are poisonous so don’t let your little ones put them near their mouths, and make sure they wash their hands once they’ve finished planting. Once planted, the peas will flower and will continue to grow throughout spring and summer.
Sunflowers
Often one of the first plants grown by young children, sunflower seeds are fun to grow for the simple reason that they grow so tall! Why not hold a family competition to see who can grow the tallest sunflower? Sunflowers love being in direct sunlight, so find a sunny spot and keep them warm.
Strawberries
All children love the taste of sweet strawberries, and it can be really easy to grow your own (picking them is great fun too). They can be grown in pots, in the ground, in grow bags or in special strawberry planters and can take up as much or as little space as you have to spare.
Cabbages
Cabbages can be fun to grow as they can grow to a massive size in as little as 10-12 weeks. And perhaps growing their own will make little ones more inclined to taste this super-healthy veg.
Potatoes
Plant your potato sees in the ground between February and May, and they will multiply to give a harvest of many more delicious potatoes later in the year. Start by leaving the seed potatoes in daylight until they being to sprout, and then plant them into a container or directly into the ground, allowing lots of room for them to grow.
What are your favourite fruit and vegetables’ to grow at home?
Share photos of your latest gardening achievements on the Poundstretcher Facebook page.