Little Gardeners in Action: Start Growing Your Own Vegetables with the Kids!

Did you also get the task at school as a child to make a pea sprout on a piece of wet cotton wool? Some peas went mouldy, while others managed to grow into little plants. Back then, we had no idea that we were actually growing sprouts & shoots – or even microgreens – hydroponically, and that they’re in fact superfoods! So why not give it another try?

April is the perfect time to experiment with seeds. Get started growing your own vegetables together with the kids. Almost every child loves watching how a tiny seed slowly transforms into a little plant. And who knows – maybe, at the end of it all, there’ll be a beautiful, red tomato!

If you have a garden or want to grow vegetables in containers on your balcony, you can prepare your own seedlings. Now is the perfect time to start! You can plant the young seedlings outside in mid-May, when there's no longer a risk of morning frost. After that, it’s safe for the little plants to stay outdoors.

For easy growing from seed, courgettes (zucchini) and various types of squash are ideal. Some of the most popular varieties include hokkaido and butternut squash. If you plan to get creative with pumpkins in the autumn, it’s a great idea to grow your own ornamental or Halloween pumpkins. The best types for carving are usually labelled as “trailing squash”. Dads will definitely appreciate homegrown, spicy chilli peppers. There are plenty of varieties to choose from.

What to plant your seeds in? If you don't want to buy special seed trays, small flowerpots, yoghurt pots (with holes poked in the bottom), or even egg cartons will do the job just fine. Toilet paper rolls also work great – you can plant the seedlings along with them, as they’ll decompose in the soil over time. In any case, it's worth using soil specifically designed for seed starting – it's light and airy. Once you've sown and watered your seeds, cover the containers with cling film or a plastic bag. This helps maintain the right humidity and temperature. Keep the soil lightly moist at all times, but be careful not to overwater.

What can you sow in an outdoor garden bed or balcony planter so that eager little gardeners can enjoy their harvest as soon as possible?

You can already start sowing radishes, spinach, chard, or various types of lettuce directly into garden beds, balcony planters, or pots. Don’t wait weeks for large head lettuces to grow – instead, choose a cut-and-come-again variety. The first leaves appear quickly, and once you trim them, they’ll grow back again. Little gardeners will surely fall in love with sugar snap peas. Together, you can build a support for them to climb as they grow. The lush shoots develop fast, will soon be covered in white flowers, and by summer, the kids will be picking delicious, crunchy pods straight from the plant.

When growing plants in containers, they need even more nutrients than those in garden beds. Luckily, you can use things you’d normally throw away, such as:

• used coffee grounds
• water from rinsing rice
• water that soaked a banana peel for 24 hours
• chopped banana peel mixed directly into the soil
• crushed eggshells
• wood ash
• cooled, unsalted water from boiling vegetables or potatoes

No balcony? And worried that a windowsill won’t be enough for growing? Don’t worry – you can still experience the magic of a plant coming to life! Grow fresh, crunchy sprouts with your children. They’re packed with vitamins and other beneficial nutrients, and they’re perfect for watching the growth process unfold. You’ll see changes after just one day, and within a few days, you’ll be able to enjoy your tasty little harvest!

How to do it? There are plenty of sprouting tools available on the market, but in reality, you don’t need anything fancy. A bowl, a sieve, and maybe a lid or small plate will do the trick. Great seeds for sprouting include lentils, mung beans, radish, peas, adzuki beans, or garden cress. It’s best to use organic seeds. First, soak the seeds in a ceramic or glass bowl for several hours. Then strain them through a sieve and return them to the bowl. From then on, just rinse the sprouts twice a day and watch how they come to life. For stronger sprouts, it’s a good idea to keep the bowl covered for the first few days to block out light. It’s entirely up to you at which stage you want to enjoy them

Wishing you lots of fun and adventure in your family gardening journey – from your Mama Labels team!