Harvesting History

Zinnia, Royal Purple
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Of all the gifts that you can give to a child, the gift of your time – time spent with a child – is unquestionably the greatest gift of all

Time spent with a child gardening, of all the child-worthy activities, tops the list. Gardening brings children outside, gives them healthy physical activity, teaches them about the wonders of nature and why they need to learn to read and to count and how they, tiny beings that they are, are a part of this wondrous organism we call the earth. There are many, many plants that are child-friendly: easy to grow, beautiful, interesting. If you have favorites, your favorites make the best choices because your genuine enthusiasm for your favorites will be instilled in your children. For this newsletter, we have selected nine seed varieties – 3 flowers, 3 herbs,and 3 vegetables. We chose these seed varieties because they are easy togrow, some are beautiful, all have interesting stories or purposes and, most important of all, they will flourish in pots as well as in a garden.

The Teddy Bear Sunflower
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Sunflowers will always be a children’s gardening favorite, but we selected Teddy Bear because it is a ‘child-sized’ sunflower reaching a height of about 30 inches and its huge (6-8 inch diameter), sunshine yellow, fully double blossoms generate absolute glee in a child. Plant 6-8 seeds in a 10-12 inch diameter pot and thin the seedlings when they are 2 inches tall leaving 4 plants to grow in the pot. In the garden, make sure there are 6 inches between plants and 12 inches between rows.

The Moonflower
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Sometime during their childhood years, every child should be blessed with the experience of growing a moonflower vine. The plant is named moonflower because it blooms at night when the moon is in the sky. The huge (4-6 inch diameter), crystal white blossoms produce a heavenly fragrance when they open and you will experience the same child-like delight as your loved one as you observe him/her pressing their nose into the center of these magnificent blooms. The most curious fact about the moonflower is that its sap, in combination with the sap of the rubber trees of Central America, was used by the indigenous peoples of Central America to make rubber balls-some of the very first childhood toys. Plant 6-8 seeds in a 10-12 inch diameter pot and thin the seedlings when they are 2 inches tall leaving 3 plants to grow in the pot. In the garden, make sure there are 8 inches between plants.

Zinnia, Orange King
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We chose zinnias for the following reasons:

1. They are among the easiest, if not the easiest, flowers to grow;

2.They come in a rainbow of colors, so choose your child’s favorite colors;
3. Harvesting History’s zinnias are open-pollinated, so even though they are all
one color, each plant will produce blossoms that have a slight variation in color,
size and shape. This teaches a child how nature is always trying to  improve its
creations by varying genetics through open-pollination.
4. And, they are one of America’s oldest and most beloved flowers. They are
native to Central America, Mexico and as far north as the state of Colorado
and for the rest of the US, they were introduced in 1798.
Plant 12-16 seeds in a 10-12 inch diameter pot and thin the seedlings when they are 2 inches tall leaving 8 plants to grow in the pot. In the garden, make sure there are 6 inches between plants and 12 inches between rows.

Basil, Genovese
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Basil is an incredibly easy herb to grow from seed and it is an outstanding teaching plant for children. Once the plant is 8 inches tall, have the child harvest leaves to top a delicious plate of spaghetti or to make some pesto. It is important for you as the adult to complete the education process with your children by teaching them how and when to harvest and how to cook what they have harvested. Basil is an easy plant to cook with, and because you harvest throughout the growing season, it inspires in children a need to visit the garden frequently. Make sure you leave some basil to flower so you can show your children how this marvelous plant attracts bees. Bees love the basil flowers, and you can teach the children about the part pollinator insects play in the garden. Plant 3-4 seeds in a 6 inch diameter pot and thin the seedlings when they are 2 inches tall leaving 1 plant to grow in the pot. In the garden, make sure there are 6 inches between plants. Make sure the soil is warm to the touch and have the child poke his/her finger into the soil up to the second knuckle to test for warmth. BASIL HATES COLD SOIL.

Horehound
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We selected horehound because it makes a great candy – a candy that is easy to make with children. Search on your computer for a recipe, and teach your children about the medical benefits of this extraordinary herb. Because it is a member of the mint family, it is easy to grow and prolific. It has been a part of American’s lives since the first colonists reached the shores of North America. Plant 6-8 seeds in a 10-12 inch diameter pot and thin the seedlings when they are 2 inches tall leaving 3 plants to grow in the pot. In the garden, make sure there are 8 inches between plants and 12 inches between rows.

Borage
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Borage is a beautiful herb to grow and a great teaching plant for children. It can be used decoratively, because it makes such a lovely potted plant and produces an abundance of blue flowers. We chose borage because it is a very important pollinator plant. In your garden, it will attract butterflies, bees and other beneficial bugs. It will also repel some of the bad bugs. Its leaves are often consumed by adults in salads or beverages, but the flavor is not something for children. Plant 3-4 seeds in a 10-12 inch diameter pot and thin the seedlings when they are 2 inches tall leaving 1-2 plants to grow in the pot. In the garden, make sure there is 8-10 inches between plants and 18 inches between rows.

Nantes Carrot
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Nantes carrots do very, very well in containers. That is the primary reason they were chosen, but not the only reason. They are a blunt-nosed carrot, rather than a tapered-nosed carrot which is probably why they grow so well in containers because they do not become so misshapen. They are also very sweet, and they were one of the very first orange carrots grown by Americans. They were originally developed in France. Plant 12-16 seeds in a 10-12 inch diameter pot and thin the seedlings when they are 2 inches tall leaving 12 plants to grow in the pot. In the garden, make sure there are 2-3 inches between plants and 6 inches between rows.

Dwarf Grey Sugar Pea
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If you want to get your child permanently and gleefully in love with gardening, plant this pea and then allow them to pick the ripened pods and eat them straight from the plant. The adventure of ‘snacking from the garden’ is without equal as is the sweetness of these pea pods. The Dwarf Grey Sugar Pea is one of America’s oldest vegetables. It was being grown in the US as far back as the early 1600s.

Dwarf Grey Sugar Pea Flower
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One of the neatest things about this pea, in addition to its remarkable flavor, is its beautiful flowers. Make sure you bring your little ones to the garden as these pea plants blossom, because they are a sight to behold. Plant 8-10 seeds in an 18 inch diameter pot and thin the seedlings when they are 2 inches tall leaving 8 plants to grow in the pot. Make a 4-pole tee pee (tied at the top) and insert it into the pot arranging the seedlings with 2 plants at each pole. In the garden, make sure there are 6 inches between plants and 12 inches between rows. You will need to stake the plants grown in the garden.

Lettuce, Tom Thumb
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We chose Tom Thumb because over the years we have watched as it tickled the imagination of children. It is a child-sized, butterhead lettuce, that, when full grown, fits neatly into the palms of a small child. This lettuce was brought to America in 1830. It is an English heirloom. Lettuce is a great way to teach children about succession planting. If you have the room and the pots, plant one pot, and then 2 weeks later, plant a second pot, and then two weeks later, plant a third pot. Succession planting is an important practice for children to learn. Plant 8-10 seeds in a 10-12 inch diameter pot and thin the seedlings when they are 2 inches tall leaving 6 plants to grow in the pot. In the garden, make sure there are 4 inches between plants and 6 inches between rows. If children are on your list this holiday season, please make sure they get a gardening gift. Seed packets make great stocking stuffers and Christmas tree ornaments. You can play a sweet game with a child by telling them there are 3, 4, 6, etc. packets hidden in the tree. See if they can find them. For years to come, you will all will enjoy the memories that together you grew and harvested from of the garden.

Just A Reminder Of Some Great Gardening Gifts for Children
That We Have Discussed In The Previous Newsletters

Praying Mantis Gift Certificate
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This Christmas-Hannukah season we are introducing a product we have wanted to offer for years. It is a gift certificate that allows the recipient to receive, sometime this spring, two praying mantis egg cases. Each egg case contains approximately 200 eggs which will hatch in about 30 days. Eventually, out of 400 eggs, 2-3 mantises will reach adulthood. This is an excellent gift for young children, ages 5-12, but it is an extraordinary gift for teenagers, especially teenage boys. If you are tired of giving your teenagers video games and clothes, try this gift certificate. As they follow the process of hatching these remarkable creatures, you will see in their eyes and the expressions on their faces, the wonder that was so very enchanting when they were younger. I cannot emphasize enough what a wonderful present these praying mantisegg cases are. They are an opportunity to witness the creation of life and to participate in Mother Nature’s grand plan. They are a learning and a sharing opportunity that is without equal.

Haws Heritage Plastic Indoor Watering Can
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The Heritage, pictured immediately above, is the smallest can that Haws manufactures. The can is actually meant for adults but has become very popular as a child’s watering can. It is nearly indestructible. I have had one for 13 years and it still looks and performs like the day I acquired it. If you know a child whom you would like to introduce to gardening or an adult with a lot of indoor plants, the Haws Heritage would make an exceptional gift and it is only $13.50.

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