One of the things I love to do with my kids every spring is plant strawberries. I found one of those big terracotta strawberry pots a few years ago at a yard sale for $1.00 (lucky me) and although chipped and cracked in places it does the trick.
I do not have a green thumb but strangely enough our strawberries flourish every year. My kids love to be part of the process from selecting the plants at the store, potting them and taking turns watering them. It is also a very rewarding lesson in patience waiting for those strawberries to ripen throughout the summer. Kids learn very quickly the longer they wait, the better they will taste.
If you would like to try strawberry container gardening here is what you will need:
- a strawberry pot found at most garden centres
- a handful of small rocks (optional)
- some potting soil
- 7-8 individual strawberry plants (also found at a gardening centre)
Most strawberry pots have a hole for drainage at the bottom of the pot but I placed some rocks at the bottom of mine for extra drainage. Fill the pot 3/4 full of potting soil and start putting your strawberry plants in each of the little openings. I usually plant 2-3 at the very top. Cover with enough soil so the plants are sticking out of the pot and their roots are completely covered. The entire process only takes about 10 minutes which is perfect for kids and their short attention spans. Water the strawberries daily and just enough so the soil is damp but not soaked. Strawberries thrive in sunshine so find a nice sunny spot for them. I keep mine on my east-facing back deck and they seem to do great there.
Do you have any tips or suggestions for gardening with kids? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below!
About Melissa Vroon
We have a tradition of planting potatoes in the Spring (often during Easter, but it depends on the weather). Then on Thanksgiving, I send all the kids outside with shovels for a Potato hunt, and we eat whatever potatoes are found.
I want to garden with Max but I know he will end up putting everything in his mouth. Dirt, plants…in his mouth. So, I’ll wait.