Gardening is an activity whose rewards are always visible (and sometimes delicious). What many don’t consider is that it can also be an excellent way for families to work, learn and spend time together. To help you increase the chances that children will both enjoy and succeed in gardening, we’ve asked some of Koopman’s best and brightest to come up with a list of easy to grow flowers and plants.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers are an easy plant for kids to grow! The Mongolian Giant sunflower can grow up to 14 feet tall, which is sure to impress and encourage children observing it. After the danger of any frost has passed, you can start by sowing the seeds directly into the ground in a sunny, sheltered spot.  Once they beginning shooting up, the plant stems will need supports like the “Sturdy Stakes” sold at Koopman. Then you can watch them grow and grow and grow!

Bonus: Sunflowers seeds are edible and favored by many species of birds, and a good portion of humans!

Nasturtium

These flowers are easy to grow and yield results quickly, which encourages the young gardener. Nasturtiums bloom about 50 days after the seeds are planted, yielding orange, yellow and red flowers. They prefer sunny, dry locations and do well in poor soil. In fact, they do best with a little neglect.   Nasturtiums are also pest resistant, which ensures a successful planting.

You can plant these flowers in landscape borders, as ground-cover or let them spill out of their containers. Once the chance of any frost has passed, the large nasturtium seed can be sown directly into the soil. For garden beds, make sure to choose the shorter varieties.

Bonus: The flowers themselves are edible and have a peppery taste. You can also use the seedpods as a substitute for capers. They are also work beautifully as garnish.

California Poppies

California Poppies are a cool-season annual, which means that they offer great color early in the growing season but fade once the heat of summer hits. To plant them, simply scatter the seeds where you would want them to flower and let them take care of themselves.

Sweet Alyssum

Sweet Alyssum is a low-growing, delicate carpet of tiny flowers that have a subtle, sweet scent. The plant is covered with flowers for much of the growing season. Sweet Alyssum is very easy to grow from either plant or seed. It may germinate in as little as four days. As it is a cool seasoned flower, most varieties will fade in the heat of summer but rally again in the fall.

Marigolds

Marigold seeds are on the easiest kinds to grow. Once there is no longer any danger of a frost, you can sow marigolds directly into the garden. Marigolds usually sprout in the less than week, so you won’t have to wait long for their orange, yellow, gold and russet colorful flowers. These bedding plants are another great choice for kids.

Marigolds come in tall varieties from 8 to 18 inches as well as some short types also. There is a marigold to suit every sunny spot in the garden.

Bonus: Marigolds are known to keep bugs away from tomato plants.

Potatoes

Potatoes are a never-fail crop that come in both red and white varieties. The reds will mature faster and children seem to favor this variety. To get your potato plants started, cut up some seed potatoes into chunks with at least 2 eyes per slice. Plant them in furrows – about 12 to 15″ apart – with eyes pointing upward. Mound the soil up around the plant as it grows. When the plant collapses, it is ready for harvest.

Wrap Up

To get started on a growing season’s worth of enjoyment and family fun, head into your local Koopman store. We have all of the supplies and know-how you’ll need to grow a garden full of blooming flowers and plants.