Various vegetable seeds

Potting soil

Seed trays/packets

Cubs can either plant directly into prepared beds or large pots (we use tyres filled with soil) or plant into seedling trays to take home and care for until the seedlings are big enough to plant out.  Maybe a combination of both would work well.

Carrots:

Carrots are ideal for Cubs to grow in containers as they do not like to be moved.  So grow from seed and use a deep container (at least 20cm deep).  The seeds are very tiny so young Cubs will need help with sowing.

If sown outdoors once they have grown about 3cm thin them out by just snipping off the unwanted seedling at soil level.  If you do not do this you carrots will not develop properly.  Eating the thinnings can help maintain your child’s interest in the project.  You will need to water regularly to deter the roots from splitting.  Sow a few pots of carrots in succession so you can have a continuous supply.  If your kids can’t wait 12 weeks until they develop fully, just eat the baby carrots.

Tomatoes:

Tomatoes are one of the best vegetables to grow with Cubs and are perfectly suited for containers. 

Three plants will produce a lot of tomatoes in a good year, so don’t plant too many.  It is therefore easiest to buy plants rather than plant from seed.  You could also try plants of different varieties.There are two types of tomato plants those with a cordon which will need the side shoots pinching out and bush type that don’t require additional maintenance.  One plant in a large pot unless you have tomatoes suited for small containers.  Tie your plants to a garden cane or stout stick for support and, if necessary, pinch out side shoots when they appear where the leaf stalk touches the stem. Your tomato plants will require regular watering and weekly tomato feed after 6 weeks.

Peas:

Peas are just so easy to grow. They can be started inside using homemade recycled newspaper pots, organic compost and seeds. Just remember that the seeds are poisonous, so don’t let the Cubs put them in their mouths, and wash their hands after handling. Peas are a lot of fun to grow because you can grow them up a trellis and they flower.

The best part about peas is that they will continue to grow all summer long.

Cabbage:

Cabbage is fun for Cubs to grow for one simple reason – some varieties will grow giant, over-sized heads reaching up to 20 kgs. That alone is plenty of reason to give growing cabbage a shot with your Cubs. Cabbage can grow to an incredible size in as little as 10-12 weeks too, which makes the process even better. The best part, when the cabbage is ready to harvest, you can make an amazing summer coleslaw.

Potatoes:

The very process of starting a potato seed is like a science experiment. Start by sitting your seed potato in daylight until eyes begin to form and leaves begin to sprout. Then, transplant your potato to a bucket, clean trashcan, laundry basket or garden to allow them to grow. A laundry basket is interesting because then the Cubs can see the potatoes as they begin to form and grow.