Planting a Veggie/ Herb Garden with My Three Year Old

Just plant things in pots.
Good sized pots.
At least 24" in diameter.
Herbs are easy.
Either from seed or get the plant starters, already growing, from your garden store. Then re-pot them at home, in your pots.
Get some soil in bags... to fill up your pots.
Water consistently. Letting the soil dry between waterings.
Put herbs/veggies, in a sunny spot.
I would, plant them in pots. Versus in your yard. Less hassle that way.
All the things you listed, CAN be planted in pots.

all the best,
Susan

I would go to a nursery and tell them what you just told us. They would be able to tell you what goes the best in your area.

We have a nice garden in our back yard. We grow everything you listed (well no cucumbers), plus tomatillos, onion, garlic, carrots and cateloupe. Our bell peppers have never done too well. We also have strawberry plants and blackberry bushes. We have a few books specific to Texas that tells us when the best time to plant is...my hubby is in charge of the garden more than I am, so he knows when to do it all. Our garden is simply a sunny corner of our yard. We put up edging to make mowing easier. We have a neighbor with meticulous gardens, not one single weed. We are not that diligent though, we just weed when it's seems to overtake our garden a bit. :) We check on it before dinner. The hubby usually takes the kids out there while I am cooking dinner.

Pots are also a good way to go. It's nice since you can move those indoors during the cold month here in Texas. We actually grow our basil and cilantro in pots.

We love our garden. I love watching my kids come eating food straight from the ground. It's fun and teaching healthy habits. We compost now too, so it helps decrease our garbage. My kids love playing in the dirt and they are always so proud to see something growing!

Hi Momma-
My parents did this with me and my sisters when we were just little ones. I was 5, my baby sister was literally just born, and my older sister was 8. We had a garden until I was in highschool.

The easiest things we started with were carrots, lettuce, and corn- white, yellow, and yes -popcorn. We eventually added tomatoes, berry vines, and 2 fruit trees, some strawberry plants, and something else I can't remember. I will say that it really cuts down on the grocery bill!

Okay, as far as your yard goes- dig up a section, get some black dirt from your local green waste landfill, or go to the store and get some miracle grow soil enrichment stuff. Mix it in with your dirt.
To plant, every area is different. In Bakersfield, CA, it's severely hot, like in Texas, BUT YOU have alot more humidty. We are considered dry.
My parents always planted in the spring, however, there are year round gardens- in the late summer, you plant squash and it blooms in the fall, orange trees (depending on their type) flourish in the wet winter months, and then tomatoes and what not in the spring. Just pick your 10 or 12 veggies and fruits and plant them by their season. A book can help, OR go to a nursery and ask the gardener there. They should be willing and able to help you out.
Lastly, as far as watering, you have a couple of options: sprinklers on a timer, a drip line, hand watering, or if you want to get super fancy, hydroponics. Hand watering can be soothing and medicinal -- go outside each morning with your son and the hose and water all the seeds as they grow. This will teach him maintenance and daily checking. As far as weeds go, just pull them out as they come up. I have found that the more stuff you have growing, the less weeds will come through. Also, plant some lavendar or mexican sage, some rosemary, etc. It takes up a large space, can be used for a number of things, and also looks pretty. It can be a stand alone, year round plant next to your herbs and veggies.

Good luck, and have loads of fun!
-E. M

I did an herb garden with mine. I started with peatpots - you sow a seed in a tiny cup of dirt and move it when it gets big enough. Big pain in the butt! It was cool watching the kids faces when they saw the seed turn into a plant, but once that novelty wore off they were too fragile for little hands. The next time I bought 5 inch starter plants and that worked much better. I put them in containers and that worked well for us. No weeds. No preparing the ground, having to rent a tiller and all that. And I have the versatility to move them, if I feel they are getting too much sun or not enough, or it's supposed to get cold overnight. You can grow tomatoes in pots too. That worked for us. Good Luck.

we do a garden every year and also a Kids garden and they get to plant what ever they want! They love it! We usually do beans and potatoes in their garden since they grow fast and are easy to care for. I don't know how late you can plant in Houston- I'm further north in Dallas and fall gardens are put in around August.
A good garden nursery would be able to tell you what you can plant and what you need. Most plants are easier from seeds- but I have never had good luck with herbs from seeds.
Have fun!
~C.