Spring is here, and it’s time to get a start on those gardening activities. Nothing tastes better than homegrown tomatoes, snap peas, and radishes – fresh out of the garden.

This past month, my husband and I have been helping our children get their garden boxes ready. My husband took four 2 X 8 redwood planks and made each of the kids their own 4ft. X 4ft. box. We divided the box into sixteen squares – following the Square Foot Gardening method.

The kids have been deciding what plants they want in each square. Here are some plants that we found have worked well in a child’s raised bed garden:

• Tomatoes – My kids love tomatoes from the garden. They especially like growing cherry tomatoes and pear tomatoes because they make a great snack when they are playing outside. This year we decided to try getting a head start on growing tomatoes by planting them in a Wall O’ Water – which is like a mini greenhouse made of water-filled tubes.
• Radishes – My kids just planted a square of radishes that will be ready to pick after only twenty-one days. That’s what makes radishes such a great pick for a child’s garden; they’re quick!
• Swiss Chard – Swiss chard can be planted before the last spring frost and can be harvested all summer.
• Peas – We found some snap peas that don’t require any staking to plant in the garden boxes. Make sure the peas get picked frequently to keep the plants producing well.
• Beans – Beans are a nice addition to the garden – they are great producers. Kids can eat the beans right out of the garden. Plant bush beans if you don’t want to worry about staking.
• Flowers – Plant a square or two of flowers. They add a splash of color to the garden. Put some in a vase for a nice touch to the dinner table.