Urban gardening - a piece of nature in the urban jungle
Urban gardening has become very popular in recent years and means something like urban gardening. Terraces and balconies are just as suitable for this as windowsills or staircases. Decorative flowers, sweet fruits and berries for snacking and even most types of vegetables can be easily cultivated in an urban environment. We have prepared a few tips to help you succeed.
Genuine craftsmanship
Children are generally inquisitive and love to learn new things. Observing how seeds grow into flowers or crops is not only exciting, but also brings children closer to nature. To ensure that sowing is successful, it is advisable to start with a smaller area. A damp cotton wool ball in a glass or a washed-out yoghurt pot is enough to get the seeds to germinate. Alternatively, the seeds can also be grown in an empty egg carton with moist soil.
The seeds usually start to germinate after just a few days and can be planted as soon as the first roots are visible. Let the children help, as this is fun and also strengthens the sense of togetherness.
To encourage manual skills, it is best to have child-friendly gardening tools such as a small rake, a shovel and a watering can. These are usually smaller and lighter than their adult counterparts and therefore easier for children to handle.
The right vessel
Lack of space is a frequent sticking point in urban gardening. You and your child need to be creative to make sensible use of the available space. In addition to classic flower pots, cut-open tetrapacks are also suitable for smaller plants such as flowers and herbs. Washed-out aluminium cans can also be used as herb pots.
By reusing empty packaging, they also train children's environmental awareness. Wooden crates can be stacked to form a kind of shelf, creating several levels and allowing the garden to grow in height. Important: Choose a sunny spot for this.
Spoilt for choice
Although the selection of possible urban gardening seeds is huge and there are hardly any limits to the imagination, the available space is also decisive here. Space-saving plants such as herbs are not only easy to care for, but also broaden your children's culinary horizons.
Root crops such as potatoes, carrots and radishes thrive well in slightly higher window boxes. So do beans, peas and lamb's lettuce. Columnar and dwarf fruit trees and tomatoes are particularly suitable if space is limited, as they grow mainly upwards.
When it comes to flowers, non-toxic and native species should be chosen. The colourful plants are not only beautiful to look at, but also attract bees and butterflies to observe them. Marigolds, sunflowers, lavender and pansies are particularly suitable.
Tips for everyday life
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- Choose a place for the urban garden that is also easily accessible for children. Flower boxes on the balcony railing save space, but tempt young gardeners into risky climbing exercises.
- Easy-care plants such as Mediterranean herbs (e.g. rosemary, thyme, oregano) are forgiving of a little careless care and survive longer.
- Hardy plants such as fig trees or blackcurrant bushes are a good way to avoid having to move plant containers back and forth.
- Seasonal planting not only has a learning effect, but also provides a small sense of achievement throughout the year and is therefore twice as much fun.
- Decorating the soil with pebbles and pine cones creates a magical forest effect, protects the soil from drying out and also provides shelter for wild bees.
- Poisonous plants are not suitable for the family household. If you are unsure, it is best to find out in advance online or from a garden centre.
- Due to the risk of injury, thorny plants such as roses or brambles should also be avoided.
- Start with fast-growing plants such as radishes or strawberries (e.g. strawberries) to get the children excited about the project right from the start.
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Work that bears fruit
In the case of vegetables, fruit, berries and herbs, the harvest day is a great highlight and often justifiably associated with pride. This can also help to ensure that otherwise steadfast vegetable refusers are more likely to grab a bite - after all, the child wants to know what success tastes like.
Another argument in favour of the urban gardening and children project is the promotion of a sense of duty and the assumption of responsibility. After all, a successful harvest requires ongoing care, which includes regular watering. Set a good example and infect your child with your zest for action and enthusiasm.
