April is National Gardening Month

Gardening is fun for the whole family and a great way to get family members, young and old, to try  more healthy foods. April is National Gardening Month, so take time this month to plant a garden with your family.  Gardens can come in many different sizes from small containers to large gardens in the ground.  Choose the size of a garden that will be best for you and plant a garden with your family!

Do you have a small outdoor space and want to grow your own garden?  Try these steps for building a simple garden in a cardboard box!

1. Go to the grocery store and ask for a cardboard box from the produce section.  These boxes are usually sturdy and just the right size for a garden.
2. Line the box with newspaper and fill it with a potting mix from the store.
3. If a box is at least 3 inches deep, you can grow lettuce, spinach, kale, collards, mustard greens, radishes, snap bush beans, or herbs.
4. If a box is at least 8 inches deep, you can plant beets, carrots, onions, or turnips.
5. Place your garden in a sunny spot to grow and water regularly.
6. Enjoy the food from your garden!

Let your kids help with the garden!  They will learn new skills and be more likely to try the foods they have grown.  You can also have a garden taste test.  Pick out some spring veggies like spinach, kale, and collards and have them pick their favorite leafy vegetable!

To learn more about growing your own garden, check our previous blog posts:

April is Gardening Month (from 2014) featuring container gardens in milk jugs

Container Gardening

Planting Seeds and Seedlings

Also, for more information on starting a garden, visit Container Vegetable Gardening on the Grow It, Eat It Website.