Children can gain a lot of pleasure and sense of achievement from having a small garden of their own. To help them to make a success of their adventure, a good foundation for the garden makes a lot of difference. The boundary of the garden should be clear-cut; the soil should be good and weed free; it should be in a sunny spot; the plants selected to grow should be dependable.

Ideally the plot should be raised with supported sides (timber, bricks) and about a metre wide so the child can work in it without the need to tread on the soil. A good length is about 3 metres with space to extend if the interest develops.

Give them a variety of things to grow.

Some things to eat: - radish seeds, spring onion seeds, lettuce seedlings, a cherry tomato plant if there is room, strawberry plants.                                              Flowers for colour: - French marigolds, pansies, petunias, lobelia, dianthus. poppies. (seeds or seedlings)

Perfumed plants: - herbs (such as lemon thyme, basil, lemon balm.) Freesia bulbs, scented geraniums.

Explain to them simply that plants are like all living things. They like good food and water, a comfortable place to live and being looked after and they will benefit from weeds being removed.

Be aware - you might have to eat the radishes.