The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener

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I’ve found it to be a real struggle to get my kids interested in gardening over the past few years but I’ll be damned if I won’t keep trying. 
While my son is beyond hope because gardening isn’t played with a ball and he is unnaturally terrified of most living creatures, my daughter does have some potential. She seems to enjoy being outdoors and over the years, has given me numerous pieces of art with some combination of flowers/the sun/rainbows (no need for therapy for her).
Since we are now at the tail end of summer, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to sow some cold weather vegetable seeds and why not drag the little one outside to assist in the task. She seemed game, so we headed outside ready to do some damage.
Admittedly, I have struggled a bit in the growing edibles department yet I continue to plug away each and every year. I finally realized my only hope for success was a raised bed where I could amend the soil and dramatically improve the drainage, so that has been my focus. 
The results were so-so this year as the peas, spinach and especially the kale, delivered big time:
I managed to score one strawberry on a brand new plant: 

But the lettuce, basil and cilantro bombed big time.

And don’t even get me started on the tomatoes. Here is one of the few that didn’t rot on the vine:

Truth be told, as the summer unfolded and I focused on other tasks out in the garden, I lost complete control of the raised bed and this is how bad it got (bowing my head in shame):
But I wasn’t going to give up that easily even this late in the year. 
I spent a good two hours pulling out each and every weed by hand (including the never ending mint that will not go away). It was back to looking all shiny and new … which brings me back to me and my little girl.
A week or so ago, we headed out and she had her tools ready: 

I grabbed the already opened seed packets I had stored in the garage back in the spring:

And we were off and planting. Please note the uniform of choice:

The bed looks a lot better, eh? We could actually see the tomato plants, thyme, rosemary and basil again:

I have to be honest, my daughter didn’t make it all the way through as she disappeared in a flash after I sowed all of the lettuce seeds:

And I knew exactly where she could be found (sorry about the bright photo, more camera experimentation):

I figure every time I drag her out into the garden, I am adding a bit to her interest and “planting the seed” for the next time. Just maybe, some day in the future she’ll call me and ask if she can have some of my divided irises.

A dad can dream, right?

**Update – No lie, my daughter ran into the house this weekend to tell me that “our seeds” were starting to grow:  

Good times.

John

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9 Responses

  1. Awwww…what a sweet post…the big guy has a soft spot… :o)
    Your daughter will follow in your footsteps, and be a wonderful gardener…
    Do keep us posted on the seedlings…

    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

  4. It takes awhile to see the results of gardening with children. My children seemed to not have a great deal of interest when they were young, but both of them as adults are gardeners.

    I have never had much luck with fall sowing but I should try it this year again with our milder weather.

    Eileen

  5. I was forced into weeding at a young age and have only recently recovered from most issues revolving around my apprenticeship.

    Doing seeds is an awesome idea.

  7. As a kid, I got so excited looking through seed catalogs and then getting the seed packets in my Easter basket. My sister and I would put the seeds in the ground, and the excitement would end soon after. Mom always spent so much time watering and weeding my sister’s and my gardens all summer. I always felt bad, but who wanted to do all that work?

    I was afraid to try gardening as an adult because I was afraid that I’d run out of enthusiasm by June, but no. I don’t even mind the weeding. There’s hope!

  8. As a kid, I got so excited looking through seed catalogs and then getting the seed packets in my Easter basket. My sister and I would put the seeds in the ground, and the excitement would end soon after. Mom always spent so much time watering and weeding my sister’s and my gardens all summer. I always felt bad, but who wanted to do all that work?

    I was afraid to try gardening as an adult because I was afraid that I’d run out of enthusiasm by June, but no. I don’t even mind the weeding. There’s hope!

  9. What a cutie pie! Baby steps for that new gardener in the family – a few seeds – a little play – it will all come together. And for your son? Maybe he’s a hardscape kind of guy – you know? Hand’s on building things. Oh and your mint? I’ve been pulling mine for over 7 years now (sigh)

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