Children in the Garden: Greenhouses

Not many of us can aspire to a greenhouse of a style like those at Kew Gardens. Those are serious glasshouses! But a few of us manage something more mundane – a lean-to temporary plastic one for over wintering tender perennials and starting seeds, perhaps; a window sill with a propagator precariously perched upon it; you may be lucky enough to own a fully fledged glasshouse; or possibly you encourage the children to grow cress on a piece of flannel.

Whatever you have room and budget for, your enthusiasm will  be belittled by that of your children when they realise that a greenhouse big enough for a child to fit into is another world, full of play opportunities.
That musty, moss-edged grubby greenhouse hidden behind the compost heap and filled with old terracotta pots your mother gave you years before has turned into a castle/ space station/ North Polar expedition base / tardis (delete as appropriate)

However delighted as you are at the depth of your child’s imagination, you would maybe prefer another use for the greenhouse. As it’s a bit late for a New Year’s resolution, how about making a St David’s Day (March 1st ) one instead and get yourself and the kids into the greenhouse mode?

First things first: choose a dry day, not frosty; wrap self and child in waterproof coats and wellies; find broom, dustpan and brush, buckets, sponge / cloth, scrubbing brush and rubber gloves (these can be found in child sizes which will increase the fun*). Sweep everywhere first, then wash all surfaces. To limit damage to self, children and the environment**, use one of the following, depending on your preference, to clean windows, frame and floor.

1] a dilution of vinegar 1:8 in water, personally I  find cider or distilled white vinegar less noxious than malt and just as efficacious
2] 1 litre water, 2 tbsp bicarb of soda, 12 drops tea tree or lavender oil. Increase proportionately as needed. This has the extra fun of fizzing if you use warm water…

When the greenhouse is clean, retreat indoors, dry self and children; then eat biscuits and choose your seeds and plants. I would suggest a mixture of seeds and plug plants on the grounds that children like to see a result fairly quickly. Things which are tasty to eat like tomatoes and sweet peppers and can be grown in the greenhouse or on the patio in high summer depending on variety and space are popular; as are brightly coloured or scented annuals – busy lizzies, marigolds, sweet peas.
You might also like to plan a trip to the garden centre or nursery and pick up some spring flowering alpines for an instant ‘fix’. These plants tolerate cold but not wet so often suffer outside in our damp winters; they thrive in a cool greenhouse!

Older children may enjoy being given their own plants to tend to; most children will enjoy the responsibility for certain – not onerous!- chores. For example, cleaning flowerpots and seedtrays for the new season (the above mixes work). It’s amazing how entertaining it is to use your (old) toothbrush to clean plantpots…(although your sibings’ toothbrush is always best)

Later on in the season, watering and deadheading are generally popular, as is being in charge of opening and closing the vents/ windows. Helping to mix different composts for seeds and cuttings is good messy fun, as is filling the pots with compost. In fact, most of gardening is fun and children can be enjoying a lot of that fun with you.

A word of warning, however: when you are hooked on greenhouse gardening and grow a vine so you have the pleasure of picking your own fresh grapes, keep the children away from the pruning secateurs…

Marie Shallcross, Plews Garden Design

* can be found in most garden centres and some shops

** although safer than chemicals, these will still sting if splashed into eyes – rinse with plenty of water. Alternatively, let younger children wear swimming/ ski goggles (they’ll enjoy the dressing up!)