A lot of kids love a good joke. Most of the kids' jokes are a bit kooky or downright silly, but to them it can mean getting the most fun out of something. Give the kids a break and give them some garden jokes. A little science that goes along never hurts.
What did the nice lettuce say to the mean lettuce? If you don't stop being mean, then I'll slug you.
Slugs love moisture. That's where they lay their eggs. To kids, slugs are probably interesting little creatures. But to a lettuce gardener, they can be very problematic. Slugs and snails both love to feed on lettuce.
There are many ways to combat these annoying, but interesting, creatures. First of all, you have to dry out these creatures to be rid of them. There are many sprays and pesticides that can help do this. But in a kids' garden, you might want to consider safer alternatives.
Keep the lettuce beds as dry as you can without harming the plants. You might want to use drip irrigation. Since mulch helps soil retain moisture, it can also harbor slugs. Waiting to mulch until the weather is hot can reduce the chances that slugs will inhabit the mulch. You can also pick off the slugs with the help of the kids.
What do you get when you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by the diameter? Pumpkin Pi
Pi is a ratio number. It is used to measure the circumference of a circle.
Not all pumpkins are the same. Some are small and some are very large, like the ones you see at county fairs. It is relatively easy to grow pumpkins. Pumpkins grow in warm weather. They love the warmth and will easily thrive in conditions that some other garden plants might not. To help pumpkins germinate, you could start them inside a few weeks before the last frost date.
Tires gather warmth from the sun very quickly and thus are a good container to grow your pumpkins in. You can also use Pi to measure around the tire if you want. Just find the diameter, or the measurement across the tire at the middle. Multiply this number by 3.14 (the approximate numerical value for Pi) and you have the measurement around the tire.
What vegetable can you use to fly a kite? String beans, of course.
Could you actually string together some string beans to use for string? Probably not. They are called this because their pods contain stringlike fibers that help hinge the pod together. For many years, all string beans were like this, but some of today's beans have been bred by horticulturists not to have that fibrous string.
Beans thrive in warm soils and the plants don't tolerate frost, so make sure when you plant string beans after the risk of frost is over. String beans come in two different types: bush and pole. Pole beans have a longer growing and producing season but need some sort of support. Bush beans, often called snap beans, don't need much support.
The rule with beans is the more you pick (once they start to come on the vine), the more the plants will produce.
Next time you are in the garden, tell your kids these jokes and start a discussion that will help them understand their garden world.
 | Dig in and get your hands dirty as you spend quality time with your children and teach them the art of growing, planting, and reaping the benefits of nature. |
 | Kids love to see things grow. But while children love to be out and about in nature, there are some pitfalls that can put a damper on their enthusiasm. |
 | Kids need breaks from chores, especially younger kids. Here are a few ideas for some garden fun that don't involve weeding, watering or harvesting. |
Dandelions are so much more than just your average weed. |
Go on a nature walk with your child and help him or her gather different types and colors of leaves. |
