Themed gardens are a unique way to engage your child outdoors and experience the benefits of gardening. Step into a world where gardens aren’t just about planting seeds; they’re about igniting your child’s imagination and curiosity! From crafting pizzas to attracting butterflies, themed gardens offer a hands-on approach to learning and growing. Join us as we explore the endless possibilities and unleash the magic of nature in your backyard!
TIPS:
To help in the planning process and to keep your garden compact and fruitful, consider using the square foot gardening method. And our Garden Planner will give your kids a hands-on opportunity to engage with the planning, using tokens and templates to “draw” out your garden ahead of time and calculate how many seeds/seedlings you will need.
Jump to:
- pizza gardens
- taco gardens
- salad gardens
- pollinator gardens
- three sisters gardens
- edible flowers gardens
- rainbow vegetable gardens
- alphabet gardens
- free printable
- helpful tools
Themed Gardens
Pizza Themed Gardens
If your kids love pizza (and what kid doesn’t… other than my youngest??), plan a pizza garden! You can grow several different toppings and seasonings.
Consider a few of the following:
- tomatoes
- onions
- peppers
- basil
- oregano
- arugula
- zucchini
- spinach
Taco Themed Gardens
Are tacos another family favorite? Then grow your own toppings!
- tomatoes
- lettuce
- cilantro
- peppers
- onions
Salad Gardens
Whether your kid already likes salad or you’re trying to encourage them to like salad, this is a great start! Kids are much more likely to eat something they’ve grown than something that comes from a plastic bag.
- lettuce
- tomatoes
- kale
- spinach
- arugula
- carrots
- radishes
- beets
- cucumbers
- peas
- parsley
- chives
- nasturtiums
Pollinator Gardens
Show your local pollinators some love and grow their favorite flowers. It’s important to grow native plants, so check with nearby garden or nature centers and find out which ones are native to your area.
A few pollinator-friendly plants native to North America (again, double-check local resources):
- bee balm
- butterfly bush
- Joe Pye weed
- black-eyed Susan
- catmint
- marigold
- garden thyme
- alyssum
- zinnia
- milkweed
- sedum
- asters
- goldenrod
These sites provide region-specific lists for plants that attract pollinators:
There’s a big wide world out there and we’d love to know: Do you have any leads for pollinator-friendly plants for other regions of the world?
Three Sisters Gardens
A Three Sisters Garden is a great example of companion planting and has been used by indigenous people (Native American / First Nation) for thousands of years. Corn, beans and squash are the Three Sisters, crops that have long been “the center of Native American agriculture and culinary traditions“. They learned that growing these three together results in a symbiotic relationship in which the plants help each other grown and thrive. (Also called a Milpa garden.)
This garden is planted in stages: corn first, then pole beans, then squash. Each plant plays an important role in the success of all three crops.
corn: provides stalks for the beans to climb
pole beans: provide nitrogen to fertilize the soil; stabilize the corn stalks
squash: leaves shade the soil, helping it retain moisture and preventing weeds; prickly leaves and stems help keep away pests
Not only do these three plants grow well together, they also taste great together! Look for recipes to use all three, including this one for Three Sisters Soup.
Learn more about the three sisters garden here and here.
Edible Flower Gardens
- nasturtiums
- the blossoms have a peppery flavor and are often used in salads
- summer squash, zucchini (blossoms)
- allium
- the flowers have an oniony flavor and are a great addition to salads and dips
- borage
- marigolds: lemon gem, tangerine gem
- their blossoms have a citrus flavor
- pot marigold
- johnny jump-ups:
- their wintergreen flavor may not blend well with desserts, but they still act as beautiful decorations
- sage
*Only allow children to eat what you are 100% certain is edible and be aware of possible allergies.
Rainbow Vegetable Gardens
*yes, yes, I know… not all of these are technically vegetables, but they wouldn’t be out of place in a vegetable garden!*
red:
strawberries, tomatoes, radishes, bell peppers, watermelon, red lettuce
orange:
carrots, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, pumpkins, butternut squash
yellow:
pattypan squash, summer squash, bell peppers, tomatoes, potatoes
green:
herbs, bell peppers, zucchini, lettuce, spinach, kale, arugula, cucumber, broccoli, peas, beans
blue:
blueberries, kale
purple (violet/indigo):
purple broccoli, red cabbage, beets, blackberries, eggplant, purple, carrots, red onions
Alphabet Themed Gardens
There’s so much you can do with an alphabet garden! Select plants that begin with letters that spell out your name or spell out a favorite word. Here are a few examples to get you started:
- Arugula
- Beans
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Eggplant
- Foxglove
- Green peppers
- Hot peppers
- Iris
- Johnny Jump-Ups
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Mint
- Nasturtiums
- Onions
- Peppers
- Queen Anne’s Lace
- Radishes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
- Upland Cress
- Violets
- Watermelon
- Xanthisma
- Yams
- Zucchini
Themed gardens offer a wonderful opportunity to engage children in outdoor activities while fostering their curiosity and creativity. By incorporating their interests into the garden design, whether it’s through a pizza garden, a pollinator’s paradise, or an alphabet garden, you can make gardening a fun and educational experience for the whole family. So, roll up your sleeves, dig in the dirt, and watch your themed garden spark a new interest, a new favorite meal, or a new insect friend.
Don’t miss our other gardening resources:
Helpful tools
If you need to spark interest, let’s be honest… Kids like new tools! So, if you want to get them even more excited about gardening, consider one of the following useful items the next time you give them a gift*:
- gardening gloves (jersey) or gloves (w/ latex)
- gardening tools (rakes, hoe, shovel)
- gardening tool set (with tote)
- rain boots (so cute!)
- small tools (metal)
- cultivator (for older kids)
- wheelbarrow (endless fun)
- wagon (Radio Flyer) or wagon (Green Toys)
- watering can + tools (100% recycled plastic)
- kneeling pad (feel free to borrow from them!)
* This site is reader-supported. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Free printable:
