Winter Gardening: A Guide to Planting, Learning, and Growing Together

When most people think of gardening, they picture the bright blooms of spring or the lush harvests of summer. But winter is a magical time to introduce children to the wonders of gardening. With the right approach, winter gardening can become a season of discovery, learning, and family bonding. It offers unique opportunities to teach kids about sustainability, responsibility, and the rhythms of nature—even when the world outside seems quiet and still.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll show you how to start a winter garden with your kids, what veggies and herbs to plant, how to care for your garden during the colder months, and how to use this time to instill important life lessons. Whether you have a backyard, a balcony, or just a sunny windowsill, winter gardening can be adapted for any home and family.

Why Garden with Kids in Winter?

The Hidden Benefits of Winter Gardening

Gardening in winter isn’t just about growing food—it’s about nurturing curiosity & patience. The slower pace of winter encourages kids to observe, ask questions, and appreciate the subtle changes in their environment. Here are some of the key benefits:

• Hands-on Science: Kids learn about plant life cycles, dormancy, and adaptation to cold weather.

• Environmental Stewardship: Winter gardening introduces concepts like composting, water conservation, and eco-friendly gardening.

• Family Bonding: Gardening together creates meaningful family moments and shared achievements.

• Responsibility: Regular care teaches kids the importance of consistency and the impact of their actions.

• Mental Health: Even brief outdoor activities or tending to indoor plants can boost mood and reduce stress for kids and adults alike.

Making Winter Gardening Accessible

You don’t need a large garden to get started. Many winter crops and herbs can be grown in pots, raised beds, or even on a sunny windowsill. The key is to choose the right plants and adapt your approach to your available space and local climate.

Setting Up Your Winter Garden

1. Choosing the Right Location

• Outdoor Spaces: If you have a backyard or community garden plot, look for areas with the most sunlight and shelter from harsh winds. Raised beds can help keep soil warmer and improve drainage.

• Indoor Spaces: No yard? No problem! Many herbs and greens thrive in pots on a sunny windowsill, balcony, or even under grow lights. Indoor gardening is perfect for families in colder regions or apartments.

2. Preparing the Soil

Healthy soil is the foundation of a successful garden, even in winter. Involve your kids in these steps:

• Check Soil Texture: Have kids feel the soil—Is it crumbly, sticky, or dry? Discuss how winter affects soil and why good texture matters.

• Add Organic Matter: Enrich the soil with compost or well-rotted manure. This boosts nutrients and helps retain warmth.

• Mulch: Cover outdoor beds with straw, leaves, or bark chips to insulate roots and reduce temperature fluctuations.

3. Gathering Tools and Supplies

Let kids help gather and organize tools. This teaches responsibility and care for equipment. Essentials include:

• Small trowels and hand forks

• Watering cans or spray bottles

• Pots or seed trays for indoor planting

• Plant markers (make your own as a craft project!)

• Old clothes or aprons for messy work

What to Plant: Kid-Friendly Winter Veggies and Herbs

Not all plants thrive in winter, but many are surprisingly hardy. Choose varieties that suit your climate and space. Here are some top picks:

Outdoor Winter Crops

• Garlic: Plant individual cloves in late autumn or early winter; they’ll be ready to harvest in late spring or early summer.

• Onions and Shallots: Overwintering varieties can be planted in autumn for a summer harvest.

• Spinach: Cold-hardy and quick-growing, spinach can be sown in autumn and harvested throughout winter in milder climates.

• Kale: Sweetens after frost and provides nutritious leaves all winter.

• Broad Beans: Sow in autumn for an early spring harvest.

• Peas: Some varieties can overwinter and produce early crops.

Indoor or Protected Crops

• Cress: Fast-growing and perfect for windowsills. Kids love watching it sprout in just a few days.

• Microgreens: Sunflower, radish, and pea shoots grow quickly indoors and are packed with nutrients.

• Herbs: Parsley, chives, thyme, and mint do well in pots indoors or in sheltered spots outdoors.

• Lettuce: Some hardy varieties can be grown indoors or in cold frames.

Fun Project: Cress Heads

Let kids decorate empty yogurt pots, fill them with damp cotton wool, and sprinkle cress seeds on top. In a week, you’ll have “hairy” cress heads they can trim and eat!

Engaging Kids: Activities and Experiments

1. Winter Nature Walks

Bundle up and explore your garden or local park. Encourage kids to:

• Notice which plants are still green and which are dormant.

• Look for animal tracks in mud or frost.

• Listen for birds and spot winter visitors.

• Feel the difference in soil texture and temperature.

2. Scavenger Hunts and Garden Journals

Create a scavenger hunt for items like pinecones, seed pods, or interesting rocks. Have kids start a garden journal—drawing plants, noting weather, and recording changes over time. This builds observation skills and creates a keepsake of their gardening journey.

3. Indoor Gardening Experiments

• Seed Sprouting: Place beans or peas in a clear jar with damp cotton wool and watch roots and shoots grow.

• Regrow Veggies: Try regrowing spring onions, lettuce, or celery from kitchen scraps in a dish of water.

• Herb Cuttings: Show kids how to propagate mint or basil by placing cuttings in water until roots form.

4. Garden Crafts

• Plant Markers: Paint rocks or craft sticks to label plants.

• Leaf Prints: Use collected leaves to make prints with paint or crayons.

• Bird Feeders: Make simple feeders from recycled materials to attract winter birds.

Teaching Sustainability and Responsibility

Winter gardening is a fantastic way to introduce children to sustainable living and environmental responsibility.

1. Clean Food Production

Growing your own veggies and herbs teaches kids where food comes from and why fresh, chemical-free produce is important. Discuss the benefits of organic gardening and how it supports health and the environment.

2. Composting and Recycling

Set up a compost bin or worm farm for kitchen scraps and garden waste. Involve kids in collecting, sorting, and adding materials. Explain how composting reduces landfill waste and creates “black gold” for the garden.

3. Water Conservation

Teach kids to water plants efficiently—using rainwater if possible, watering in the morning, and checking soil moisture before watering. Discuss why water is precious, especially in winter when evaporation is lower.

4. Biodiversity and Natural Pest Control

Show kids how planting a variety of crops and flowers attracts beneficial insects and birds. Discuss natural ways to manage pests, such as encouraging ladybirds or using homemade garlic spray.

5. Responsibility and Consequences

Assign kids regular tasks—watering, checking for pests, or harvesting. If a plant wilts or fails, use it as a gentle lesson about the consequences of neglect and the rewards of consistent care.

Life Lessons from the Winter Garden

Gardening with kids goes beyond growing food. It cultivates essential life skills:

• Patience: Plants grow slowly in winter, teaching children to wait and appreciate gradual progress.

• Observation: Kids learn to notice subtle changes in plants, soil, and weather, deepening their understanding of nature’s cycles.

• Empathy: Caring for living things fosters a sense of stewardship and empathy for all creatures, from earthworms to birds.

• Problem-Solving: When challenges arise—like pests or frost damage—kids learn to think creatively and adapt.

Overcoming Winter Gardening Challenges

1. Protecting Young Plants

Use cloches, cold frames, or row covers to shield seedlings from frost and wind. Indoors, ensure plants get enough light—supplement with grow lights if needed.

2. Choosing the Right Plants

Focus on hardy, quick-growing crops that suit your climate. Consult local gardening guides or nurseries for the best varieties.

3. Keeping Kids Engaged

Mix in crafts, experiments, and games to maintain interest—especially when outdoor conditions are tough. Celebrate small wins, like the first sprout or harvest.

4. Dealing with Setbacks

Not every plant will thrive, and that’s okay. Use failures as learning opportunities and encourage kids to try again. Gardening teaches resilience and the value of persistence.

Planning for Spring: Getting Ready for the Next Season

Winter is the perfect time to dream and plan for spring. Involve kids in:

• Drawing garden layouts and choosing where to plant different crops.

• Browsing seed catalogs and picking out new varieties to try.

• Saving seeds from current plants for future planting.

• Preparing compost and soil for spring beds.

This forward-thinking approach helps children understand the cycles of renewal and the rewards of long-term effort.

Indoor Gardening: Bringing Greenery Inside

For families in very cold climates or without outdoor space, indoor gardening is a wonderful alternative. Here’s how to make it fun and educational:

1. Windowsill Herb Gardens

Grow basil, parsley, chives, or mint in pots on a sunny windowsill. Kids can snip herbs for cooking, learning about flavors and nutrition.

2. Microgreens and Sprouts

Microgreens are easy to grow and ready to harvest in just a week or two. Try sunflower, radish, or pea shoots. Sprouting seeds in jars is another quick, kid-friendly project.

3. Houseplants

Let kids choose and care for a houseplant—succulents, spider plants, and pothos are easy starters. Teach them about watering, feeding, and repotting.

Connecting with Nature: Even in Winter

Winter gardening is about more than just plants. It’s a chance to connect with the rhythms of nature, observe wildlife, and appreciate the beauty of the season. Encourage kids to:

• Watch for birds and learn their names.

• Collect and identify winter seeds and cones.

• Notice changes in daylight and weather.

• Reflect on the quiet beauty of a frosty morning or a rainy afternoon.

Community and Sharing: Spreading the Joy

Gardening is even more rewarding when shared. Consider:

• Swapping seeds or plants with friends and neighbors.

• Donating extra produce or herbs to a local food bank.

• Sharing photos and stories of your winter garden online or at school.

These activities foster a sense of community and show kids the joy of giving and sharing.

Growing More Than Plants

Winter gardening with kids is about so much more than growing vegetables or herbs. It’s about nurturing curiosity, resilience, and a sense of responsibility. It’s about teaching children that even in the quietest, coldest months, life is stirring beneath the surface—waiting to burst forth with a little care and attention.

Through hands-on activities, observation, and creative projects, families can turn winter into a season of growth, learning, and togetherness. Along the way, children gain not only gardening skills but also a deeper appreciation for the natural world and their place within it.

So bundle up, grab some seeds, and step into the garden—there’s a whole world to discover, even in winter. The lessons learned and memories made will last a lifetime, growing right alongside your winter veggies and herbs.

Shop the Zippy Kids Hooded Towel Range, perfect for winter, summer & everywhere in between!