The Monterey Peninsula is a fantastic place to grow a garden. It is especially good for starting a garden with kids, as the climate and long growing season make the whole process much more forgiving than it would be elsewhere. I have no green thumb (in fact, I can kill a cactus in a day or two), but I have successfully grown a large vegetable garden two summers in a row. I used nothing more than basic raised beds, some hastily sewn seeds, daily (or when-I-remember) watering, and plenty of “help” from my young children. It’s pretty darn easy to grow a vegetable and herb garden here, and you can do it, too.
Here are some tips to get you started
Monterey’s growing season is nearly year-round, so the time to get started is now! Monterey has plenty of farmers markets, local nurseries, and big stores with gardening sections, so you have your pick of where to buy seeds or plants. You can build your garden boxes from a kit or from boards you measure yourself, but no matter what, make sure to put down a double layer of wire mesh under your boxes, to keep furry creatures (groundhogs and others) from burrowing up into your garden and eating all your hard work. You’ll need to decide if you want to start with seeds or plants. Seeds take a few weeks longer, but there is magic in growing vegetables from seeds, especially for young children. The waiting game is a fantastic exercise in forced patience. The first green shoots they spy will bring shouts of joy—an unbeatable moment for all.
When it comes time to choose your plants or seeds, you should let your kids pick out some vegetables they like or are excited to grow. After all, the real purpose of cultivating a garden is to have a final edible product, and it’s no fun if the adults are the only ones enjoying the fruits of all that labor. Even picky eaters could get excited about fresh vegetables if they helped grow and nurture them. Steer them towards vegetables that can be eaten raw, straight off the plant: green or purple beans, sugar snap peas, lettuces, cherry tomatoes, and carrots are all delicious and easy to grow. Here’s another tip: once the garden is in full swing, let kids snack on it whenever they please. If I send my kids out to pick beans and peas to go with dinner, and they come back empty-handed but have eaten their afternoon snack out there, I consider it a win. Vegetables are vegetables, and I don’t mind if they eat them right off the plants. It’s a fun activity for them to do with friends, too. Kids love to be in the garden, so teach them a few parameters (don’t pick unripe fruits/vegetables, don’t trample the plants) and let them enjoy it. Enjoy the growing Monterey has to offer, and start your spring garden soon.
Here’s a handy local guide for when to plant crops: https://garden.org/apps/calendar/?q=Monterey%2C+CA