The dirty dozen: 12 ways to engage children in gardening

1. Let them get as mucky as they want. They learn through their hands.

2. Watering seeds, plants and flowers is something they're sure to enjoy. To ensure a trickle rather than a torrent on delicate seedlings, try a water bottle with a sports top.

3. Give them their own patch – a space in the garden, or their own pots on the patio – where they can take total charge and experiment with various seeds.

4. By all means look for child-sized tools for the younger age group, but steer clear of useless, plastic ones.

5. For very small children, choose bigger seeds, such as beans, courgettes and pumpkins, that are easier to handle.

6. Fast-growing and things they like to eat are the best criteria for choosing vegetables to grow: cress in the kitchen will guarantee a quick lesson in the seed-to-sandwich process, while outside, potatoes, peas, carrots and runner beans are all good.

7. Cherry tomatoes and strawberries are a little trickier to nurture, but are sure to pass the taste test.

8. Show them how to sprout food from the kitchen using old potatoes, dried beans and peas, poppy seeds, sunflower seeds and so on.

9. Create a "butterfly corner" in a sunny spot in the garden with plants such as buddleia, lavender and aubrieta.

10. Children are all different, so find out what part of gardening appeals to them and compensate for duties they may be inclined to neglect.

11. Celebrate their growing achievements, sharing photos and produce with extended family.

12. Join a community garden team: it is a very social way for the whole family to learn, work and reap the rewards. Find one near you on communitygardennetwork. ning.com