Whether you use seeds or plants, give your children some activities to fill the long gap between planting and harvest. For young children, choose plants that grow by leaps and bounds, like annual morning glories or pumpkins. Make a chart to measure how far the vines grow each day. Plant a forest of tall sunflowers with a secret open center in which your child can daydream. Make a bench out of two overturned pots and a board.
Some children get more excited about bugs than vegetables or flowers.
Supply a magnifying glass to get up close to earthworms and spiders. If watering has become too much of a chore, fill the buckets for your kids, then promise them that after they water their garden, they can have a few extra buckets to make a mud hole. Older children may take interest in a theme garden. Suggest edible flowers, such as pansies and nasturtiums, or a rabbit garden, with parsley, lettuce and carrots. Competitive kids might like to grow enormous vegetables.