Although I’m getting a late start on this plan for this year, I am about to embark upon an effort to turn an iron obelisk that I have owned for years into a children’s garden area.

Iron Obelisk in Jacki Kellum Garden in Water Valley, MS – June 22, 2023

This is a Better Homes and Gardens Plan. It fits an area 6′ x 6′.

Because it is a beginner’s kitchen garden, I like this little garden.

Plants for Creating the Small Children’s Vegetable Garden Plan

“On just a six-foot-square piece of land, you can create a colorful child-size wonderland filled with a few fast-growing veggies, fruits, and flowers. A simple bamboo-pole tepee covered with morning glory and pumpkin vines adds an irresistible element of fun where kids can hide and play. While the vines grow, seed the ground within the ring of poles with radishes. By the time your root crop matures enough to harvest, the vines will be starting to shade the space. Other edible favorites that children can snack on right from the plants include luscious tomatoes and sweet strawberries. Marigolds and tall sunflowers add some cheerful floral color, too.” Better Homes and Gardens

Plant List & Where to Buy Plants

Image Credit: Tomorrow Seeds

‘Baby Boo’ pumpkin
‘Jack-be-little’ pumpkin

Baby Boo and Jack-be-Little are those tiny pumpkins that people use to make wreaths. I ordered mine from Amazon.

Burpee Heirloom Heavenly Blue Morning Glories Growing in Jacki Kellum Garden

‘Heavenly Blue’ morning glory

I only plant morning glories that I buy online from Burpee, The flowers from this heirloom favorite are 5 times larger than other morning glory flowers.

https://www.burpee.com/morning-glory-heavenly-blue-prod000284.html

The red on the right side of the above photo is a stand of Pineapple Sage.

‘Mammoth’ or ‘California Greystripe’ sunflower

You can buy Mammoth Sunflowers everywhere. For 2023, I bought the following variety of Sunflowers on Amazon:

‘Sungold’ tomato – Cherry Tomato

The plan calls for Sungold Cherry Tomatoes. I may try those in 2024–the color works well for this little garden–but I normally plant Super Sweet 100 Cherry Tomatoes. Sungold tomatoes are rather orange and Super Sweet 100 tomatoes are very red.

For 2023, I have already planted a Black Cherry tomato plant and a Super Sweet 100 tomato plant to this space.

Black Cherry Tomato – Image Credit Tomato Fest
Black Cherry is an heirloom plant, and this is my first time to try this one.

For 2023, I’ve also already planted some Scarlet Running beans in this area.

Summer Planting 2023

Marigolds

Crackerjack Mixed Colors – Image Credit: American Meadows

Light Requirements	Full Sun
Mature Height	36″ tall
Bloom Time	Summer to fall

Image Credit: Ferry Morse

On the above map, I live in the orange part of the country. Although I could have started my marigolds in March, It is okay to start them as late as July. In 2o23, I’ll plant my marigold seeds on June 26.

Note: That Crackerjack Mixed Marigolds are tall. They can grow as high as 3 ft. I’ll continue looking for some shorter marigold seeds, too.

The plan calls for the Sophia mix of marigolds.