Gardening with kids may encourage them to try tasting something they always turned down before

By Pam Baytos

OSU Extension master gardener volunteer

Can’t get your kids to eat their veggies? Introduce them to the idea of planting a pizza garden or bean tepee and you’d be amazed how their palate changes.

Given the opportunity to grow plants, whether in a flowerpot, a half-barrel or in their own garden will encourage them to try tasting something they always turned down before.

We all know everything tastes better when you grow it yourself. They get so excited watching their seeds germinate and grow into a real flower or vegetable.

Start with something that is quick to grow – beans are a good choice as the unfurling leaves are large and fast to emerge. Even grass seed in a pot that your child painted a face on gives them a wonderful start to the world of gardening.

Let them use their imagination when choosing containers to grow in. Old shoes or a toy wagon are fun, but make sure they have drainage holes added.

Get them their own child-sized tools.

Once they’ve grown things in containers, they may want their own garden space to try out their new gardening skills.

Make sure they are given an area that has been prepared so it’s easy to dig and their plants are likely to thrive.

Encourage them to plan the garden rather than just scatter seeds everywhere.

Help them choose things that will be unusual to them: huge sunflowers, tiny cherry tomatoes, rainbow chard or purple beans.

Now is a good time to try out the pizza garden or bean tepee.

For the pizza garden, make a divided circle (think spokes of a wheel) and plant them with things you could use as pizza toppings. A few plum or cherry tomatoes, basil, oregano, even some spinach.

Planted tepees make wonderful living forts to hang out in.

One of their jobs will be not only to keep it watered, but to ensure the beans twine around the poles rather than dangling in midair.

Gardening activities aren’t limited to just planting – you can also let them decorate their garden by making a scarecrow, steppingstones and plant labels.

Have them write their name on a young pumpkin or gourd and watch the letters grow along with the veggie.

Gardening gives children a sense of responsibility and accomplishment and enables them to learn about their environment.

Check out your community as there are many organizations that offer gardening opportunities for children and families.

You can even bring the kids to our Urban Farms & Gardens Summer Tour Series every Monday through the summer. Get the details at http://go.osu.edu/localflavor2016.

For ideas on plants to start with and the basics, go to http://go.osu.edu/kidsgardens.

For ideas on gardening projects with children, go to http://go.osu.edu/gardenideas.