P. Allen Smith | Creating a Kids' Herb Garden | PBS » Watch IPTV Kids Video Online

P. Allen Smith | Creating a Kids' Herb Garden | PBS

posted on July 11, 2011

The best way to get kids interested in gardening is to give them their own space where they can take ownership of what they grow. Selecting plants is an exciting part of gardening so allow your children to pick out what they want to plant. You can help them by making suggestions of the easier things to grow. When it comes to plants, herbs are always a good choice for the young gardeners. They're easy to care for and herbs will introduce children to fragrance, flavor, and texture. Here's a project that will get your kids off to a good start in the garden with herbs planted in brightly colored pails. Using a hammer and nail, an adult should punch drainage holes into the bottom of the pails. Then, let your child fill the pails about two-thirds full with soil. Help them plant a single herb in each pail and back fill with soil. Be sure to water the plants well and add more soil as needed. Then, place the pails in a spot that will receive 6 to 8 hours of sunlight. Spicy Globe basil has tiny, kid-sized leaves and makes a very tasty pesto. Curly parsley is pretty enough to put in a vase and it helps freshen breath. Oregano is an essential herb for pizza and what kid doesn't love pizza? And onion chives are not only delicious in a variety of recipes; kids will also enjoy giving it a hair cut from time to time.

Tags: gardening herbs kids parenting PBS PBS Kids plants