Time for Gardening

by Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD ​

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     April is National Garden Month. Springtime is a perfect time to get our plants and garden ready. If you have never started a garden now is the time to start. A garden is a great place to teach kids valuable lessons while spending time together. And what kid doesn’t like to play in the dirt?
 
Growing a garden together can be easy with a few simple steps:

1. Select your produce. Think about what you and your family like to eat and even some different vegetables that you have never tried. Deciding on what to grow can help with determining how much space you will need.
2. Pick a location. Decide where you are going to grow your garden. Will you used raised bed, a container or a space in the yard? Will it be shady or full sun? Most fruit producing plants such as tomatoes, peepers and squash require at least 6 hours of sunshine each day. Leafy vegetables can be in shadier areas. Also, make sure you are close to a water source so that watering is easier.
3. Pick a size. How big will your garden be? Thinking about how much space you have and what you are going to plant will help you determine your garden size.
4. Decide when to plant. Cool season crops such as broccoli, cabbage and leafy greens do best in the spring and fall and don’t like the hotter temperatures. Tomatoes, peppers, corn and squash prefer warmer temperatures and it is best to plant after the frost has passed.
5. Water, fertilize and weed. Vegetables need about an inch of water per week including precipitation. Use a water-soluble fertilizer diluted according to label directions to get plants off to a good start.  Practices like mulching, using protective netting, and selecting disease resistant plants can help reduce the probability that your garden will suffer from diseases and insects.
6. Choose the best time to harvest. Proper harvesting is as important as proper growth. Knowing when to harvest can increase the storage life and edibility of your crops.
7. Continue in the kitchen. Kids who grow their own vegetables are much more likely to eat them. Let them choose what recipe they would like make with their veggies.

 
     There are so many things to do with your garden harvest! Kids will love taking care of the plants and watching their garden grow. It is a great way to spend quality time with kids, teach them a new skill, and get them loving vegetables! If you need more information on gardening, contact your Local Extension Service office.
 
     Try these Mini Zucchini Pizzas for a veggie twist on pizza that kids will love.
 
Mini Zucchini Pizzas
 
Ingredients:
Zucchini, sliced into rounds
Pizza sauce
Mozzarella cheese, shredded
Fresh Parmesan cheese, shredded
Olive oil
Fresh basil
 
Directions:
Place sliced zucchini between paper towels to remove moisture for about an hour.
Place the rounds on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and top a dollop of pizza sauce and shredded mozzarella and.
Bake at 375° for 15-20 minutes until cheese is bubbly. Then drizzle with olive oil or top with fresh basil.
 
Tracey Shaffer is a registered dietitian and certified health coach and owner of KC Nutrition Coach in Eastern Jackson County. She can be reached at tracey@kcnutritioncoach.com. You can visit her website at kcnutritioncoach.com.