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Gardening for kids Gardening for kids
Gardening for kids ofChapter 1 If you're looking for a great family project (and ways to get your kids outside and active), why not involve your kids in your gardening? It's a lot of fun and teaches them about responsibility.We've compiled a list of ways your kids can get involved in the garden!1. Start by creating a space where your child can plant and care for his or her garden. This can be a small section of the main garden or a small flowerbed that's all their own. Container gardening is a good indoor option where outdoor space is limited.2. Browse the seed catalogues or search the Internet with your child to start choosing plants and seeds. Consider plants that are easy to grow. Tomato plants, mint or annual flowers, such as colourful sunflowers, are some great options.3. Before shopping for plants, prepare the soil. There's nothing worse than having to wait to start the fun – and the plants will appreciate a flowerbed that's ready for them, too.4. Depending on how your child learns, you can choose to germinate plants from seeds or buy cell packs of ready-grown seedlings. Watching a plant grow from a seed teaches a child patience and responsibility, but if they can't wait, an easier way is to help them look after seedlings .5. Help your child create a theme for the garden – it can be colour, flowers or favourite vegetables. Letting your child choose a garden ornament or two can brighten up their flowerbed, and make it their own.6. On rainy days when they can't get out to see how their plants are doing encourage your child to create a birdhouse or bird feeder (make sure to use non-toxic paint).7. Help make your child's garden a place to play, too. A bean tepee or a sunflower forest offer little hideaways. 8. Be sure to include edible plants and flowers that can be tasted and touched. This makes gardening a truly interactive experience!Getting down and dirty with your children in the garden can be a bonding experience as you watch the plants grow and flourish together.- Credit
- Elizabeth Hawksworth
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Forcing paperwhites is child's play Forcing paperwhites is child's play
Forcing paperwhites is child's play ofForcing paperwhites with kids Paperwhites (Narcissus tazetta) are the perfect winter indoor growing project for kids. In just four to six weeks after planting, jaunty blooms cheerfully promise that spring is on its way. And their fragrance is magnificent! All you need are a few bulbs, a watertight container and some pebbles or marbles. Paperwhites grow well in water, so you don't need soil. Each bulb contains everything else it needs to flower. You and your child can practically watch them grow, and once the bulbs sprout, you can measure the leaves and stems daily—they grow that quickly. When the buds begin to swell, lightly tie a wide ribbon halfway up the stems and make a bow with trailing ends. This helps the stems stand upright and adds to the fun.In China, paperwhites traditionally bloom for Chinese New Year. This year, the Year of the Snake begins on January 24, 2001. If you plant some bulbs between December 14 and 21, you and your child can usher in the Chinese New Year with your own flowering paperwhites.Paperwhites are tender members of the daffodil family and are often naturalized in the southern U.S. in places like Houston, Texas, San Diego, California, and Miami, Florida (USDA Zones 9 to 11), where other spring-flowering bulbs won't grow because they require a cooling period for root development. Paperwhites don't require a chilling period. In fact, they're injured at temperatures below 35°F (2°C). In fall and early winter, paperwhites are readily found at local nurseries and home improvement centres. You can also purchase them through catalogues. (See the Web sites below for two online Canadian sources.) Several types of paperwhites are on the market. The most common variety is 'Ziva', which produces clusters of pure white blooms with a strong, spicy fragrance. But though the name suggests it, not all paperwhites are white. 'Grand Soleil d'Or' features lemon to gold petals framing a yellow-orange cup, and it smells delicate and fruity. 'Chinese Sacred Lily' has white petals surrounding a yellow cup and releases a wonderful, subtle aroma. And 'Constantinople' has double white petals with an orange centre and a light fragrance. If you purchase more bulbs than you plan to plant right away (you may want to plant a succession of bulbs every two weeks for continuous bloom), store them in a cool, dark place (5 to 10°C or 45 to 50°F) to keep them from sprouting too soon.To plant bulbs, choose a glass or ceramic bowl 8 to 10 centimetres (3 to 4 inches) tall. You can also use a wicker basket with a plastic insert. A six-inch-diameter bowl is perfect for three bulbs; a seven-inch for five or six. Fill container 2/3 full with pebbles or marbles to anchor roots as they grow. Place bulbs on pebbles, pointed end up and 13 centimetres (1/2-inch) apart. Add more pebbles to position the bulbs firmly, leaving top half of bulbs exposed.Add water to base of bulbs and maintain water at this level. Don't submerge bulbs; they may rot. Keep water topped up, and when roots have grown to about 2.5 cm (an inch), keep water 6 mm (1/2-inch) below base of bulbs. Place bulbs in a cool (5° to 10°C or 45 to 50°F) dark place for about two weeks. Warmer temperatures stimulate stem growth at the expense of root growth, and heavy flowers will topple the plant over. Strong roots appear within a matter of days. When shoots appear, move to a cool, sunny spot, 15 to 20°C (60 to 68°F).After blooming begins, you can prolong the blooming period by placing the container in the refrigerator overnight, or in a chilly room. Discard the bulbs after blooming. Forced bulbs can seldom be forced successfully again; they've expended too much energy to recover. Related web sites Related web sitesThe American Daffodil SocietyThis site is jam-packed with information about all kinds of daffodils. Great photos showing representatives in each of the 13 daffodil divisions. (Paperwhites are in Division 8.)www.daffodilusa.com/DirtGardener TipsheetsThe Chilling Facts About Forcing Flower Bulbs: this site gives good instructions on how to force other spring-flowering bulbs.www.dirtgardener.com/TipSheets/Bulbs/Chilling TimetableThis list from The Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center gives names of bulbs that can be forced, and how many weeks they need to be chilled before they bloom.www.dirtgardener.com/TipSheets/Bulbs/eSeeds.comOnline sources for 'Ziva' and 'Grand Soleil d'Or'www.eseeds.com/index/n.html- Credit
- Tina Forrester
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Create a mini-garden under glass Create a mini-garden under glass
Create a mini-garden under glass ofBuilding and caring for a terrarium Building and caring for a miniature garden enclosed in clear glass or plastic is an easy project for young gardeners. A covered, well-constructed terrarium needs little care, only requiring warmth and low light to flourish. Plus, a terrarium is a great way to demonstrate how water transpires from plants and evaporates from soil to create rain that falls back to the soil, and is then drawn up through the plant roots and lost through transpiration again.Choosing a containerSelect any clear or lightly tinted glass or plastic container with an opening big enough for your child's hand to easily fit through. A fish tank, large brandy snifter, two-litre pickle jar, candy jar and even a casserole dish are all good choices. If the container doesn't have a lid, you can cover it with a sheet of clear plastic once the terrarium is planted. Wash the container with a 10:1 solution of bleach and water to avoid bacteria, fungi and algae that thrive on soil surfaces in warm, moist environments.Selecting plantsChoose naturally small or slow-growing plants that grow well in moist environments, picking plants with similar requirements for temperature, light and humidity. Add interest by choosing plants that provide a variety of height, texture, leaf size and colour.To create a woodland effect, gather mosses, lichens, small ferns, pinecones, small stones and bits of wood from a nearby forest. You can also look for small plants such as these:Maidenhair fern (Adiantum spp.)Pussytoes (Antennaria spp.)Wild strawberry (Fragaria spp)Patridgeberry (Mitchella repens)Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana)Sweet violet (Viola odorataFor an herbal garden, you can easily find suitable herbs at a garden centre, in a local field or woods, or maybe even in your own garden. Here are a few suggestions:Dwarf Goatsbeard (Aruncus aethusifolius)Sweet Woodruff (Asperula odorata)Ebony spleenwort fern (Asplenium platyneuron)Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)Corsican mint (Mentha requienii)Labrador violet (Viola labradorica)Many houseplants native to tropical environments also grow well in a terrarium. Check out these ideas:Asparagus fern (Asparagus setaceus)Fluffy ruffles fern (Nephrolephis exaltata)Peperomia (Peperomia caperata)Aluminum plant (Pilea cadierei minima)Artillery Plant (Pilea microphylla)Baby's tears (Soleirolia Soleirolii)Cypress Spikemoss (Selaginella plana) Related websites Building the layersBegin by creating a drainage area of pebbles and charcoal by covering the bottom of the container with one to two centimetres of sand or pea gravel; this helps keep excess water at the bottom of the terrarium. Next, carefully add a seven-millimetre-deep layer of crushed charcoal to absorb unpleasant odours.To keep soil out of the drainage area, cover the pebbles and charcoal with a piece of synthetic fabric. Recycled nylon fabric, say from stockings or a curtain remnant, is ideal because nylon cloth will contain the soil but allow water to pass through, plus it'll decompose slowly. Place eight to ten centimetres of sterile, slightly damp potting soil over the nylon. Using a spoon, level the soil or mold it into contours and valleys.Planting the terrariumPlace the largest specimen near the centre if you plan to view the terrarium from all sides, but plant the tallest in the background if you plan to view the terrarium from only two or three sides. Making sure no leaves will touch the sides of the container, which may cause them to turn brown, place each plant in a small hole and gently firm the soil around its roots. Just for fun, you can also add a small figurine or two.If the glass is dirty, spray it lightly with water and wipe it with a piece of cotton wrapped around the handle of a wooden spoon. Cover the terrarium and place in a bright area, but not in direct sunlight, such as in a north- or northeast-facing window. Direct sunlight can burn plant leavesCaring for the terrariumCheck the terrarium daily for a week. If water condenses heavily on the inside glass, remove the lid to let excess moisture evaporate. If the plants wilt, and no condensation forms, add a little water. After that, water only when the soil feels dry. Don't fertilize unless the plants start to turn yellow, and then only at one-fourth the recommended rate. When the plants are as tall as you want them, pinch off any new growth. This will also encourage them to grow bushier. Remove any faded flowers to prevent disease. Once a year, add nutrients and freshen the terrarium's appearance by scraping off the top layer and adding more potting soil.Related web sitesBlack Jungle Terrarium SupplyA Terrarium Resource GuidePlastic Bottle TerrariumVictorian TerrariumSkippy Terrarium- Credit
- Tina Forrester
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Kids and windowsill herbs Kids and windowsill herbs
Kids and windowsill herbs ofGrowing herbs indoors A well-tended herb garden looks good enough to, well, eat. And when kids grow herbs on a windowsill, they can easily snip off leaves and flowers for tasty additions to salads, soups and casseroles. Trim herbs often—it encourages them to produce for a long time.You can purchase small plants, but it's more fun to start seeds in eggshells filled with potting soil. Nestle the shells in an egg carton, then place it on a sunny windowsill that gets six or more hours of sunshine each day. A south- or west-facing windowsill is ideal. Keep the soil moist. When the plants are approximately eight centimetres tall and have at least two sets of true leaves, remove the shells and transplant the seedlings to five-centimetre pots. Label the pot rims with permanent marker, then place them in a basket to create a charming little "garden." Moved to the table at mealtimes, they make a lovely centrepiece.Water well when the soil feels dry to the touch, letting a little water run through the pots, but don't leave water in the saucers. Feed once a month with half-strength liquid fertilizer. If insects invade, spray the infected plants with water, or rinse them with a mild solution of soap and water. Never spray herbs you plan to eat with a chemical pesticide.In summer, you can move the herb pots outdoors. Place them in an area that receives good light but is protected from intense heat or wind. You can also set the pots in a garden, planting them with soil up to the rim. One caution: pots dry out faster than the surrounding soil, so water frequently. In fall before the first frost, bring the potted herbs back indoors.BASIL (OCIMUM BASILICUM)Named for Basilisk, the fire-breathing dragon feared by ancient Rome, this annual member of the mint family has a rich and spicy flavour with a trace of pepper, mint and cloves. Sweet basil is the variety most commonly grown, but there are approximately 40 others. Plants grow to 38 centimetres tall and the flowers are bright white, pale pink or lavender.Sow seeds in moist potting soil, sprinkling them lightly with fine soil to cover. Kept in a warm spot, basil germinates in five to 10 days. When the plants are 15 centimetres tall, pinch out the tops and cut off any flower spikes to encourage bushy growth.Add crushed or minced leaves to soup, pasta and casseroles, or sprinkle whole leaves on salads. Basil sprigs and flowers make festive garnishes; the flavour of the flowers is milder but similar to the leaves.CHIVES (ALLIUM SCHOENOPRASUM)Perennial members of the Allium family, chives are closely related to onions, leeks and garlic. Lilies are distant cousins. Each hollow chive leaf ends in a sharp point. Cheery mauve blossoms look like pompoms made of tiny, tight-clustered flowers atop leafless stems.Plant seeds 12 millimetres deep in potting soil. They germinate in seven to 10 days. Give chives plenty of sun and they reward you with pretty blooms and tasty leaves all summer. To keep plants looking healthy, use scissors to cut leaves near the soil rather than at their tips, then snip the leaves into short pieces to add to eggs, dips and salads. Related sites Once chives bloom, cut the plants back a section at a time to encourage new growth. Kids can dry the chive blossoms for simple floral arrangements. Just lay the blossoms, stems attached, on a fine mesh screen; place in a dark, well-ventilated area until they are dry. Another easy project for kids is to make soft-pink chive-flavoured vinegar: simply pour warm cider vinegar into a jar filled with blossoms, cover and store in a dark place for four to six weeks. Then strain the vinegar through cheesecloth, pour into a pretty bottle and use in cooking and homemade salad dressing.GARDEN THYME (THYMUS VULGARIS)Believed by ancient Greeks to give strength and fortitude, thyme is a pungent perennial, a member of the mint family. During Medieval times, the herb represented bravery, and aristocratic women embroidered pictures of it on scarves for their knights.Of the more than 400 varieties, garden thyme (also known as common thyme) is the kind most often grown. It's a shrubby perennial that grows 15 to 30 centimetres tall with pale grey-green leaves and delicate mauve flowers. To sow, cover seed with three centimetres of fine soil, well pressed down. Keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate in 10 to 18 days. Thyme plants can survive light drought, but dry conditions produce concentrated oils and a more potent herb.Add snips of thyme to salty meat, fish and cheese entrees and soups as you prepare them, allowing the herb time to release its flavour into the dish. You can also make thyme vinegar using the same method as chive vinegar above.Related web sitesImage of Ruffled Sweet Basil www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/Basils.htmImage of Allium schoenoprasumpharm1.pharmazie.uni-greifswald.de/systematik/Image of Thymus vulgariswww.floridata.com/ref/T/thym_vul.cfmBringing Your Herbs Indoors www.gertens.com/articles/indoorherbs.htmlKitchen Garden in a Potwww.gardenguides.com/articles/herbpot.htm- Credit
- Tina Forrester
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Child's play Child's play
Child's play ofPlanning A child's garden should be about delight and the excitement of discovery in a world that is always changing. Gardening is a wonderful training ground, teaching children about botany, agriculture and the life cycle of plants and insects while helping them develop a sense of responsibility and accomplishment.The garden is a great place to practise real-world science, math and mapping skills. Improving soil through testing and amendments provides an early introduction to chemistry, and composting is an ecology lesson in progress. Gardening also reinforces ecological lessons, from the effects of weather on plants to the relationships between plants and insects, companion planting and vermiculture. Plant species that feed butterflies and hummingbirds, add a bird bath and turn chipped pots into toad abodes to bring more learning opportunities into the garden.Nancy Lee-Colibaba, who co-ordinates the children's gardening program at Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) in Burlington, Ontario, says simple guidelines go a long way to ensuring that the gardening bug bites for life. Kids need to have space to call their own, but keep the size manage-able so the child does not become overwhelmed, says Lee-Colibaba. "Our youngest children [programs start at age three] work in a three-foot by three-foot area, and size up to a six- by twelve-foot plot once they enter the Junior Gardeners Club at the age of eight." Mounded or raised beds are a good choice for toddlers, as they leave no question as to where walking is-and isn't-allowed.Let children help plan their garden, but Lee-Colibaba cautions against offering too wide a plant selection, especially for young beginners. Parents or grandparents who are avid gardeners sometimes get carried away with the seed catalogue. Older, experienced children can have a freer hand in seed selection, but younger kids should have choices between fewer, more fool-proof plants. At RBG, the six-week toddler program focuses on plants that have large, easily handled seeds, such as beans, sunflowers, beets and radishes; short-season plants such as lettuce are also staples.Plants based on a theme can add another dimension to the garden and help maintain interest, especially for older children. At Country Lane Herbs near Freelton, Ontario, Karen Michaud and her daughter Jana have planted a number of children's theme gardens, some based on children's books. Starting with the Beatrix Potter series when Jana was younger, they added a special dimension to their bedtime reading- plant-spotting. Their literary plant checklists become planting lists for new beds. Like most 13 year-olds, Jana is an avid Harry Potter fan, so she kept a plant list while reading the books. Harry and his friends take a class called herbology, and though the plant names may be somewhat twisted about (flutterby bush instead of butterfly bush) or old-fashioned (dittany instead of gas plant), many readily recognized species are also used (though given some pretty spectacular powers). With her mom's help, Jana has been able to locate and plant many of the species that are part of Hogwarts' curriculum. (Note that this is definitely a project for older children, as some of these magical plants are quite toxic in real life.) Things to make Children who live in apartments and townhouses needn't be excluded from the joys of gardening, even if your community doesn't have a kids' gardening club. Containers can offer a wide range of options, from veggies to herbs, scented plants and perennials. Use wacky pots: old shoes, baskets, tires, sinks or toilets can all contain great gardens.No one appreciates tools that won't stand up to the job at hand, and that is especially true for easily frustrated five-year-olds. Fortunately, the current gardening craze has garden centres stocked with great kid-sized tools. Older children will probably balk at a kid's set, so try ladies' sizes for lighter, slightly smaller implements. Keep them well maintained and teach tool safety. Children should always wear gloves to protect hands from thorns and possibly sharp objects in the soil.A hot afternoon of weeding is nobody's idea of enjoyment. Make it an activity for early or late in the day, create weeding challenges that are rewarded with cold drinks or popsicles, collect weeds to press and identify, and learn about their ecology, insect-plant relationships or medicinal value. Break weeding into small doses, interspersed with other activities, such as building a scarecrow or wattle fencing. If all else fails, eat 'em! Purslane and lamb's-quarters are delicious raw or steamed, as are young dandelion greens-it's the ultimate in gardening revenge. Your child's garden plot may not be weed-free, but resist the temptation to take over maintenance yourself; being in charge is all part of the experience.Don't overlook the culinary lessons lurking in your garden. Make nuts or sunflower seeds into butter in the food processor, spread on homemade bread with freshly made strawberry jam-kids can really make their own PB and J sandwiches from the ground up. RBG's Junior Gardeners Club includes regular cooking sessions, and the children eagerly await the chance to sample their produce -- kohlrabi and all.Ensure that you can identify poisonous plants, especially if you have infants or toddlers who may end up with something in their mouths. Teach children to sample only what they know and recognize, or to wait until you've OK'd their potential snacks.Let your child choose a garden buddy at the local dollar store-many carry inexpensive resin garden animals. Children who collect rocks can incorporate them into their garden design.The rich rewards of gardening can last a lifetime. Become a garden facilitator for your child, grandchild or young friend and do what you can to create positive experiences. Then stand back and let nature work its magic. Theme garden ideas Theme gardensTry planting a favourite food garden (growing all the ingredients for pizza in a wedge-shaped garden, for example) or one with edible flowers. Colour-crazy kids might like to research and create a monocoloured or rainbow bed. A "scratch and sniff" bed of scented herbs, a medieval knot or a dried flower garden are other ideas that Karen Michaud of Country Lane Herbs suggests, along with a zoo garden (plants with animal or insect names). Plant cultivars with great names or wild shapes and colours. 'Thumbelina' carrots, 'Rainbow Lights' chard and 'Easter Egg' radishes are all super plants for kids, along with ornamentals such as crested cockscomb (also known as fuzzy neon brains). Try purple beans (which magically turn green when cooked), purple carrots or 'Patty Pan' squash, which look like little flying saucers as they mature. If you have the space, pumpkins are de rigueur. Older children can also experiment with different cultivars-try a blindfolded taste test with two or three tomato varieties, and chart rates of growth and overall production in a garden journal for future reference.MORE PROGRAMSThere are many excellent programs across the country to help introduce children to gardening. Check local libraries, museums, or community or garden centres for details. Here is a sampling:Toronto: The Teaching Garden at Edwards Gardens was created to teach children ages three to 12 years how to care for their environment in a garden setting. There are school programs in spring and fall, and several summer day camps, including the Green Thumb Camp, where eight- to 10-year-olds help plant a pizza garden and harvest vegetables for local food banks. July 22 to 25, $160 non-members; $145 members. The Civic Garden Centre at Edwards Gardens, 777 Lawrence Ave. E., North York, Ont. M3C 1P2; 416/397-1340; Burlington, Ontario: Now in its 56th year, the children's gardening program at Royal Botanical Gardens greens the thumbs of a new crop of children each year. Contact Nancy Lee-Colibaba at 905/527-1158, ext. 510.Uxbridge, Ontario: SLUGS (Special Little Uxbridge Gardeners) is a free junior horticulture club (for kids 12 and under) sponsored by Goodwood Gardens. SLUGS, 31 Bolton Dr., Uxbridge, Ont. L9P 1A3; 905/852-9643. E-mail; Vancouver: VanDusen Botanical Garden's family programs offer children and adults opportunities to learn about plants and nature. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Family Adventures: free for members or with garden admission. Family Workshops: members $5 per participant; non-members $5 per participant plus admission. VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak St., Vancouver, B.C. V6M 4H1; 604/878-5860; Montreal: Montreal Botanical Garden - Youth Gardens, 514/872-0956;- Credit
- Barbara McKean
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Kids and fall leaves Kids and fall leaves
Kids and fall leaves ofSeparate the colours Few kids can resist collecting the kaleidoscopic leaves of autumn. Each fall, as the days grow shorter, decreasing daylight triggers the change from quiet greens of summer leaves to loud yellows, oranges and reds-a transformation that inspires little ones to gather nature's handiwork into bouquets for parents, grandparents and teachers.Although not all leaves turn red, those that do contain three types of pigment: chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocynins. During the growing season, leaf cells contain chlorophyll and carotenoids. Chlorophyll is the green chemical that helps leaves convert sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into sugar. (Sap carries the sugar to other parts of the tree to help it grow.) The green is so powerful it covers the yellow, orange and brown carotenoids, but most anthocynins (red pigment) are produced in autumn when the days are still fairly long and the leaf cells are chockfull of sugar.leavesWhen there's less sunlight, leaves use less and less chlorophyll, and the green chemical begins to break down. Suddenly-or so it seems-we can see the bright orange and yellow carotenoids and the red anthocynins.Some years the leaves are more colorful than others. For truly spectacular displays, trees need lots of rain during the growing season, followed by an autumn with warm days and cool nights.SEPARATING THE COLOURSHere's an experiment that separates the chlorophyll from the yellow/orange carotenoids in a green leaf. (One word of caution: isopropyl alcohol is poisonous, so don't let your child taste it or inhale the fumes.)Put two tablespoons of green leaves torn into tiny pieces into a small baby food jar and pour 125 millilites rubbing alcohol over top. Using the back of a metal spoon, mash the leaves, then let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes. The alcohol will turn green. Meanwhile, cut a 3- by 10-centimetre strip from a paper coffee filter and wrap one end around a pencil; secure it with tape. Lay the pencil over the jar's rim so the filter paper just reaches the alcohol inside the jar.The liquid will begin to move up the strip. Leave the end of the strip in the liquid for 30 minutes(or longer for more colour), then place the strip on a paper towel to dry. At the top of the strip just before the paper bends around the pencil, you'll see bands of green chlorophyll and the yellow/orange carotenoids. Leaf Skeletons; Angel Wings LEAF SKELETONSWhen Queen Victoria ruled the British Empire, it was popular to make "phantom bouquets" from skeleton-like leaves. Making skeletonized leaves is a great way to see how leaves get the water they need to grow. Mature maple or oak leaves work especially well. It's an eerie experiment and it requires patience, but if your child likes being a mad scientist in the kitchen, this is a fun way to see a leaf's framework.Combine four cups water and one teaspoon washing soda in a stainless steel or enamel pot. Add a fresh, mature leaf. Bring to a boil and simmer for thirty minutes, then let the water cool. Lay the leaf flat on newspaper and, using the dull knife, slowly scrape away the fleshy surface from both sides of the leaf, leaving the veins. If your child works carefully, what remains is a beautiful, but spooky-looking, leaf and you can see how intricate a leaf really is. Trees drink water through their roots, then carry it (along with dissolved minerals) through their veins to every part of each leaf. Once sunlight and chlorophyll have reacted with the water and carbon dioxide (from the air) to make sugar, the veins carry it to wherever the tree needs food.ANGEL WINGSIf your child did a near-perfect job of scraping the surface off the leaf, he might like to make an "angel wing" to use in a dried flower arrangement. Bleach the skeletonized leaf in a solution of two tablespoons bleach and one litre of water for about an hour. Remove the leaf and rinse it with water. Gently wipe it dry with a soft cloth.Place it between two pieces of paper towel and press between the pages of an old phone book. If you're pressing more than one leaf, make sure you have at least one cm of pages between each leaf. Put the phone book in a warm, dry place with good air circulation. Avoid damp floors. Add weights. (Heavy books are good.) Check the leaf after two or three days. Fold a length of florist wire in half and place next to the stem. Wrap the wire and stem with white floral tape. Acrylic paint leaf prints; related sites ACRYLIC PAINT LEAF PRINTSOne way you can celebrate nature's annual display is to print colourful leaves on a T-shirt using fabric paint. Or you can try the same technique with regular acrylic paint and very small leaves to decorate a nicely shaped rock for a paperweight. You can also make gift wrap and gift tags.Spread newspapers over a flat surface. Lay a T-shirt flat, front-side-up. Insert cardboard between the front and back. Place a leaf vein-side-up on the newspaper. Coat it with one or more colours of fabric paint. Carefully pick the leaf up and place it vein-side-down on the T-shirt. Rub the leaf gently with your fingers without letting the leaf slide. Carefully remove the leaf.Repeat, making random cascades or overlapping designs. Sometimes you may be able to get two prints from one coat of paint, though the second print will be fainter. Continue printing until you're happy with your design.Related Web Sites• Free Fall Coloring Pagesgonewengland.about.com/library/coloring/• Fall Foliage Photo Puzzlesgonewengland.about.com/library/weekly/• How To Make A Leaf Rubbinggonewengland.about.com/c/ht/00/10/- Credit
- Tina Forrester
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Kids and fireflies Kids and fireflies
Kids and fireflies ofAbout fireflies By day, adult fireflies look like insignificant beetles. In fact, you and your kids probably wouldn't recognize one if you saw it resting on a nearby leaf. After all, fireflies don't bite, carry disease or cause significant plant damage. But when the sun goes down, they fascinate just about everyone, their twinkles lighting up the night.Fireflies flash for several reasons: to attract a mate, to warn other fireflies of danger and to convince predators that they're not tasty morsels. (Apparently the chemicals that make the light do taste bitter.) Although other insects can produce light, fireflies are the only ones able to flash distinct signals. They store two rare chemicals in their abdomens: luciferin and luciferase, which, when mixed with oxygen, magnesium and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), produce light that gives off very little heat, a process called bioluminescence.More than 170 species of fireflies (also known as lightning bugs) live in North America, and more than 1,900 species live in temperate and tropical areas across six continents. Each species exhibits particular habits. Some fireflies inhabit primarily open fields, some hunt for mates in wooded areas and others search over bogs and marches. Some flash at dusk and stop at dark, while others only light up when it's very dark. The genus Photinus flashes a yellow light, but Pyractomena gives off an amber glow and Photuris a green. In addition, each species sends different mating signals. The male Photinus pyralis beams a short flash as he rises making a J-shape. The female responds with a single flash. Photinus consumilis signals his potential mate with a rapid succession of flashes. She responds with two beams. Usually a male won't fly down to a female of the wrong species, but sometimes a femme fatale mimics the flickering pattern of another species; when the male moves in, the female eats him.In Canada, the most common species is Photinus pyralis, approximately 10 to 14 millimetres long--the males are larger than the females. They are dark brown with orange and yellow accents and have dull yellow margins around their wing covers. At dusk, the warmest part of the night, Photinus pyralis males cruise a few feet above the ground flashing for an hour or so, waiting for a female, sitting on vegetation below, to signal to Mr. Right. The chosen male moves in slowly, his light dims, they meet…. A few days later, the female lays a hundred eggs or so just under the soil. After three or four more weeks, slightly luminescent larvae emerge to feed voraciously on soft-bodied insects, slugs and snails-fireflies make good garden friends. In fall, they burrow underground for winter. In late spring or early summer, after living one or two years in the soil, each larva builds a marble-sized mud protection around itself and changes into a pupa. And approximately ten days later, adult beetles emerge to eat pollen by daylight, twinkle by starlight and start the cycle over again. Create a firefly lantern FIREFLY LANTERNAbout 40 Pyrophorus noctilucus, amazingly bright fireflies from South and Central America, placed in a lantern, give off as much light as a candle. Canadian fireflies don't give off that much light, but you can still catch them in a clean glass jar with a screw-top lid to make a cool lantern.Begin by punching a few holes in the lid to let air in. Then, sit in a spot where you see fireflies flashing and count out one female's signal pattern, saying to yourself "Mississippi one, Mississippi two…." Flick a small flashlight on and off in the same pattern and soon a few male beetles will come to investigate. (If all you have is a large flashlight, try placing the lens flat on the ground. When you see a male's signal, tilt the lens up to give him a flash.) As one comes closer, its flashes will become weaker. Keep flashing the light and the male will land nearby and walk to the light. A firefly or two may even land on your hand. Catch as many as you can and put them in the jar. You can also catch females who are just sitting there.FLASH ACCELERATORBefore you let the fireflies go, transform the lantern into a flash accelerator. Dip the jar into a pot of lukewarm water. As the temperature inside the jar rises, the fireflies will flash faster. The higher the temperature, the shorter the period between flashes. You can continue to raise the temperature gradually by adding more warm water to the pot.Related Web Sites• A Beacon in the Nightwww.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/ythfacts/• The Firefly FilesIRIS.biosci.ohio-state.edu/projects/FFiles/• Close-up view of Photinus pyralisentweb.clemson.edu/museum/beetles/• Bioluminescencelifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/• Firefly or Lightning Bugwww.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/- Credit
- Tina Forrester
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Kids and tomatoes Kids and tomatoes
Kids and tomatoes ofAll about tomatoes What would pizza, pasta and tossed salad be without tomatoes? Most Canadians eat raw or cooked tomatoes almost every day, and even fussy youngsters eat this vegetable packed with vitamin C and A—botanically a fruit because they contain seeds—without complaint. Since tomatoes are easy to grow in containers, they're great for kids to nurture in patio pots, window boxes and even hanging baskets.Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) are indigenous to South America. Yellow and red varieties grow wild in the Andes valleys where the Incas of Peru domesticated them as early as 700 AD. During the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors took them home to southern Europe, adding a delicious new taste to Italian and Spanish cuisine. But most of the English-speaking world was slower to recognize a good thing, believing until the 19th century that tomatoes, related to deadly nightshade, were poisonous.Today, cultivated varieties may be pink, orange and even striped, as well as red or yellow. They range in size from small enough to pop in your mouth (cherry varieties) to large enough to carry with two hands ('Beefsteak'). Shapes vary, also. Most tomato varieties produce round fruit, but 'Zapotec Pleated' is fluted or rippled, 'Yellow Stuffer' resembles peppers—hollow with hard walls—and 'Amish Paste' is pear shaped.Tomatoes grow successfully in just about any sturdy container filled with rich, well-drained soil, but large containers (20 litres or more) yield healthier plants and more fruit. Some varieties of cherry tomatoes perform well in hanging baskets, and many patio types (dwarfs) can be grown in 30-centimetre terra-cotta pots.When danger of frost is passed, purchase healthy plants with straight, sturdy stems (about as thick as a pencil) and four to six young true leaves (no blossoms or fruit). Plant each tomato seedling deeper than it was growing in its nursery pot or cell pack-up to its first true leaves encouraging it to develop roots along its buried stem. Place the container where it'll receive at least six hours of sun every day. Unless the plant is a dwarf variety or growing in a hanging pot, stake it or place a cage around it, to keep fruit and leaves off the ground.Tomato plants are heavy feeders; add fertilizer high in potassium, such as 5-10-10, 5-20-20, or 8-16-16. Too much nitrogen encourages vigorous vine growth but produces little fruit.Keep the soil damp. Pull any weeds by hand. Once the tomato plants are established, apply mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Soil that dries out can cause blossom-end rot. Over-watering may cause ripening fruit to split.Extreme temperatures also affect tomatoes. In spring, blossom drop can occur when daytime temperatures are warm, but night temperatures fall below 13°C. Plants can also suffer from blossom drop in summer, when days and nights are more than 32°C. Tomato tricks and sites Harvest tomatoes when they are ripe but still firm. To speed up the ripening process, you can place a few tomatoes in a brown paper bag. For best flavour, store them at room temperature; refrigerate only if fully ripe, and then only for a few days.Topsy-turvy hanging tomatoesHere's a conversation piece that sounds crazy but actually yields an abundance of cherry tomatoes. (You can also try this with plants that yield medium-sized fruit.) The plant grows upside down, a feat that will amaze your kids and their friends.Cut a hole slightly larger than the diameter of the main stem of the plant in the bottom of a 20-litre plastic bucket. Carefully wrap the top of the plant in a cylinder made of newspaper and insert through the hole in the bucket, pointing the leaves toward the ground. Unwrap the newspaper, hang the bucket by its handle. Add approximately three centimetres of gravel to help anchor the roots, then fill the bucket with potting soil. As the tomato plant grows, its leaves will curl up toward the sun, but once it's loaded with fruit, the stems will hang straight down.Fried green (or slightly pink) tomatoesHere's a juicy, delicious way for you and your kids to enjoy an over-abundance of unripe tomatoes at the end of the growing season. Wash the tomatoes and pat them dry. Cut them into three-millimetre-thick slices, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Dip each slice in cornmeal and place on waxed paper. Heat some vegetable oil and fry the slices until golden brown. Drain them on paper towels and serve hot.Related web sitesSeed Starting Tomatoeswww.savvygardener.com/FeaturesHow to Grow the Tomato and 115 Ways to Prepare it for the Tableaggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/Canning and Freezing Tomatoeswww.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/yf/foods/he175w.htmTomato Recipes To Preserve The Goodness Of An Abundant Harvestaggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/Easy Gardening...Tomatoesaggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/- Credit
- Tina Forrester
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Kids and flowering vines Kids and flowering vines
Kids and flowering vines ofSweet peas In a matter of weeks, morning glories, tall sweet peas and climbing nasturtiums provide bright colour, seeming to bloom before your very eyes. Kids love them because annual vines grow so quickly they can almost see them reach for great heights or stretch to new lengths. And because the seeds are large, kids can easily sow them with just a little help from adults.Many annual vines are planted to conceal bare walls and fences, and to dress up posts and trellises, but you can also grow them on strings to create enchanting summer retreats and semi-secret hideaways. Since the roots of annual climbers requite little space, they can be planted in pots as well as in the ground. Plus you can plant vines in hanging baskets, allowing the blooms to gracefully cascade. The most fun of all, however, is to plant sweet peas and morning glories around the base of a rustic teepee made of 1.8- to two-metre-long, three-centimetre-thick branches. The vines soon festoon the framework, creating a floral hideout kids can't resist.SWEET PEAS (LATHYRUS ODORATUS)Everyone loves the colourful beauty and lovely fragrance of sweet peas. In Victorian times, sweet peas symbolized remembered pleasures-such appropriate flowers for children to grow, then later remember as adults. Blooms in shades of blue, red, pink, purple, and white grow on two- to three-metre vines in late spring to early summer. Some varieties have smooth, velvety petals; others have wavy, crinkled ones.Sweet peas need rich, well-drained soil, plenty of sun and good air circulation. Soak the seeds overnight. Then work some compost into the soil and sow the seeds 2.5 centimetres deep and five to eight centimetres apart. Water thoroughly, then restrict water until the seeds germinate. Lightly cultivate the ground around each plant to keep them free of weeds. Water regularly, adding a weak solution of liquid fertilizer twice a month. Too much fertilizer will cause dark green leaves and few flowers.Deadhead blooms before the seeds develop to encourage further blossoms, but leave a few flowers at the end of the season to set seed for next spring. Sweet peas grow best if planted in a different place each year. Morning Glories; Climbing Nasturtium MORNING GLORIES (IPOMOEA TRICOLOR AND I. PURPUREA)This flower produces a daily crop of beautiful blue, purple, pink, scarlet, white or multi-coloured trumpet-shaped blooms and heart-shaped leaves on vines that branch from the base of the plant and rapidly reach three to six metres. Perhaps because the blooms of older varieties are short lived-lasting only half a day-morning glories symbolize affectation or flirtation. But newer types hold their bloom most of the day, especially in cloudy weather. Favourite varieties include I. tricolor 'Heavenly Blue', a bright sky blue, and 'Scarlet O'Hara', a deep red.When danger of frost has passed, soak seeds in water overnight to soften the seed covering. Then, in a sunny area, sow the seeds one centimetre deep, 20 to 30 centimetres apart in ordinary, well-drained soil. (If the soil is too rich, the vines produce a profusion of leaves instead of flowers.)Or start seeds indoors in individual eight-centimetre peat pots four to six weeks before the last frost date. When danger of frost is over, carefully transplant them pots-and-all to avoid disturbing the roots. Feed them twice a month with a diluted solution of fertilizer to keep them blooming until fall's first frost.CLIMBING NASTURTIUM (TROPAEOLUM MAJUS)Nasturtiums symbolize patriotism and splendor, and in spite of the fact the nasturtium is not a special flower for any month, its blooms always appear to smile. Climbing varieties-abundant with cowl-shaped flowers in shades of scarlet, gold, orange, bronze or yellow on vines 1.5 to 1.8 metres long-eagerly scramble over rocks and walls, or spill out of baskets and tubs. Their large, round leaves-shaped somewhat like lily pads-are either solid medium-green or marbled with white. As a bonus, the flowers and leaves taste similar to watercress and make a colourful and tasty addition to tossed salads.A week or two before the last frost date, sow seeds in full sun or part shade, one centimetre deep and 15 centimetres apart, in ordinary garden soil. Nasturtiums dislike being transplanted, but tolerate heat, drought and poor soil. In fact, if the soil is too rich the plants produce lush leaves with few flowers. They grow best during cool weather, blooming until frost.RELATED WEB SITESTropaeolum majus (Nasturtiums)www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/hdwimages1/Capucines à GivernyScroll down to see photo of trailing nasturtiumsgiverny.org/gardens/fcm/fleurs/pictcapu.htmMorning Glory Homepagewww.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/Lab/7150/Lathyrus Odoratuswww.hort.net/gallery/view/fab/latodos/- Credit
- Tina Forrester
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Kids and palm trees Kids and palm trees
Kids and palm trees ofHow to grow palms Jack Frost is painting windows and Frosty the Snowman is popping up on neighborhood lawns, but your kids can still garden indoors. One great growing project is to sow palm seeds that sprout into kid-friendly, low-maintenance houseplants. You can purchase commercial seeds, but it's cheapest and most fun to eat some dates, then plant the pits.Most palms are trees that grow straight and tall, but the trunk of the rattan palm, which grows in Southeast Asia, is a vine that trails along the jungle floor or climbs trees. Many palms have a single trunk or stem; others have clustered trunks that grow from the same root base. Some palm fruits are as tiny as peas, but the largest--produced by the double coconut palm can be 60 centimetres in diameter. Coconuts, sago (starch), raffia, rattan and canauba wax are all palm products.GROWING PALMSSoak palm seeds in water overnight, then sow in a deep flowerpot filled with light, well-drained soil. Regular houseplant soil is ideal. Cover the seeds with two to three times their thickness of soil, and keep the soil moist, but not soggy. At 22 to 29'C, palm seeds generally germinate in two to 12 weeks. A palm seedling looks like a blade of grass. The second leaf is slightly larger than the first. Eventually a trunk will form. Depending on the variety of palm, it may take two or three years for fronds (leaves with divisions) to appear.Palms prefer warm temperatures: 22 to 24'C during the daytime and 18 to 22'C at night. Some palms like full sun, others shade. Read the instructions below for the specific palm you wish to grow to determine what kind of light you should give it.Before watering, allow half the depth of the soil to dry, but never let the palm's roots dry out completely. Water thoroughly, then discard the drainage so the roots don't sit in water. Leaf tips on over-watered plants turn pale yellow and the leaves may drop. On under-watered plants, tips turn brown, older fronds yellow, and new growth is pale. Types of palms During spring and summer, fertilize once a month with water-soluble 20-20-20, following the instructions for houseplants on the label. Feed lightly in fall and winter. Palms grow slowly. Repot them only when the roots begin to push the plant out of its pot; palms like to be pot bound. It's natural for the lowest leaves on mature plants to brown and droop. Remove them by cutting, not pulling. Control spider mites with a mild solution of insecticidal soap and water.NEANTHE BELLA OR PARLOR PALMNeanthe Bella, parlor palm, good luck palm and table palm are common names for Chamaedorea elegans 'Bella', a small, graceful, easy-to-care plant that boasts handsome light green fronds. A native of Central American mountain forests, Neanthe Bella grows well in low light. Morning sun or bright filtered light is fine; afternoon sun bleaches the foliage.When small, Neanthe Bella looks great on tables, and in dish gardens and terrariums. Mature plants are attractive in tubs. In bright, filtered light, female plants bear yellowish flowers near the base of the trunk, which mature throughout the year into bunches of black fruit. Male flowers are borne on separate plants. Neanthe Bella grows 43 to 46 centimetres in six to 12 months and 60 to 91 centimetres in two years. As a houseplant, its mature height is one to 1.5 metres.PYGMY DATE PALMThe pygmy date palm (Phoenix roebelenii) is a miniature palm native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. It has a slim trunk beautifully topped with a delicate-looking, symmetrical crown of green, feathery leaves. At maturity it reaches three metres indoors. Although this palm has a single trunk, it's commonly raised by nurseries in a clump of three to five specimens, each one curving gracefully out from the centre. One caution: the lower leaflets are modified into sharp spines. Cream-colored flowers are followed by small black dates on the female plants. The fruit are about one centimetre long and range from dark purple to brown when fully ripe.Pygmy date palms are tolerant of both over- and under-watering, low light and some abuse. When mature, they even survive a few degrees of frost. Grown in shade to full sun, they make wonderful planter palms for indoors year-round or outdoors during the warmer months.EDIBLE DATE PALMThe edible date palm (phoenix dactylifera) is grown commercially for its delicious, abundant fruit. This native of the Middle East is also good looking with attractive diamond-shaped leaf scars covering its trunk, and grey-green leaves forming a feathery canopy. Clusters of small, fragrant flowers (white on females, creamy and waxy on males) cascade from just below the fronds in spring. Tasty, reddish-brown dates ripen on female trees in fall, but both male and female flowers are needed for the female to bear fruit.Outdoors, an edible date palm grows to 20 metres in a century. Indoors, it takes a lifetime to reach the ceiling. The bigger the pot you provide, the larger the plant eventually becomes. Transplant when a net of roots grows across the top of the soil. If you decide not to repot it, top dress with houseplant soil twice a year.Edible date palms prefer full sun. During the winter months they like a bright but cool (15 C to 17 C) location. These plants are hardy to -10 C, but at below freezing temperatures some fronds may drop off.RELATED WEB SITESPalms of the WorldPhotos and palm linkswww.palmsoftheworld.comDigital Raingardens Palm SeedsSource for pygmy date palm. Edible date palm and Neanthe Bella seedswww.raingardens.com/seedpage/palmtree.htmPalm VarietiesClick the plant name to see the photowww.barcelopalms.com/palms.htmVirtual Palm Encyclopediawww.plantapalm.com/vpe/vpe_index.htmWorldWide Exotic SeedSource for pygmy date palm. Edible date palm and Neanthe Bella seedswww.seed-man.com- Credit
- Tina Forrester
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Kids and bulbs Kids and bulbs
Kids and bulbs ofTypes of bulbs to plant For all their majesty, flowering bulbs are among the easiest plants for kids to grow. Each bulb is a complete package that practically guarantees success. Even young children can create a breathtakingly beautiful spring display in containers, a garden or naturalized in a lawn with spring bulbs. The snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils and tulips you help your child plant this fall will delight the entire family next spring.True bulbs, such as tulips and daffodils, already contain the leaves, stems, roots and food for next year's plants. If you slice an onion-another true bulb-in half vertically you'll discover the beginning of its leaves, stems and flower buds. Slice another onion in half horizontally and you can see rings formed by the scale leaves, which store food the bulb uses as it grows.What Types to PlantSnowdrops, crocuses, tulips and daffodils are dependable choices for kids to plant. Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) are white, bell-shaped flowers that often push up through melting snow, then bloom for two to four weeks. Blooms hang like tiny lanterns on four- to six-inch (10- to 15-centimetre) stems. Plant them two to three inches (five to eight centimetres) deep and two to four inches (five to 10 centimetres) apart in full sun or part shade. They grow best in well-drained soil amended with compost. Snowdrops are inexpensive and multiply with each passing year.Four- to six-inch (10- to 15-centimetre) tall, yellow, white or purple crocuses (C. vernus)-also early bloomers-look stunning planted in clumps in the lawn or garden. Technically they grow from corms, not bulbs: their storage tissue doesn't have visible rings. They prefer to grow in full sun, but tolerate partial shade. Plant corms two to four inches (five to ten centimetres) deep, two inches (five centimetres) apart. After planting-and every fall thereafter-top-dress the soil with bone meal or a balanced fertilizer. You'll be rewarded with clumps of blooms that increase in number each year.Majestic tulips (Tulipa ssp.), dressed in purple, red, white, yellow and many colours in-between, open their petals wide on sunny days. They come in an amazing variety of sizes, scents and shapes, and bloom early, mid- and late season, depending on type. Carefully planned, you can have a splendid, long-lasting show of blooms all spring. Most produce one flower per bulb on a one- to 2 1/2-foot (30- to 75-centimetre) stem. Some tulips multiply, but most fade away after a couple of springs. Planting depth varies, but tulip bulbs are generally planted five to eight inches (13 to 20 centimetres) deep in well-drained soil. Sprinkle a little bonemeal into the bottom of each hole before planting.And jaunty daffodils (Narcissus) in shades of white and yellow (some with trumpets of orange or pink) are rays of sunshine even on cloudy days. As with tulips, you can have flowering daffodils almost all spring if you plant early- and late-blooming varieties. Ranging from six to 18 inches (15 to 45 centimeters) tall, daffodils prefer well-drained soil, amended with peat moss or well-aged manure, in full sun and part shade. They put on a grand show in rock gardens, borders and beds, and even under deciduous shrubs and trees. Plant daffodils four to six inches (10 to 15 centimetres) deep, three to six inches (eight to 15 centimeters) apart, in well-drained soil. They are great multipliers.To discourage squirrels and other rodents from digging up crocuses and tulips (snowdrops and daffodils are immune to such invasions), sprinkle bloodmeal over the planted area.Spring bulbs need little maintenance once established. For about six weeks after blooming, allow the leaves to gather energy from the sun for next year's display; remove only after they die back to the ground. When to plant b>When to PlantSpring-flowering bulbs are planted in fall to give them a period of cold temperature, which stimulates root development. Plant bulbs soon after purchasing them. If you must store them, keep them in a cool, dry place at between 50' and 60'F (10 to 15'C). They must be planted before the first hard frost, but the sooner bulbs are planted before the ground freezes, the stronger they will be. Soon after planting, roots start to grow and embryonic leaves and flowers begin to develop. The stems grow until they are just beneath the soil's surface, where they wait for the first signs of spring.Naturalizing BulbsInstead of limiting crocuses and daffodils to beds and borders, plant daffodils under shrubs, around trees and in the lawn. Naturalized bulbs should look as if nature planted them. Toss handfuls of bulbs over the target area, then plant them where they fall.Drawing of Writing With BulbsAnother fun project for kids is to plant bulbs in trenches that form shapes, patterns or letters. For example, create a crazy quilt of tulips or write a name with crocuses in the lawn.Related Web SitesThe Great Plant Escape: Mysterious Plants that Surpriseurbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case5/case5.htmlThe Snowdrop by Hans Christian Andersonkidsdomain.com/holiday/xmas/stories/Festive Capital: The Wonderful Tulips of Canada's Capital Click on Kids' Tulip Cornercanadascapital.gc.ca/about_canadas/festivities/Bulb Societywww.bulbsociety.com/IBS/bulbs.htmlClick on the flower bulb you want to learn aboutwww.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/Glade/3313/Forcing Bulbs Indoors: The Art of Gentle Persuasionsavvygardener.com/FeaturesJourney South - Journey North: International Tulip Study (1998)www.learner.org/jnorth/fall1998/tulip- Credit
- Tina Forrester
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Kids and Seeds Kids and Seeds
Kids and Seeds ofExperimenting with seeds Many adult gardeners are kids at heart: it never ceases to amaze them, no matter how many years they've tilled the soil, that beautiful, mature plants grow from insignificant-looking seeds. Few seeds present such an incredible surprise as Jack's, whose magic bean grew into a giant beanstalk; most are like Mr. McGregor's, whose vegetable seeds sprouted to produce predicable sizes of radishes, lettuce, French beans, parsley and cabbage. Whether tiny like a lettuce seed or huge like an avocado pit, each seed contains its own genetic code-it's hidden treasure-and most sprout into plants that look like their parents or the pictures on the packets they came in. This is a marvel of nature you can easily share with your children.Experimenting with SeedsSome large seeds reveal secrets you can't see in smaller ones. Beans, for example, are great for showing kids how seeds are tiny embryos ready to burst out and grow. Simply, have your child place nine lima beans on a sheet of paper, three rows of three beans, to form a rectangle. Each bean should touch the ones next to it. Trace around the rectangle; then remove the beans and soak them in a jar of water overnight.Next day, arrange them in the same way over the rectangular outline to see how much space they now cover. The water will have caused them to expand. Next, carefully peel off one bean's outer coating and separate the halves, called cotyledons, which feed the plant until its roots, stems and leaves grow to find nutrients in the soil, air and water. Using a magnifying glass, examine the curled embryo at the top of one cotyledon.Another fun experiment is to make a simple seed viewer to watch a few beans germinate. Line the inside of a glass or clear plastic cup with dark construction paper; fill the centre with crumpled paper towels. Carefully slip four seeds between the construction paper and glass, then slowly pour water into the centre of the glass until the paper towels are saturated. To create darkness, loosely wrap another piece of construction paper around the outside of the glass. Place in a warm spot; keep the paper towels moist. Carefully lift the outside paper every day to see what's happening. In a few days you'll see the seed coats crack and roots emerge.Once the leaves sprout, plant two of the seedlings in a pot filled with potting soil. Leave the other two between the paper and the glass and compare how soil and light affect growth in contrast to dark and soilless conditions. Gathering seeds Gathering SeedsCollecting seeds is another fun activity. In addition to saving some to plant in next year's garden (as long as the parent plant wasn't grown from hybrid seeds, whose second generation often doesn't resemble the first), you can also gather seeds to glue into a collage. And, as a thoughtful gift, you can share some seeds with other gardeners.Save the seeds from vegetables such as cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes as you prepare meals, letting them dry on paper towels for a week or two. Collect flower seeds whenever you see mature seed heads. Once the flowers have begun to dry out, nip or cut the seed heads from the plant, holding a bowl or paper bag underneath. Use a separate bag for each variety, labelling them as you go to avoid mix-ups. Let the seed heads dry for seven to ten days, then gently break them open over newspaper; discard the seed coverings and other debris. Some of the most reliable flowers to harvest and grow are morning glories, cornflowers, cosmos, marigolds, sunflowers and zinnias.Store the seeds in small envelopes, tiny jars or film canisters, labelling each container with the type and colour of flower, and the year it was saved. To add to the fun, let your kids personalize the labels with markers and crayons. Place the containers in a larger airtight one, such as a Mason jar or freezer bag. You can also add a sealed envelope containing a teaspoon of silica gel for each envelope of seeds to keep them dry. Store the container in a cool, dry place.Seeds remain viable for different lengths of time. For example, onions are good for about a year, beans and carrots for three years, cucumbers for five years, and lettuce and tomatoes for six years. And, amazing but true, some seeds buried with ancient Egyptian mummies are still viable today. Just before planting, you can check the viability by placing 10 seeds between two sheets of damp towel for a few days. If eight out of 10 sprout, you have 80 per cent viability. (There's a practical math lesson for older kids in this experiment, too.).Creating A Seed MosaicA handmade seed collage is a fond winter keepsake-a reminder of summer's glory and a promise of spring's renewal. All you need is a piece of corrugated cardboard or plywood, a pencil, some white glue, a paintbrush and an assortment of dried seeds.Have your child draw a scene or geometric shape on a piece of corrugated cardboard or plywood. (If you're stuck for ideas, you can look through colouring books, magazines or quilt books.) Using a paintbrush, cover a small portion of the design with white glue. Arrange seeds over the glued area following the lines and shapes and paying attention to variations in texture, size, shape and colour of the seeds. Continue in this manner to cover the entire mosaic. Allow the glue to dry completely before setting the collage upright.Related Web SitesGreat Plant Escape: Is it Dust, Dirt, Dandruff or a Seed?www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case3/c3brief.htmlGrow a Sockghbooks.com/activity/activity.cfm?bookid=10500Cacaowww.sci.mus.mn.us/sln/tf/c/cacao/cacao.htmlSpreading Seedstqjunior.thinkquest.org/3715/seeds4.htmlHow Plants Growtqjunior.thinkquest.org/3715/root2.html- Credit
- Tina Forrester
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Warty creatures Warty creatures
Warty creatures ofAll about toads Although kissing a toad is asking a lot-even if it might turn into a handsome prince-smart gardeners love this voracious, bug-eyed amphibian, warts and all. And no wonder! A toad's long, sticky tongue seldom misses its target: slugs, beetles, cutworms, flies, grasshoppers, moths, sow bugs, pill bugs, centipedes, millipedes, crickets and ants. A toad can eat three times its weight in tiny, tasty critters every day, but it doesn't eat flowers or vegetables.Children appreciate toads, too. Most giggle when they surprise one hidden under lush, green foliage, then gleefully chase it for a closer look. Once smitten, many young nature lovers enjoy making their garden pal a simple shelter, a toad abode. Another fun project for kids is creating a tadpole nursery-great for witnessing jelly-like eggs hatch into tiny self-propelled tadpoles that slowly metamorphose into juvenile toads. Toads are often confused with frogs, and the differences are quite subtle. Toads typically have dry, bumpy skin-not really warts as folklore would have it. They use their hind legs for hopping, and live as adults on land in damp, shady places, returning to the water only when they breed. Frogs, on the other hand, usually have smooth skin and longer hind legs than toads that they use for leaping. They live their entire lives in lakes, ponds and water-filled ditches. Frogs tend to lay eggs in masses, toads in chains; but the larvae of both are called tadpoles.Toads in CanadaAmerican toad. In spite of its name, this primarily nocturnal toad-the model for many artists who draw for children-lives in central and eastern Canada as well as the U.S. Generally, it's found in grasslands, meadows, yards or deciduous forests from southeastern Manitoba to Labrador and Newfoundland. Typically, it has one or two brownish-red spot on each brown or grey-green blotch on its back, a spotted belly, a large head, a short snout and large, gold speckled eyes. Its musical trill can last almost 30 seconds.Canadian toad. This diurnal American-toad-look-alike (except for the bump it has between its eyes) lives mainly in the wetlands, pastures, forests, grasslands-but not on the dry prairies-of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories. It has a brief, harsh trill.Fowler's toad. Fast becoming a rare species in Canada, the Fowler's toad inhabits sandy beaches and wooded areas in southwestern Ontario. This nocturnal toad also looks a lot like the American toad, except it has three or four spots in each brownish blotch on its back. Its call is a piercing scream.Great Plains toad. This toad, more tolerant of heat than others found in Canada, lives in the short grass Prairie and semi-desert areas of southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan. This toad is covered in dark blotches with small spots, on a pale brownish grey or olive background, and can easily be identified by its cranial crests. Usually nocturnal, during breeding season it's sometimes active during the day. Its high-pitched, long mechanical trill can be heard for almost two kilometres on the Prairies.Western toad. The Western toad lives in semi-arid and moist forested areas throughout British Columbia and central Alberta. (It's the only toad found in B.C.) It usually has a thin, light-coloured stripe down its back; it has a quiet, bird-like call. Usually nocturnal, at higher elevations it sometimes basks in the summer sun. Toad-friendly homes Toad-Friendly NeighbourhoodsReleasing a few toads into your yard may seem like an easy way to add toads to your garden, but established toads have already decided where they want to live. Instead, entice the young locals looking for a suitable home to hop into your yard; provide what they can't resist-moisture, shade and food-and they'll stay. For example, toads find soil amended with plenty of compost particularly appealing; it's moist and perfect for burrowing into during the hottest part of the day. And, as an added temptation, compost harbours many of the tasty morsels toads like best such as millipedes, sow bugs and earthworms.Another enticement is a moist area where dew collects, such as the shade of a lush, verdant plant. Make it even more tantalizing by placing a medium-size terra-cotta pot on its side, an inch (2.5 centimetres) or so sunk into the soil. A board held three or four inches (eight or 10 centimetres) off the ground by two rocks will also do the trick. Provide a man-made puddle by tucking a clay saucer filled with water under some shaggy herbs.Make A Toad AbodeTransforming a terra-cotta pot into a toad house is an easy and fun summer project for kids: turn a six-inch (15 centimetre) or larger pot upside down and chip a small area out of the lip for the doorway. Then decorate with latex paints-perhaps windows, hearts, polka dots, grass, posies-children have wonderful imaginations. Place it in a shady garden spot and it won't be long before a very happy toad hops in.Create A Tadpole NurseryIn spring or early summer, if you have a pond or ditch near you, you can easily gather a few tadpoles to raise in a shallow but large, clean plastic or glass container or a small wading pool. Fill the container a few inches deep with clean water. (Rainwater is best, but if you use tap water place it in sunlight for five to seven days to allow any chlorine to dissipate.) Add a large, flat rock so the tadpoles have something to climb on as they develop lungs, and place the container in a shady spot such as under a tree or bush.Feed the tadpoles a pinch of lettuce every day: boil a few leaves until soft, then drain, chop and freeze in an ice cube tray; defrost as needed. Remove any leftover food from the day before. (Decaying food pollutes the water.) Once the tadpoles develop legs (the time it takes depends on the water temperature and time of year), feed them insect larva harvested from atop a stagnant pool of water or dried ant eggs from a pet shop. One night, close to dawn, when the air is moist and the ground is damp, young toads leave their ponds and scatter over the countryside. If you've created conditions attractive to them, perhaps a few toads will make themselves at home in your garden.Related Web SitesFroggy PageImages, sounds, clip art and little known information about frogs and toadswww.frogsonice.com/froggy/Canada's Aquatic Environments: AmphibiaScroll down to Toad Family to learn more about the American, Canadian, Fowler's, Western or Great Plains toadwww.aquatic.uoguelph.ca/amphibians/amphib/Frogs and ToadsHabitat and life cycle, species & identificationwww.naturesound.com/frogs/frogs.htmlFrogs and Toads in Color and Soundwww.naturesound.com/frogs/frogs.htmlFrog and Toad Identificationcmnh.orgToads!Information about toads around the globewww.icomm.ca/dragon/toads.htmFrogs and ToadsStories about frogs and toads written by British childrenweb.ukonline.co.uk/conker/pond-dip/frogs.htm- Credit
- Tina Forrester
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Kids and sunflowers Kids and sunflowers
Kids and sunflowers ofSunflowers 101 Sunflowers exude charisma, whether they stand in relaxed formation in a farmer's field, watch over the tomatoes and cucumbers in a suburban vegetable garden, or guard a porch or patio single-handedly in a terra cotta pot. And who can resist smiling at enthusiastic overachievers towering over a garage roof? Perky symbols of optimism and a cinch to grow, they're a perfect plant for kids to plant.Sunflowers, Helianthus ssp., are appropriately named: they turn their heads to follow the sun on its daily trek. They're North American natives and, like daisies and chrysanthemums, members of the composite family. Sunflower blossoms, which bloom from summer to fall, come in shades of ivory, pale yellow, bright yellow, orange, or red. But the cultivars kids tend to like best are the ones with enormous yellow blooms. One favourite is 'Russian Giant' (H. giganteus, a rapid grower stretching eight- to 12-feet (2.4- to 3.6-metre) tall with massive 10- to 12-inch (25 to 30 centimetre) heads that even Mom and Dad must look up to see. 'Russian Giants' are best planted at the back of a garden, for obvious reasons, or in among shrubs.Feed them generously and the plants may grow even taller and the heads larger. The Guinness World Record for the tallest sunflower, grown in the Netherlands, is 25 feet 5 1/2 inches (7.76 metres). The sunflower with the largest head was grown in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, and measured 32 1/4 inches (82 centimetres) in diameter.If shorter is what you're looking for, 'Sunspot', only 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 centimetres) tall, is a bushy dwarf variety that can be grown in containers as well as the garden. It sports 10-inch (25-centimetre) heads with sunny yellow petals around a golden centre. Also a candidate for container growing is 'Sundance Kid', a multi- branching cultivar with 10-inch (25-centimetre) semi-double flowers in shades of yellow and bronze. 'Sundance Kid' grows 15 to 17 inches (38 to 43 centimetres) tall in containers; 20 to 28 inches (50 to 70 centimetres) in the garden. 'Pacino' is yet another dwarf variety (12 to 16 inches/ 30 to 40 centimetres tall) and has numerous five-inch (13-centimetre) lemon yellow flowers with yellow centres that produce a lovely display. A slightly taller kid-pleaser, 'Teddy Bear' is 24 to 36 inches (60 to 90 centimetres) tall and has large double orange blooms that look somewhat like fluffy pincushionsPlant sunflowers outdoors, after all danger of frost has passed, in a sunny spot with good drainage. Prepare the soil by adding a mixture of manure, peat moss and compost. Sow seeds 1/2 inch (one centimetre) deep, spacing them according to the directions on the packet. Keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate. When the soil temperature is 18 to 28'C (64 to 82'F), seeds sprout in eight to 15 days. If chipmunks or squirrels are digging up the seeds, cover the planted area with nylon bird netting until the seeds germinate. When the second set of leaves appear, feed seedlings 10-52-10 fertilizer once a week for three weeks. Spread mulch around each plant and water regularly. Sunflower roots go deep and spread extensively, so plants can withstand mild drought. Once plants are established, switch to 20-20-20 fertilizer and feed every 10 to 14 days throughout the summer. Loosely tie tall varieties to stakes when they are three feet (90 centimetres) tall and continue to stake them periodically as they grow. When the plants develop a flower, stake them for a final time by loosely tying the last string under the flower head. Most sunflowers mature in 80 to 90 days, although some cultivars such as 'Sunspot' mature in just 60 days. Projects with sunflowers Creating a smiling sunflowerA grinning sunflower is sure to make your friends and neighbors giggle: choose one sunflower when it first opens and your child can dig out the immature seeds where he wants eyes, a nose and a mouth. This works best with sunflowers that have large heads.Growing a sunflower sunroomA private space is an exciting project for your kids to plant and play in. In a sunny spot where the soil drains well, mark off a six- by nine-foot (1.8- by 2.7-metre) rectangle. Clear the area of weeds and turf, then prepare the soil around the perimeter by adding compost or manure. Sow the seeds in a horseshoe shape, following the package directions for the planting depth and spacing for the variety you're using. Plant all mammoths, or alternate a mammoth variety with a dwarf. Stake each plant with a pole, securing every six inches (15 centimetres) with a soft tie. For added interest, sow morning glory seeds among the sunflower seeds. When the sunflower seedlings are large enough, mulch the area heavily to discourage weeds and to make a floor for the sunroom. As the morning glory vines grow, train them around the stems of the sunflowers.Harvesting the seedsIf birds ravage the seeds you were hoping to save for human snacks, cover the flower heads with cheesecloth to protect your crop. Cut the flower heads down when their backs start to turn brown, leaving a foot or two of stem. Hang the heads in a warm, dry, well-ventilated, rodent and insect-free place. Leave the cheesecloth or a paper bag with holes in place over the heads to catch falling seeds. When the heads are completely dry (in about two to three weeks), brush them with your hand and the seeds will fall out easily. Store them in airtight containers in the fridge to eat either raw or roasted.Roasting the seedsCover unshelled seeds with two litres (two quarts) of water and 1/4 cup (60 millilitres) of salt. Bring to a boil and simmer two hours, or soak in the salt solution overnight. Drain and dry on absorbent paper. Bake in a shallow pan at 300'F for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven and coat each cup of seeds with one teaspoon of melted butter or margarine.Related websitesThe Sunflower StopSunflower history and a great gallery of photosjstait.addr.com/sunflowers/The Story of the Sunflower Coloring Booksunflowernsa.com/all-about/default.asp?contentID=61Sunflower Clipartbry-backmanor.org/gardenfun/sunflowersclips.htmlStacie's Sunflower PageCool sunflower triviawww.csua.berkeley.edu/~scowan/Miller's SunflowersPhotos of a field of sunflowers in New Brunswickpersonal.nbnet.nb.ca/millerk/sunflowers.htmPaper Plate SunflowersFor four- to eight-year-olds, a project made from unshelled sunflower seeds, paper plate, paint, construction paper and gluewww.kinderart.com/painting/sunflower.shtml- Credit
- Tina Forrester
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Kids and butterflies Kids and butterflies
Kids and butterflies ofKids and butterflies Kids love butterflies. They enjoy watching them flit from flower to flower and delight in witnessing ugly caterpillars transform into beautiful flying insects. One way to foster this connection between your child and nature is to help him or her plant a butterfly garden. You don't need a lot of space to attract butterflies ' they'll travel out of their way to dine on their favourite plants, even if the garden is confined to a windowbox or planter.As a gardener you may not want to hear this, but if you want lots of adult butterflies in your garden you must put up with their voracious children. Female butterflies fly from plant to plant, landing briefly on leaves to taste them with their feet. When a plant tastes right, they stay long enough to deposit one or more eggs. Butterflies are choosy because their offspring are picky eaters. For example, monarch larvae eat only milkweed leaves, while black swallowtail young limit their menu to members of the carrot family When the eggs hatch, the kids—caterpillars—will be hungry. In Canada, three species of butterfly caterpillars are occasionally pests because the amount of eating they do may cause damage: mourning cloaks, which feed on the leaves of willows, poplars, birches and elms; cabbage butterflies, which damage cabbages and related crops; and orange sulphurs (a.k.a. alfalfa butterflies), which chomp on members of the pea family. One way to cope is to plant caterpillar hosts in out-of-the-way spots, so the damage is less noticeable.Some caterpillar hosts may already grow in your yard or neighbourhood. For instance, birches and willows attract eastern tiger swallowtails; and dogwoods and viburnums lure in spring azures. Other hosts are easy to grow, like butterfly weed, one of the milkweeds munched by monarchs, and parsley and dill, in the carrot family, which is nibbled by black swallowtails.Adult butterflies need to eat, too, but they feed on nectar-rich flowers and don't chew leaves. They have food preferences as well: checkered skippers enjoy sipping the nectar of mallows and hollyhocks; pearl crescents prefer asters; cosmopolitan silver-spotted skippers enjoy zinnias, honeysuckle, butterfly weed and joe-pyeweed; and painted ladies visit thistles, asters, cosmos, milkweed, red clover and privet.Butterfly garden tipsPlant your butterfly garden in a sunny spot protected from the wind. If you place a couple of large flat stones where the sun's rays can heat them, you'll see them sun themselves on cool summer mornings. Male butterflies appreciate a nearby saucer of wet sand or dirt from which they can sip salts and minerals.In the fall, don't tidy up too much; butterflies hibernate as eggs, caterpillars, chrysalises or adults and need a place to hide. If the only space you have is a windowbox or planter, plant one variety ' not a mixture of plants. Butterflies are attracted by displays of single species.And don't use chemical pesticides or you'll do your guests in along with the pests.Related websitesButterfly Butterflies North and SouthClick on 'identify' to find galleries of butterfly photos for Ontario, Nova Scotia/New Brunswick, Quebec and Albertasusan.chin.gc.caButterfly GalleryClick on each photo to get a better view.www.images.on.ca/JayCMonarch WatchThe University of Kansas Department of Entomology and the University of Minnesota Department of Ecologywww.MonarchWatch.org- Credit
- Tina Forrester
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Kids and African Violets Kids and African Violets
Kids and African Violets ofAfrican Violets 101 Cloning is a hot topic these days, but growers of African violets have been doing it for years. You and your child can, too. It's easy to propagate tiny plantlets with leaves and flowers exactly like the mother plant, and with the right light, temperature, and fertilizer, they'll grow into beautiful houseplants that bloom most of the year.African violets (Saintpaulia ionantha) are the most popular houseplants in Canada. They were first discovered in West Africa in 1892 by Baron Von St. Paul of Germany, and by the late 1920s breeders had developed a few hybrids. Now flowers come in a variety of colours-purple, pink, white,blue, burgundy and bicolours-on plants with plain or scalloped, green or variegated leaves. Since not many types grow true from seed, the best way to get more plants is to root a leaf cutting. Roots develop from the petiole, the area where the stem meets the base of the leaf.You'll need a clean plastic or ceramic flowerpot with drainage holes. If you're using a recycled flowerpot, help your youngster make a solution of 9 parts water and 1 part chlorine bleach. Soak the pot in it for a few minutes to kill fungi or bacteria that could infect the plant, and rinse thoroughly. Disinfect a sharp knife in the same manner. Pack the flowerpot with dry vermiculite, then place the pot in a saucer of lukewarm water for half an hour to thoroughly moisten.Select a robust, healthy leaf from the middle row on the mother plant, and have your child break it off leaving most of the stem attached. If you're using a friend's or relative's plant, gently wrap the cutting in a damp paper towel until you can replant it. Lay the leaf on a work surface and, if your child is old enough, allow him to make a slanting cut through the petiole about 1 or 2 centimetres below the base of the leaf. Insert the leaf at an angle in the vermiculite with most of the leaf exposed. Use a toothpick to hold the leaf up a bit. Don't use rooting hormone because it may delay shoot development. Have your child cover the cutting with a glass jar or a tent of plastic film to keep humidity high, then place the cutting in a bright place away from direct sunlight - a north-facing window is ideal.In two or three weeks, the leaf cutting will lift itself away from the toothpick, a signal that plantlets are beginning to form. Some varieties send up babies in a big hurry; others take a little longer. About 4 to 6 weeks after planting the cutting, you should have a healthy clump of as many as 8 plantlets, which your child can carefully divide and repot in 2 1/2-inch flowerpots, one per pot. Fill each pot with standard African violet planting mix, dig a hole for the plantlet's roots and place a teaspoon of damp vermiculite at the bottom. Avoid handling the fragile roots and replant the baby violets with the crowns just above the surface of the soil. African Violet care Water plants from the bottom with a mild solution (1/4 teaspoon per 4 litres) of African violet fertilizer. Keep the soil moist but not soggy using room temperature water that hasn't been through a softener. African violets like humidity and one way to create moisture is to set the plant on a saucer filled with gravel and water, making sure the water level is below the base of the pot.You can also create a wick system that lets the African violet to take up water as it's required. You'll need a recycled half-pound butter container with a lid and a length of pantyhose or synthetic yarn. Poke a hole in the lid and pull a one-centimetre wide strip of pantyhose or yarn through the hole. The wick needs to extend from the hole in the bottom of the flowerpot to the reservoir of water-the plastic container. Salts often build up in the potting mix when plants are watered this way. Once a month leach the salts away from the root system by watering from the top. Don't pour water over the plant's crown because this might cause it to rot.African violets thrive at temperatures between 18 and 24 degrees C (65 and 75 degrees F). In winter, keep them away from windowpanes where temperatures can dip below 15 degrees C (59 degrees F). Most of the year, African violets prefer indirect sunlight such as from a window facing north or northeast, but in winter they enjoy southern light. Too much sun cause leaves to yellow and the edges burn; too little light and the foliage is a beautiful dark green, but flowers are few. Encourage your child to turn the pot a quarter turn every couple of days to help it grow evenly. To keep new plants looking tiptop and promote more blooms, pick off old blossoms and remove up to 3 leaves per month from the bottom row.Related Web SitesAfrican Violet Society of Canada canadianwww.avsa.caFrequently Asked Questions about African Violetswww.avsc.ca/faqs.htmCaring for African Violetswww.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/Horticulture/g182.htmGet Growing Gardening Tips: African Violets canadianwww.devonian.ualberta.ca/getgro42.htmlAfrican Violet Problemshgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC2250.htm- Credit
- Tina Forrester
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Kids and sweet potatoes Kids and sweet potatoes
Kids and sweet potatoes ofKids and sweet potatoes Growing a lovely houseplant from a common sweet potato straight from the grocery cart is just as much fun for kids today as it was in Grandma's time. If you help your children sprout one, you can share in their delight as purplish-green leaves emerge from the top of a vegetable you usually boil and mash, or candy in butter and brown sugar. And, if you're lucky, your child's plant may produce some lilac-coloured blossoms.The stubby vegetable is actually the storage root of Ipomoea batatas - the botanical name for the white or yellow sweet potato and the orange yam. Sweet potatoes are tropical American members of the morning glory family. Outside, they grow best where summers are fairly long and warm. Inside, they were once common houseplants grown on kitchen windowsills, the beautiful vines trained up and around window frames.To help your kids grow their own vine, choose a firm sweet potato. Some are treated with heat to keep them from sprouting on grocery-store shelves, but most grow roots in a matter of days after being placed in water. Using four toothpicks, have your child suspend the vegetable on the rim of a jar or mug filled with water. Make sure the bottom half - the pointed end - is under water. Place in a sunny spot, and change or add water as needed. In a few days, roots will form below the water. And, two to three weeks later, leaves and stems will sprout from the top. Continue to grow the plant in water or, after a month or two, pot the sweet potato in a houseplant potting mix. Keep the soil moist. The stems are weak, so help your child tie them to strings, wire or a stake. Feed once a month with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer such as 20-20-20. As the vine grows, cut it back a few inches to force the plant to grow bushy.If your kids want to try growing sweet potatoes in your garden, you can have them root 25- to 30-centimetre (10- to 12-inch) cuttings in water, then plant them outside in late May to produce sweet potatoes they can dig and eat in the fall. Plant 30 centimetres (one foot) apart and feed once a month with 5-10-10 fertilizer. Mulch with straw or dry leaves to control weeds, and keep the soil moist. The tubers need approximately 120 days to mature, so let them grow as long as you can. But don't let frost hit them. In case of an early frost, cover the plant overnight with newspaper to keep the vines growing. Late in the season, probe beneath the vines to test the size of the tubers. Be careful not to puncture or bruise them. Store the tubers in a cool, dry place, and wrap them in newspaper to keep them from sprouting.Some varieties of sweet potato vines are so attractive, they're sold as ornamental foliage plants at garden centres. They're striking in window boxes and containers, and also make great groundcovers. Some even produce edible tubers. Pinched-off tips can be rooted in water and the tubers can be saved till late winter or early spring to sprout in water just like their grocery-store cousinsIpomoea batatas 'Blacky'. Dramatic dark purple foliage with large lobed leaves. Ipomoea batatas 'Marguarita'. Heart-shaped, chartreuse foliage.Ipomoea batatas 'Tricolor'. Striking pink, white, and green leaves.Related Web SitesClose-up view of Ipomoea batatas 'Blacky' (ornamental sweet potato vine), a groundcover with dark purple-black foliage, lavender flowers, and edible tubers.http://www.pbs.org/perennialgardener/blacky.htmlClose-up view of Ipomoea batatas 'Marguarita' (ornamental sweet potato vine), a rapid-spreading groundcover, large brilliant chartreuse leaves and lavender blooms.http://www.pbs.org/perennialgardener/potato.htmlThis site explains the differences between sweet potatoes and true yams, and includes recipes for Candied Yams and Sweet Potato Pecan Pie. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/vegetables/sweetpotato.html- Credit
- Tina Forrester
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