Grow a salad to get kids interested in gardening

Q. I baby-sit my grandkids often. I love gardening so much that my children nicknamed me Greenthumb. Do you have any ideas for a fun planting project that would take us outdoors now?

- Ruth W.

A. Yes. Think green and grow a salad!

I am thinking of a simple project that should give you fun, food, and outdoor activity. It is a perfect hands on adventure for showing kids the joy of planting and being outside. The best part is that you can begin right now. All you need is a container, seeds and potting mix.

Let's grow some lettuce!

• Find a container.

Start by choosing a good-sized container that is about 6 inches or more in depth. Choose a container that all of you like. You can choose from plastic, resin, terra cotta, glazed clay, wood or metal. Be sure it has a hole for drainage. Drill one if you need to. The first time I planted lettuces, I used my grandmother's old laundry cart and lined it with burlap. It was on wheels and measured 2 ½ feet long and 1 ½ feet wide and was 3 feet off the ground. I had a very successful crop.

• Buy some seeds.

Plan a visit to your favorite garden center. Take everyone who is participating, so that all are involved with the selection. Since it is your first time growing lettuce, choose mesclun or baby greens. I suggest this because they are easy to grow and possess beautiful colors, textures and flavors. Lettuce is very hardy and considered a cool season vegetable. That means it can be planted four to six weeks before the average frost-free date, which is April 25 in our area.

• Buy a bag of potting mix.

Buy enough to fill your container. Soil from your yard will not do in container gardening, unless you add amendments like peat, sand and other organic materials. Let's keep it simple. Get potting mix.

Now, you are ready to plant

• Choose your site.

It could be outside the kitchen door, by the driveway, in a window box or on the balcony. Just pick a place that gives you the most sun.

• Fill your container with potting mix.

Leave an inch or two at the top. Wet the mix with water. Toss so the water moistens all the mix well. This gives a great start to your seeds.

• Tear open your seeds.

Pour some in everyone's hand. Sprinkle the seeds evenly over the soil. Add a dusting of soil to cover the seeds. Water them gently, but thoroughly. You want your mix to hold the water and be moist. Have everyone stick their finger in the watered soil so they know what is right. Do not over water. Water again when the soil is dry. Little seedlings will emerge in five to 10 days.

Your lettuce will be ready in roughly 21-45 days. Cut the leaves when they are large enough to use and, as you need them. Wash them gently in water and dry them on a paper towel.

Enjoy your salad with your grandchildren!

Here are a few more facts to share with the kids as you are doing the project.

You can grow kale, escarole, collards and chard with the method described.

Radishes will grow this way. Shortly after they sprout, you can cut them and use them on top of your salad as a spicy garnish.

No other supplemental fertilizer is needed, when using potting soil in your container.

You can grow lettuce all year long inside. You just need a sunny windowsill or grow lights.

It is best to water thoroughly and less frequently.

One last thing: I suggest using a simple salad dressing on your leaves. Here's one I use. It allows you to taste and appreciate the precious leaves that you have grown.

Mash one garlic clove (optional)

3 tablespoons virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

Salt and pepper

Bit of sugar

Put ingredients together in a covered container. Shake it up. Drizzle on your salad to your taste. Toss the leaves and dressing together to coat the leaves. Serve your salad and dressing at room temperature.

Ruth W. please let me know how you do with your salad.

- Holly Schmidt

Q. Last year several of my perennials failed to bloom with their usual vigor, and someone suggested I consider dividing them. When and how should I do this?

A. If you noticed that the flowers on your perennials were smaller, or the center of the plants died out, or the plants became too big for the space in your garden, you probably need to divide them. Once your summer and fall-blooming perennials have sprouted and grown 4 to 6 inches tall, they can be divided. However, it is best to wait until late summer or very early fall to divide fleshly rooted perennials such as iris, poppy, or peony.

To save yourself some effort, you can water the perennial one or two days before you dig. This will soften the soil and make the task a little easier. Begin by using a sharp spade to dig around the plant so that you are able to lift the entire clump out of the ground. Next, use the spade or a sharp knife to break the clump into sections. Sections should be quart or gallon sized. If any roots look damaged, trim them away.

Keep each section moist and away from sun until you are ready to replant. Monitor the new plantings to keep them from drying out.

You will find that dividing perennials provides you with more plants of the same variety. If you have more plants than you need, trade or give to family, friends and neighbors.

- Mary Moisand

• Provided by Master gardeners through the Master Gardener Answer Desk, Friendship Park Conservatory, Des Plaines. Call (847) 298-3502 or email northcookmg@gmail.com.