Get kids into the garden and greenhouse

Garden and greenhouse enthusiasts have been given a number of tips on how to get kids interested in horticulture.

Wicked Local published expert Karen Gentrys advice on encouraging children to get their hands dirty and develop their green fingers.

She suggested that allowing youngsters to choose what they grow will keep them focussed and motivated and that giving them their own garden or greenhouse space will cultivate a sense of pride in what they do.

Kids will often enjoy growing plants such as cherry tomatoes, pumpkins, sunflowers, cucumbers and colourful varieties of Swiss chard, Ms Gentry explained.

She added that plants that grow quickly are likely to be very popular with impatient offspring, while themed gardens can also keep them interested.

The expert advised growers to try a "pizza garden with oregano, basil, cherry tomatoes, peppers and chives, with yellow marigolds to represent cheese".

In other news, the Southern Tampa News & Tribune has revealed how a group of community gardeners celebrated their first anniversary of working together recently.