Why does my pizza taste so good?  Home grown herbs – fresh pizza seasonings!  Don’t forget to grow those incredible herbs with your children or grandchildren in a fun way that can be used not only this summer, but throughout the year.  Introducing how to create the containers and then grow, harvest and preserve basil, parsley and oregano.  

Pizza is one of the favorite foods of children and adults alike.  What can be better than to help your children or grandchildren grow their own seasonings for their pizza?  Basil, parsley and oregano can be started inside or outside and can be directly sown or grown from seed or a plant starter from a store.  

Supplies Needed:

(3) terra cotta pots/saucers (4” or smaller)

Small bag of potting soil

Oregano, Basil, Parsley Seeds or Plants

Plant Markers (purchased or create from craft sticks)

Optional: acrylic paint, brushes

Preparing the containers for planting:

• Choose three 4” clay terra cotta pots and saucers.  

• Find colorful acrylic paints, small paint brushes and a cup of water for rinsing brushes. 

• Painting the clay pots is optional, but it is a fun activity for kids/adults to be creative and decorate each herb container - it also adds a pop of color.

• The herb names (Basil, Oregano and Parsley) can also be painted onto the terra cotta pots.  (Purchased labels can be used or simple labels can be created with craft sticks as well.)

• Paint or Decorate containers & labels as desired - let dry before planting (for the younger painters - use an old large t-shirt as a paint smock and cover surfaces)

How to turn herb seeds/plant starters into pizza seasonings?

• Fill (3) terra cotta pots with potting soil - moisten with water and you are ready to plant

• Plant herb seeds (each herb in one container separately) as directed on package OR

• Plant herb starter plants into the terra cotta pots.  Make a hole or opening in the soil and place the starter into the opening.  Press soil around the starter plant.

• Mist the soil or water as needed (terra cotta pots can dry out quickly so monitor the moisture needed).

• Place containers in a sunny location outside or place in a bright window sill or under grow lights.  6 to 8 hours of sunlight is needed per day (8-12 hours if growing inside under a grow light)

• Monitor daily - keep seeds moist, but not too wet and monitor for germination

• Be patient and watch for signs of growth

• Once herbs are growing they may be pinched back so that they do not become leggy - harvesting can also help in keeping the plant happy and healthy 

  
  

Continue to harvest the herbs and use fresh on pizza - “Home Grown Herbs” - Yummy!  (Herbs can also be dried and/or frozen (ex. - basil can be turned into a pesto and frozen) and can be used throughout the year.) 

Photo Credits:

Photo 1, pearlspowder.blogspot.com (all creative commons)

Photo 2, www.desperategardener.com (all creative commons)

Photo 3, www.theidearoom.net (all creative commons)

Photo 4, www.pxfuel.com (all creative commons)