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Getting the Right Tools for Penjing

Before you can start creating penjing, you’ll need to collect the right set of tools for the job. There are many tools that you can use while you make your penjing displays, and this chapter will show you a few of the most important ones.

Small Hand Pruners

A small set of hand pruners is one of the most important tools you can have when creating penjing. As mentioned in earlier chapters, penjing involves the careful shaping and pruning of small trees and other plants. A sharp and sterile set of pruners is the best tool for that essential job.

Scissors

If you cannot access a set of hand pruners, the next-best option is a pair of scissors. Scissors can act in the same way as pruners to remove twigs and branches from your penjing plants. If you choose to use scissors, be sure to go with a pair that is sharp enough to make clean cuts to avoid harming your plant.

Root Rakes and Hooks

Anytime that you plant a tree or grow a tree in a container, such as in penjing, you may face the issue of root binding. Root binding occurs when your plant’s roots run out of growing space and begin to form large tangled root masses. These root masses are not beneficial to your plant’s health and should be managed right away. One of the best ways to fix root binding is to use a small root rake or a root hook. Both of those tools will allow you to gently tease your bound roots to ensure they can spread outward and absorb water and nutrients from the soil as much as they need.

Wire and Wire Cutters

Wires are a useful tool any time you want to train a plant into a specific form, such as is popular in penjing design. You can use wires to tie your plant’s stems in certain directions until the plant is able to hold that desired form on its own. To use wires, you’ll also need reliable wire cutters, which will make it much easier to cut and bend your wires, which you can then use to support and train your plants.

Earthenware Pot

The elements of your penjing display will need a place to live, and an earthenware pot is the ideal setting for that to take place. Earthenware is a special type of pottery, sometimes called terracotta, which is the go-to container material for a traditional penjing display.

Wound Sealant

While you train your penjing plants, you’ll likely need to make many pruning cuts. While these cuts are crucial for your design, each one is technically a small wound to your plant. In normal settings, these wounds are minor enough to heal on their own. However, training penjing plants often involves many cuts, to the point where your plant could be more vulnerable to disease and injury. As such, wound sealant is a vital part of your penjing tool kit. Wound sealant acts as you would expect based on its name. It seals the cuts made from pruning and keeps your plant healthy and safe while it heals those cuts.

Rock Carving Tools

In many penjing displays, rocks are as important as any other element. The stones used in penjing also tend to have special forms that require carving. To perform this carving, you’ll need a set of rock carving tools. These tools will allow you to make the shapes you desire out of your stones and let you achieve the overall appearance you’re striving for with your penjing.

Getting Started with Penjing

Now that you have learned about the basics of penjing and the different styles that exist within the art, you’re likely wondering what it takes to get started with penjing. This chapter will introduce you to a few of the best ways to begin creating your own penjing designs.

Find a Penjing Teacher

As is true for any art form or activity, it’s often best to learn from someone who already has experience. Finding a knowledgeable teacher is one of the best ways to get acquainted with the practice of penjing.

Depending on where you live, it may be difficult to find a penjing instructor. However, if you can find a qualified instructor, you’ll likely have an advantage over those who choose to learn penjing via some other means.

Penjing teachers may specialize in a single penjing style, or they may have a general knowledge of the art. Be sure that you understand your teacher’s area of expertise and how it matches your personal penjing goals before you begin learning.

Watch Videos about Penjing

Finding a teacher may be the most reliable way to learn penjing, but it is not something that everyone can do. Fortunately, there are many online resources that can help in your penjing journey.

Watching instructional penjing videos on the internet can be surprisingly effective when you are just getting started. While you won’t get the personalized attention of a real-life penjing teacher, the plethora of videos online gives you the opportunity to learn from many different people about whatever penjing topic you like.

Join a Penjing Club

The final way that we recommend you get started with penjing is to join a penjing club. A penjing club will offer you many benefits, including the chance to engage with an entire penjing community.

A penjing club may include members of all experience levels. Sharing ideas with different penjing artists will expose you to new ideas and give you many opportunities to practice your art. Joining a penjing club will also give you more chances to enjoy the fantastic penjing creations that others make, which may inspire your own work in return.

Shuihan Style Penjing

The third of the three main penjing styles is called shuihan penjing. Shuihan penjing stands out from other forms of penjing in a few ways and may be the most difficult and intricate of all styles. Read on to learn more.

Shuihan Penjing Depicts Landscapes

The defining characteristic of shuihan penjing is that this style depicts entire landscapes in miniature form. Other penjing styles often focus on a single plant or a small landscape scene. By contrast, shuihan displays show larger landscapes in great detail.

Shuihan Penjing Uses Trees, Rocks, and Water

The basic elements you’ll find in shuihan penjing are similar to those found in other styles. Shuihan penjing uses miniature trees, rocks, and water as its main elements. Shuihan penjing artists arrange these elements to represent large naturalistic areas. Along with those essential elements, shuihan penjing may also incorporate other smaller elements to increase the level of realism and detail of the display.

Shuihan Penjing Can Include Figurines

Figurines are often included in shuihan penjing to give the display a greater sense of realism and a specific character. These figurines may depict people, animals, buildings, or other structures. The presence of these figurines is another way that shuihan penjing separates itself from other styles. Those figurines also give the artist a greater ability to tell specific stories through their penjing art.

Shuihan Penjing Can Represent Abstract Narratives

The final defining feature of shuihan penjing is that it can be a way of telling specific stories or abstract narratives. Throughout the history of penjing, art has held a strong connection with spiritual practices such as Daoism. As such, penjing became a way of representing ideas and beliefs associated with those spiritual practices. While shuihan penjing can tell many different narratives, it often represents concepts such as the balance between opposing forces, similar to the yin-yang concept.

Creating Penjing in 7 Simple Steps

While making penjing is a detailed process that takes a lot of time, attention, and effort, this task can be simplified too. In this chapter, we’ll break down the penjing creation process into seven easy-to-follow steps.

Acquire the Supplies You Need

Before you start your design, you should make sure that you have all of the supplies you need to be successful. Those supplies will not only include the many tools that will facilitate your design but also the plants, stones, and other items you’ll include in your display.

Begin Shaping Your Tree

The intricate and sometimes wild shapes of miniature plants are one of the most important aspects of penjing. As such, you’ll need to begin shaping and training your trees right away. At times, this means pruning and trimming your plant before you have even planted it. Prior to planting, you’ll have a chance to start training the branches and roots of your tree to ensure you have complete control over how it develops from then on.

Carve Your Penjing Stones

Shaping your plants is crucial to your penjing design, and so is carving your stones. Again, stone carving is something that is best done before you place your stones into the display. Carving your stones in advance gives you greater control over their appearances and will give you a better idea of how to best use them in your display.

Cement Your Rocks in Place

Once your stones are carved, it’s best to cement them into place in your penjing design. Stones often account for the main structure of a penjing display, which is why they should not have the chance to shift over time. A quick application of cement will keep your stones steady and still while you create the rest of your design.

Plant Your Tree

Now that your stones are set, it’s time to plant your tree. As always, your plants will perform best when they can spread their roots through a healthy soil mix. Be careful when planting to ensure that you choose the best location for your main plants so that they can give off the overall visual effect you desire for your penjing.

Arrange Stones and Moss

With the main plants and stones in place, it’s time to adorn your penjing display with additional details. At this stage, you can add smaller plants and stones to embellish the main features of your design. Many penjing artists rely on mosses to add greenery and soften the look of their stones. Depending on your penjing style, you may choose to include water or small figurines as well.

Care for, Train, and Shape Your Tree

The final step toward creating penjing is an ongoing one. After you have arranged and placed all the elements of your design, it is time to care for them. Since penjing is so detailed, caring for penjing plants is a very involved process. You’ll need to continually train and shape your trees so that they continue to hold the forms you’ve made. Proper plant care also ensures that your display remains healthy and vibrant for as long as possible.

The 17 Best Vegetables to Grow for Following the Mediterranean Diet

The 17 Best Vegetables To Grow for Following the Mediterranean Diet

Are you in love with Mediterranean cuisine? Do you wish you could fill up on baba ganoush and tabbouleh every day? Chefs agree—the secret to incredible Mediterranean food is using fresh ingredients.

The good news is you don’t need to call Italy home to eat as if you live there. If your growing zone can support a tomato, then there are plenty of ingredients for Mediterannean food you can grow at home. Having easy access to fresh herbs, eggplant, tomatoes, and more will make it possible for you to make dinners that comply with the Mediterranean diet.

If you’re serious about eating like you’re in the Italian countryside, here are 17 vegetables to add to your gardening plan this year. Each is used in a variety of Mediterranean cooking and ensures you’ll have plenty of options for cooking nutritious, delicious cuisine at home.

Sweet basil

Sweet basil is a species of mint plant native to Asia and Africa. It is a popular houseplant, and thrives when it receives plenty of regular sun and water. This plant is also easy to transfer from one soil environment to another. The edible Sweet basil leaves can be eaten fresh or dried with pizza, salads, soups, teas, and many other dishes.

Oregano

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a herbaceous perennial plant closely related to marjoram. Ancient Greeks and Romans considered it a symbol of happiness. It is one of the most popular spice herbs, used in various cuisines all over the world. Oregano oil can be derived from the plant as well. Unfortunately, legal action has been required to stop suppliers of the oil from falsely claiming unproven health benefits.

Tomato

Tomato is an annual or perennial herbaceous vine native to Central and South America that produces a large, juicy, edible fruit known as Tomato. Today there are over 10000 cultivated varieties. Although tomato is the world’s most popular vegetable, botanically it is a fruit.

Peppers

The Peppers is a plant that produces bright red pepper vegetables. This chili pepper is commonly used for cooking in places such as the Southern U.S. and Central America. Most are moderately spicy, though because there are so many variants, the spice level can vary dramatically. Cayenne powder is also a popular seasoning product made from Peppers plants.

Eggplant

Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is a plant species related to nightshade and native to India. Eggplant is grown worldwide for its edible purple fruit. The spongey and absorbent fruit is a staple in Eastern cuisines. This plant is known as “brinjal” in South Africa and Asia, while Britains call it “aubergine”.

Chinese white olive

Despite the name, the Chinese white olive is not related to Olive at all. The name of this evergreen tree comes from its olive-like fruit, with edible pulp and seeds. The tree is regularly cultivated in East Asia and the pulp and the seeds are sold in food markets. The fruit can be preserved like a common olive, but it can be also eaten fresh. The seeds are used for manufacturing culinary oil.

Cucumbers

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a creeping vine native to South Asia. It has a long history of cultivation – mentions of its use are found in various ancient scripts, including the Bible, Epic of Gilgamesh and Pliny the Elder’s “Natural History“. Today, Cucumber is one of the most widely cultivated vegetable species in the world.

Common fig

Common fig, colloquially known as the Common fig, is a deciduous small tree or shrub widely known for its sweet, chewy fruits. This shrubby plant has a very, very long cultivation history. The earliest evidence of its cultivation was found in the Jordan Valley and go all the way back to the tenth millennium BC.

Wine grape

Wine grape (Vitis vinifera) is a woody, fruit-bearing vine with a very long and vivid history of cultivation for culinary, recreational, and ritualistic purposes – most notably in winemaking. The earliest known evidence of domesticated wine grapes has been identified in Georgia, and carbon dating traces its domestic origins all the way back to 6000 BC. In addition to wine, the fruit of the Wine grape is eaten in the form of grapes, raisins, and currants.

Globe artichoke

Globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus) is a popular vegetable that has been cultivated for thousands of years in the Mediterranean region. Its blossoms are harvested before blooming, at which time they will bloom with hundreds of purple tendrils. The Globe artichoke’s flowers are nutritious when cooked, and are found in many Italian dishes as well as teas.

Garden asparagus

Garden asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a flowering plant species that undergoes photosynthesis in its stems and branchlets. Garden asparagus has a long history of cultivation for culinary and agricultural purposes. The ancient Greeks first cultivated this plant 2,500 years ago.

Beet

The Beet (Beta vulgaris) provides a variety of uses for food products and garden growth. The roots are commonly consumed as nutrient-rich vegetables, the body of the sugar beet is used to make table sugar, and the leaves are harvested as a separate vegetable: chard. In 18th-Century Silesia, an area that is now part of Poland, the first-ever beet sugar extraction plant was created by a royal decree from the king.

Coriander

Coriander is well-known in many countries and is most commonly used for cooking. The dried seeds of the Coriander plant are ground and used to season dishes, while the leaves and stems can be eaten cooked or raw. In the United States, the leaves and stems of this plant are called cilantro.

Garlic

Garlic (Allium sativum) is an extremely popular garden plant because of its use for flavoring dishes, as well as its ease of care and growth. It is traditionally planted in autumn and harvested in mid-summer. This plant is also called the stinking rose, and it is useful as an insect repellent in gardens. Garlic is important to Korean creation myths, and is believed to ward off vampires and other spirits in European folklore.

Onion

Onion (Allium cepa) is an onion species commonly known for its ubiquitous culinary applications. The Onion is toxic to a variety of animals. Aside from its many culinary uses, the Onion is often used to teach students how to use a microscope because its cells are very large and easy to visualize.

Apricot

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) is a fruit-bearing plant species native to Asia. Although the genus name, “Prunus,” means plum, the fruits of this tree are actually apricots. The seeds are occasionally used as substitutes for almonds because they share a similar shape and nutty taste. The Apricot has been cultivated by humans for centuries, and was even discovered in the remains of ancient Armenian settlements.

Chick Pea

Chick Pea (Cicer arietinum) is an annual, bushy plant widely grown for its nutritious seeds, also called chickpeas. They are high in protein and fiber. They contain iron, phosphorus and folic acid. The plant blooms in summer and seeds ripen about four months after planting.

Looking to Lose Weight? Nine Fruits and Vegetables to Grow In Your Garden

Looking to Lose Weight? Nine Fruits and Vegetables To Grow In Your Garden

Are you looking to lose weight? Eating a healthier diet should be a top priority. This means filling your plate with a variety of fruits and vegetables. They will provide you with an abundance of nutrients with enough fiber to keep you satiated between meals.

While it’s possible to buy fresh produce at the grocery store, you’ll likely save money and lower your risk of giving into unhealthy cravings by growing food at home instead. This ensures that nutritious produce is easily accessible and ready to serve as inspiration for cooking healthy meals.

These nine fruits and vegetables are great options to add to your healthy eating plan. They’re easy to grow at home, full of nutritional benefits, and versatile enough to prepare in a variety of ways. Add them to your garden plan, and they’ll make it easier to eat well and start losing weight.

Common bean

Common bean is one of the most widely produced cash crops in the world, with 23.6 million tons grown in 2016. China is the largest producer of the Common bean, accounting for 79% of the market share. While the Common bean is known as a staple food source, the leaves can be used to trap bedbugs and the beans are widely used in a type of fortune-telling called “favomancy”.

Common blackberry

Common blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) is a deciduous shrub endemic to North America. This wild plant is commonly found on clearings and woodland margins. Its fruit is edible and has a sweet, mildly spicy taste. The fruits are most commonly eaten raw, but they can also be cooked or dried.

Broccoli

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) is a nutritious, cool-weather crop in the cabbage family grown extensively worldwide, both commercially and in home gardens. It is eaten as a nutritious vegetable, raw or cooked, and is frequently added to salads, casseroles, or vegetable platters. Its name comes from a similar Italian word that means “the flowering crest of a cabbage.”

Ginger

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is an edible, herbaceous perennial species native to Southest Asia. The root is used commonly throughout the world as a spice and flavoring. This species is related to turmeric and cardamom. Ginger has been cultivated for centuries; it was used in ancient Greece and Rome and was important to the historical spice trade.

Watermelon

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a flowering plant with a vine-like appearance native to Western Africa. Watermelon bears fruit that are widely cultivated and consumed across the world. Watermelon grow in tropical and temperate climates and requires warmth to grow. There are 1000 varieties around the world.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) has been a common cool-season vegetable since Greek and Roman times. The large head is usually white, but purple, green, and orange cultivars are available. Cauliflower is a valuable source of vitamins B, C, and K. It is a popular alternative to rice and potatoes in low-carbohydrate diets.

Field pumpkin

Field pumpkin are most commonly seen as decorations throughout the autumn and during the Halloween holiday, when they are carved and used as traditional jack-o’-lanterns. While the taste of Field pumpkin flesh may not be ideal, eating the seeds after toasting them with a bit of salt can be a delicious treat!

Cabbage

A member of the brassica family, Cabbage grows well in cool weather and full sun. It can be eaten raw, shredded in salads, or in soup, and is fermented to make sauerkraut.

Garden lettuce

Garden lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is a hardy annual plant commonly cultivated as a leafy vegetable. The earliest evidence of its cultivation goes all the way back to Ancient Egypt. Its leaves are often used for making salads and they are an excellent source of vitamins K and A.

Ten Vegetables to Grow at Home for Winter Storage

There’s no better feeling than eating out of the garden all summer long. However, with a little planning beforehand, you can extend the benefits far into the winter as well.

Many vegetables are durable enough to stay fresh for months after harvesting, and others are easy to can, freeze, and otherwise preserve. Not only will extending their shelf life help you reduce waste, but it guarantees that you have an abundance of healthy produce accessible long after the garden has given up for the season.

Which vegetables make sense for winter storage? Some will last far longer than others. This article shares details about ten vegetables you can grow in the garden and store through the winter months. Whether you choose to grow just one or almost all of them, they make it easier to maintain a healthy diet long after the gardening season is over.

Paradise apple

Paradise apple is the most widely cultivated tree fruit around the globe. The three top apple-producing countries are China, the United States, and Poland with an economic impact of $3.55 billion in 2017. There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples throughout the world.

Common pear

The Common pear is a tree whose fruit is widely popular and grown all over the world. One way this fruit is unique is that it contains hard particles (called stone cells) within in its flesh that provides a gritty feel when eating. Common pear, when properly cared for, can have a life span of 50-75 years.

Carrot

Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) is the domestic version of its wild relative. This ubiquitous vegetable is closely related to parsley, fennel, and dill. The orange root can be eaten cooked or raw. The Carrot is self-fertile and is pollinated by flies and beetles, who use its flowers as a food source.

Potato

The Potato is native to North America and in the United States. Potato products are the second most consumed food. This starchy tuber is a staple in diets around the world and is considered the fourth most important worldwide crop.

Beet

Onion

Garlic

Welsh onion

Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum) is cultivated for its onion-flavored leaves, which are used like scallions. Originally from Asia, it was brought to Europe in the 17th century and has now naturalized in various parts of North America, including Canada, Alaska and areas of the northern United States.

Crookneck squash

Crookneck squash (Cucurbita moschata) is a plant species also known as Pennsylvania Dutch Crookneck Squash. This species is considered easy to grow in winter. Crookneck squash is edible, sweet, flavorful and used for soups, stews, and pies. It will keep well if stored properly.

Spinach

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is an edible plant species that is often considered a ‘superfood’ due to its high content of vitamins, folate, fiber, iron, magnesium, and other nutrients. Spinach is grown in gardens around the world and provides an important food source.

Ten Nutrient-Packed Vegetables You Can Easily Grow in Your Home Garden

Few diseases fill people with more fear today than cancer. While numerous factors are involved in your overall risk of developing cancer, eating a healthy diet is one way to reduce yours. That consists of filling your plate with various fruits and vegetables with diverse nutritional profiles.

For the overachievers, it’s even better to grow these cancer-fighting vegetables yourself. Not only does doing so ensure you will have easy access to them as soon as you want to start cooking, but it guarantees you get some exercise throughout the growing season—another proven way to lower your cancer risk.

Not all fruits and vegetables are created equal. Some have more cancer-fighting compounds than others. Here’s a guide for ten stellar options of produce to grow at home to ensure your diet is giving your body the best chance possible at both preventing and beating cancer.

(Notice: The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.)

Arugula

Arugula (Eruca vesicaria) is an annual cool-season vegetable with peppery-tasting leaves. It will grow from 12 to 18 inches tall. It is often eaten in salads. The flowers and seeds are also edible. It prefers full sun to partial shade and tolerates wet soil and light frosts.

Broccoli

Brussels sprouts

Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera) are grown in cool-weather vegetable gardens to harvest their miniature cabbage-like buds. It’s thought the common name comes from this vegetable’s popularity in Brussels, Belgium, which dates back at least to the 1300s.

Horseradish

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) is a perennial plant in the same family as mustard and cabbage; like its family members, it is widely cultivated for culinary purposes. The large white root of the Horseradish has a distinctive spicy aroma and flavor and is used as a condiment in many dishes.

Carrot

Common turmeric

Common turmeric is a member of the ginger family, and the roots of this plant are often used as cooking for a seasoning agent. They can be used fresh or ground after boiling and drying. The distinctive orange color of the ground-up root is an identifying trait; Tumeric can also be used as a dye.

Citrus

Citrus (Citrus) are a large group of tropical and warm-temperate flowering plants that are of tremendous culinary and commercial importance to humans. Citrus include some of the most popular fruits in the world, including oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, and tangerines. They are thought to have been cultivated since at least 3,000 BCE – that’s 5,000 years ago! In addition to being grown for their fruits, these plants are also grown as ornamentals or as nectar-providers for bees.

Garlic

Spinach

Beet

The Top 12 Vegetables to Grow At Home for Superior Bone Strength

The Top 12 Vegetables To Grow At Home for Superior Bone Strength

As you age, bone health becomes increasingly important. Without strong bones, you run the risk of suffering from falls and fractures that can severely limit your mobility—and future quality of life.

There’s never a better time than today to start taking your bones seriously. A healthy diet is one of the best ways to combat the effects of aging on your bones and ensure they stay strong. It’s important to eat a broad range of fruits and vegetables to ensure you get adequate amounts of calcium, potassium, boron, copper, iron, and many more.

Make healthy nutrition easier on yourself by growing bone-strengthening vegetables at home. These twelve varieties are packed with nutrients and are easy to prepare for dinner. Grow them in your garden, and you’ll guarantee your family has easy access to a variety of healthy options for promoting stronger bones.

Brown mustard

Brown mustard (Brassica juncea) is an annual herb that will grow from 12 to 18 inches tall. It can be invasive in some areas but its favored for its edible qualities in other locations. The leaves and flowers are edible and have a hot mustard taste. Young leaves are flavorful in salads while older leaves are best as cooked greens. Seeds are harvested from summer to fall and provide a spicy mustard flavor to dishes.

Globe artichoke

Collard greens

Collard greens is a sub-species of cabbage that does not have a central head. The name ‘acephela’, draws attention to this characteristic since it means ‘without a head’. This hybrid bears a closer resemblance to its wild parent than cabbage. This nutritious’s vegetable is rich in vitamins and other essential nutrients.

Lima bean

The lima bean is an annual bushy or creeping, perennial herbaceous plant whose stems can reach lengths of 2 to 4 meters. The petals are usually light green, sometimes purple.

Potato

Sweetpotato

While most assume that the Sweetpotato is a potato, it is not considered nightshade. However, sweet potatoes and potatoes both belong to the order of Solanales. Its culinary use is wide and can be fried, baked or boiled.

Beet

Kiwi fruit 'solo'

The long-lived vine kiwifruit has white to gold flowers. The fruits have both health and nutritional properties that make them great additions to salads or eaten raw. The attractive fruits thrive in temperate gardens, and they are sold commercially all over the world.

Brussels sprouts

Spinach

Watercress

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) is an aquatic perennial plant native to Europe and Asia. It attracts insects and pollinators but especially flies. Watercress is valued as an ornamental plant in gardens, and for its ability to float in water.

Pomegranate

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a deciduous shrub or small tree, native to western and southern parts of Asia. It has a long history of cultivation and rich symbolism in polytheistic religions. Fruits of Pomegranate play an important role in many West Asian cuisines. Aside from culinary uses, this fruit-bearing shrub is also cultivated for ornamental purposes.

Picky Eaters? The Top 10 Kid-Friendly Vegetables for Your Garden

Feeding kids at home can be a challenge. Sure, they might seem to thrive on mac and cheese and peanut butter sandwiches, but you’re sure to want to feed them the occasional vegetable as well. Unfortunately, it’s the rare child that willingly eats Brussels sprouts without a fuss.

You don’t need to give up on healthy eating completely with your kids. Growing fruits and vegetables at home is a proven way to get picky eaters to experiment with new flavors, and you’ll likely find that they’re willing to help in the garden as well.

Some fruits and vegetables have a better track record with kids than others. Here are ten of the best options for getting picky eaters excited about produce.

Peppers

Sweetpotato

Squashes

Squashes are vining plants, many of which are commonly cultivated as a food crop for their fruit and seeds. This group includes squashes, gourds, and pumpkins. The fruits are good sources of vitamins and nutrients such as niacin and folic acid, and their flowers attract important pollinators such as bees.

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum is an annual or perennial herbaceous vine native to Central and South America that produces a large, juicy, edible fruit known as Tomato. Today there are over 10000 cultivated varieties. Although tomato is the world’s most popular vegetable, botanically it is a fruit.

Carrot

Field pumpkin

Garden pea

Garden pea (Pisum sativum) is an annual vegetable that makes a hardy, cold weather crop. Also known as the green pea or garden pea, it grows from 1 to 1.5 feet tall. Peapods form after the first year and both peas and pods are edible and can be eaten cooked or raw. Excellent in stir fry, tender tips, called pea shoots, are also edible.

Cucumbers

Wild radish

Wild radish is a plant that is entirely edible, with a flavor that is described as peppery and earthy. The leaves and greens can be consumed boiled or in salads, while the roots can be cooked and consumed after the tough outer peel is removed.

Garden strawberry

The Garden strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) is an edible plant species. Each plant produces a quart of strawberries during the growing season. The Garden strawberry fruit becomes ripe during the early spring and summer months. The Garden strawberry was first cultivated during the middle of the eighteenth century in France. It’s a hybrid between a North American strawberry (F. virginiana) and a Chilean strawberry (F. chiloensis).