Like most people I know, I love pizza. On average, each American consumes 23 pounds of pizza annually.

Why not make a pizza-shaped garden? In this garden, you can grow the vegetables and herbs used to make pizza sauce and toppings.

This pizza-shaped garden plan requires few tools and very little time and effort to plant. The whole family can enjoy gardening together, and the project can be used as a tool for teaching the process of growing, harvesting and making your own sauce.

Before getting started, make sure to let your kids know what to expect. Have a short discussion on the science aspect of gardening, such as how root systems work.

Inform children about the insects they might encounter when gardening, and that many insects are beneficial to plants. Tell them it's OK to touch a slug; they might feel slimy, but they won't hurt you. However, do warn children of harmful critters, such as stinging insects and some spiders.
 
Growing conditions

The beauty of the pizza garden is that all the plants require similar growing conditions. Your garden needs to have nutrient-rich soil, proper drainage, and at least six hours of full sun to flourish.

No matter how large you choose to make your garden space, make sure to loosen your garden soil to at least a foot in depth; you might want to amend it with compost.
 
Creating and planting the pizza garden wedges

Once you have chosen a spot for your pizza garden,

Advertisement
you will to need create the pizza circle. Mark off the circle by putting a stake upright in the garden area. Tie a 31/2-foot piece of string to the stake.

Keeping the string tight, walk around in a circle and mark the ground to show the garden's border. Divide the circle into six equal-sized wedges. The "pizza slices" can be defined with rocks, landscaping timbers, or rows of parsley or basil.

In this pizza garden plan, there are three kinds of herbs and three vegetables. These suggested plants can be bought locally at your favorite nursery.

--- Oregano: (Origanum vulgare) This aromatic, perennial herb is a member of the mint family. It is easy to grow and gives pizza its characteristic taste and that wonderful smell. You may use it fresh or dried. I suggest one or two plants.

--- Basil: (Ocimum basilicum) This aromatic herb is a must in the pizza garden. I grow several every year, and love it for its wonderful culinary uses. It is good in sauce and thrown on the pizza, in the cheese. Basil is an annual herb, and there are many varieties. I recommend the sweet basil variety for your pizza garden. Two or three plants can be planted in the wedge.

--- Parsley: (petroselinum) This is a biennial herb that reseeds itself. It is very common in Middle Eastern, European and American