Seniors are invited to see nearly 100 kinds of vegetables and herbs growing in traditional garden plots, raised beds and containers at the Gardening for Seniors Open House.

Many elders love to garden but have difficulty because of physical limitations. This event will help seniors think of new ideas to meet the challenge and make gardening easier and more enjoyable.

All kinds of beans — azuki, lima, soybean, fava, hyacinth, mung, lentils, pigeon pea and others — will be represented.

Eggplants — traditional, round and long, Filipino, Chinese, Japanese and Thai — will be on display.

Cherry tomatoes, the easiest type of tomato to grow, are represented by recently introduced new varieties Sweet Heart, Tomato Berry and Yellow Magic.

Peppers of the Hawaiian, Korean, Filipino and Japanese type, from sweet block bell peppers to extremely hot habaneros, are grown in the urban garden.

Head cabbage, Chinese cabbage and Asian greens such as choy sum, kai choy and pak choy are just a few of the many to view. Collard greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, Swiss chard and cauliflower are planted in garden beds. Korean, Japanese and Chinese daikon also can be found.

Root vegetables seen in the garden include gobo, ha gobo, sweet potato, Irish potato, peanut, cassava and parsnip. Exotic foods, but also possible invaders, Jerusalem artichoke and horseradish are grown in enclosed containers.

Wheat, grain amaranth, oat, flax, sesame seeds, millet, buckwheat and an ornamental broom corn are grown in the garden plot. Sweet corn and popcorn, too. Companion planting with corn, bean and squash also is demonstrated.

Aquatic vegetables such as ung choy, taro, rice and paddy herbs can be found in a special garden plot. Other types of taro including Chinese, and a taro variety preferred by Polynesians, are planted in containers.

Unfamiliar plants such as papalo, milk thistle, edible hibiscus, mitsuba, fuki, flowering chives, arrowhead cabbage and many others which can be found in the garden will be on display.

Master gardeners will be available to answer gardening questions and to lead tours of the various gardens. Educational displays, bonsai exhibition, a plant mini-sale, cooking demonstrations, hands-on craft, door prizes and other entertainment will be featured. Free vegetable seedlings will be available to those 65 and older, while supplies last.

The event is open to all. Admission is free. Call 453-6050 for more information.

Jari Sugano is an extension agent with the University of Hawai'i-Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Reach her at suganoj@ctahr.hawaii.edu.

H. Dale Sato is the recently retired farm manager and educational specialist for the Pearl City Urban Garden Center.