Join me at The Scott’s Miracle Gro Community Garden Campus at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens on Sunday May 7th @ 8am for Coffee in the Garden, a spring garden walk! Coffee and refreshments will be provided. After 10am stay and enjoy community days, the 1st Sunday of each month with free attendance for residents of Franklin County and the City of Columbus from 10a – 5pm (Does not include special engagement evening hours, see flyer below for more details)
Hope to see you there, the event is free, check out the QR for registration, bring your friends and your questions! Then enjoy the day at FPC including a Plant and Seed Swap @2pm. See details below.
Here are some location maps for the garden and for parking.
Here is the community garden campus.
CLICK HERE to learn more about community days –> VisitFPC
Later in the day after the garden walk there will be a Plant and Seed Swap from 2 – 4pm. See the details below.
This is a weekly look at what is happening in the school garden to assist teacher educators engage their students in agriculture. It can be used by garden students of all ages however!
CCS GTS Teachers! Focus groups start next week, there are only a few spots left and we will contact those who have not signed up yet.
Please check to make sure you have filled out the March survey as well as any surveys your may have missed earlier in the school year.
Let’s check out the forecast.
Outside in the raised beds:
We have some cold nights this week, make sure your row cover is covering your raised beds before you go home each day. We did not get good rain over the past week. I recommend that you water once or twice a week as well especially as we have no rain in the forecast until the weekend. Add fertilizer to your water if you are using the pink crystals every two weeks.
A good amount of water is to count to ten as you water with a watering can for each plant to make sure that you water deeply enough to get all the way down to the roots.
Make sure that you let the beds warm up before you pop the top. The best time will be around mid-day to early afternoon. Then re-cover the beds before you leave for the day because we have some cold nights.
We are pretty much done with the need to use plastic but do not throw it away. Let it dry out and then fold it up and store it so that you can use it next year. Keep using your row cover. If you uncover your beds during the day, place the cover back over the beds before you leave. It will help with the temperature as well as protect your crops from nuisance wildlife. I have gotten some reports about bunnies eating the crops.
If you are using the pink crystal fertilizer (not the Aerogarden fertilizer) then make sure that you fertilize your outside plants every two weeks mixed in water according to the label. Contact Katie if you need more fertilizer.
If you have some Shake and Feed or Natures Care from prior years that would be a good choice. The pictures of those two fertilizers are below. They are granular fertilizers that are mixed into the soil according to the label instructions. If you would like some of these fertilizers, contact Katie to see what she has.
This can be added into the soil when you transplant, or sprinkled around the plants on top of the soil and then gently worked in to the soil before you water. This will feed plants for two months so you should only need to use this once the rest of this season. Follow the instructions on the label.
This can be added into the soil when you transplant, or sprinkled around the plants on top of the soil and then gently worked in to the soil before you water. This will feed plants for three months so you should only need to use this once the rest of this season. Follow the instructions on the label.
Inside in the Aerogarden:
Tomatoes are growing in the Aerogarden. Follow the instructions for tomato planting carefully. Make sure you are checking water levels and fertilize as needed. Make sure you check water levels each Friday before you leave school so that the water level does not drop too low over the weekend. CLICK HERE for the Aerogarden planting guide.
Keep your lights about 1-2″ from the leaves to avoid leggy plants. Remember If you started two plants in your Aerogardens, you might need to thin to only one plant or they will overwhelm the Aerogarden eventually. You will need to start pollinating your tomato flowers once they appear. Check the Aerogarden site for guidance on pollinating. You will also need to do some pruning of your tomato plants to keep them growing correctly.
All of that is detailed very well in the Aerogarden Tomato Guide –>tomato_planting_guide
Inside under LED lights.
Does anyone have any plants under the LED lights indoors? Make sure you continue to fertilize every two weeks as they grow. The bigger they get the more you will have to water.
I got a question about transplanting basil from the Aerogarden to the outside raised bed. Basil is very cold intolerant and would likely not survive, even under row cover. You could plant it in a pot and keep it under the LED lights with occasional trips outdoors.
If you have plants under LED lights then there are some good days for transplanting this week.
This week in transplanting:
Monday: Too chilly and windy.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: Good days to plant outdoors under row cover, wait until mid-day when it warms up. Replace the row cover over the beds when you are done.
Friday: Scheduled to rain which will be great for the transplants.
Be sure to re-cover your beds after you transplant.
Use only row cover and not the extra plastic layer so that the plants get watered when it rains.
If you are done with plants under the lights then clean all your materials (warm soapy water, dish soap is fine) and pack them up very carefully, including the cords, timers, etc… and label the box with your name, so that they will be ready for you next year.
Check out the transplanting video below to help with the process:
This is a weekly look at what is happening in the school garden to assist teacher educators engage their students in agriculture. It can be used by garden students of all ages however!
Welcome Back!! I hope that you had a safe and restful Spring Break.
CCS GTS Teachers! Keep your eyes open on your email for an email from Lauren Preston to pick your times for end of the season focus group times (due this Thursday!) and for the March survey.
First up is Extension Today at Georgian Heights where the kiddos are planning, planting, harvesting, and tasting fresh school grown produce indoors and outdoors. I had a wonderful time filming this segment. I am so proud of them, they did an amazing job! All of you who engage your kiddos in agriculture are making a huge impact in their lives. I appreciate you.
Let’s check out the forecast.
A little bit of heat mid-week and then it looks like normal spring weather for a little bit.
Outside in the raised beds:
We did not get good rain over the past week. I recommend that you water as well as fertilize your outdoor beds, especially as we have some mid-week heat.
We are pretty much done with the need to use plastic but do not throw it away. Let it dry out and then fold it up and store it so that you can use it next year. Keep using your row cover. If you uncover your beds during the day, place the cover back over the beds before you leave. It will help with the temperature as well as protect your crops from nuisance wildlife. I have gotten some reports about bunnies eating the crops.
Make sure that you fertilize your outside plants every two weeks mixed in water according to the label. Contact Katie if you need more fertilizer. It is the pink crystal one for indoor seed starting and watering plants outside, not the Aerogarden fertilizer. If you have some Shake and Feed from prior years that would be a good choice.
Inside in the Aerogarden:
Tomatoes are growing in the Aerogarden. Follow the instructions for tomato planting carefully. Make sure you are checking water levels and fertilize as needed. Make sure you check water levels each Friday before you leave school so that the water level does not drop too low over the weekend. CLICK HERE for the Aerogarden planting guide.
Keep your lights about 1-2″ from the leaves to avoid leggy plants. Remember If you started two plants in your Aerogardens, you might need to thin to only one plant or they will overwhelm the Aerogarden eventually. You will need to start pollinating your tomato flowers once they appear. Check the Aerogarden site for guidance on pollinating. You will also need to do some pruning of your tomato plants to keep them growing correctly.
All of that is detailed very well in the Aerogarden Tomato Guide –>tomato_planting_guide
Inside under LED lights.
Does anyone have any plants under the LED lights indoors? Make sure you continue to fertilize every two weeks as they grow. The bigger they get the more you will have to water.
I got a question about transplanting basil from the Aerogarden to the outside raised bed. Basil is very cold intolerant and would likely not survive, even under row cover. You could plant it in a pot and keep it under the LED lights with occasional trips outdoors.
If you have plants under LED lights then there are some good days for transplanting this week.
This week in transplanting:
Monday: Too chilly and windy.
Tuesday: A good day to plant outdoors under row cover, wait until mid-day when it warms up..
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Good days to plant outdoors.
Be sure to re-cover your beds after you transplant.
Use only row cover and not the extra plastic layer so that the plants get watered when it rains.
If you are done with plants under the lights then clean all your materials (warm soapy water, dish soap is fine) and pack them up very carefully, including the cords, timers, etc… and label the box with your name, so that they will be ready for you next year.
Check out the transplanting video below to help with the process:
How is your spring garden going so far? Can you believe it is time to think about Summer! I will be partnering with The Nature Conservancy for part two of our three part series to talk about how you can Live Your Best Garden Life this Summer on Wednesday May 3rd @ 6:30pm. The class is free and open to the public, but does require registration, so bring your friends and your questions!
There is a Spring Vegetable Planting class coming up at Grandview Heights Public Library on Tuesday April 11th @ 6:30. The class is free and open to the public so bring your friends and your questions!
This is a weekly look at what is happening in the school garden to assist teacher educators engage their students in agriculture. It can be used by garden students of all ages however!
CCS GTS Teachers! Keep your eyes open on your email for an email from Lauren Preston to pick your times for end of the season focus group times.
Let’s check out the forecast. It looks pretty good.
It looks like we will have good rain over spring break to water the outdoor plants. I recommend leaving the row cover in place over the raised beds while you are gone.
Outside in the raised beds:
It looks like we have a good window of opportunity to plant outside in the raised beds. If you have leftover seeds from fall here is what you can plant: radishes, peas, cilantro, lettuce, kale, and bok choy. Any cool season vegetable can be planted now. If you have some seeds in your classroom of other varieties let me know and I am happy to provide any recommendations or guidance.
Please Note: Plant your peas in the middle of the raised bed as they will get the tallest. Meaning down the middle in the tallest part of the raised bed.
Keep using your row cover, we have cold overnight and while the spring plantings are cold tolerant, they will appreciate a little extra protection.
Since we have some hot weather this week, make sure to water and fertilize your outdoor plants this week, especially if we do not get much rain from the potential Wednesday storms!
Important to Note! This week is the last opportunity to plant seeds outdoors in the raised beds with enough time to get a harvest so make sure you get any seeds in the ground that you need to plant!
We are pretty much done with the need to use plastic but do not throw it away. Let it dry out and then fold it up and store it so that you can use it next year.
Inside in the Aerogarden:
Tomatoes are growing in the Aerogarden. Follow the instructions for tomato planting carefully. Make sure you are checking water levels and fertilize as needed. Make sure you check water levels each Friday before you leave school so that the water level does not drop too low over the weekend. CLICK HERE for the Aerogarden planting guide.
Keep your lights about 1-2″ from the leaves to avoid leggy plants. Remember If you started two plants in your Aerogardens, you might need to thin to only one plant or they will overwhelm the Aerogarden eventually. You will need to start pollinating your tomato flowers once they appear. Check the Aerogarden site for guidance on pollinating. You will also need to do some pruning of your tomato plants to keep them growing correctly.
All of that is detailed very well in the Aerogarden Tomato Guide –>tomato_planting_guide
Start to plan what you will do with your Aerogarden if you are leaving town for Spring Break. Take the unit home, find a babysitter, or perhaps a fellow teacher who can keep the water added and the tomatoes fertilized.
Want to share a kid-safe video with your kiddos on what hydroponics looks like growing at home? Check out this Extension Today segment we filmed last year in the Demonstration Kitchen of my building.
Inside under LED lights.
How do your plants look under the LED lights? Make sure you continue to fertilize every two weeks as they grow. The bigger they get the more you will have to water. I highly recommend you get your indoor transplants planted in the row cover before you leave for spring break. If you cannot do this you can take them and the lights home to grow them or try to find a babysitter for them.
I got a question about transplanting basil from the Aerogarden to the outside raised bed. Basil is very cold intolerant and would likely not survive, even under row cover.
Make sure that you fertilize your outside plants every two weeks mixed in water according to the label. Contact Katie if you need more fertilizer. It is the pink crystal one for indoor seed starting and watering plants outside, not the Aerogarden fertilizer. If you have some Shake and Feed from prior years that would be a good choice.
This week in transplanting:
Monday: A good day to harden off transplants for a few hours, bring back in to your classroom overnight. You could plant outdoors as well on Monday if that is your only choice as we have mild weather the first half of the week.
Tuesday: A good day to plant outdoors under row cover.
Wednesday: A good day to plant outdoors potentially depending on the thunderstorms. Stay safe!
Thursday: Good planting day. Try to get all of your plants outdoors that are ready to be planted before you leave on spring break!
Be sure to re-cover your beds after you transplant.
Use only row cover and not the extra plastic layer so that the plants get watered when it rains.
Check out the transplanting video below to help with the process:
I hope you enjoy a safe and restful Spring Break!!
