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!

Let’s check out the forecast.

Wow is this great planting weather or what!   Check out the planting recommendations below. While I see some rain on the forecast, I will believe it when I see it!

To get great germination, water every day until your seeds germinate in your raised beds. 

Outside in the raised beds:

This week planting recommendations:

• Monday and Tuesday look good for planting if the forecast holds up.
• Wednesday and Thursday – watch to see if it rains.  If not, make sure to keep watering until germination.
• Friday – try to water either your seeds in the ground or your seedlings in your raised beds before you leave for the weekend.
• No need for season extension right now.

For CCS teachers if you need soil, seeds, or fertilizer let Katie know.

Here is a quick and engaging video with information on best varieties to seed or plant directly.

Inside in the Aerogarden:

It is time to get some herbs started in the Aerogarden! Make sure you have seed pods and fertilizer.  Any CCS teachers who need supplies should contact Katie.

 Aerogarden has some great information on planting on their website.  CLICK HERE for their product manual website.

Click here for the Aerogarden planting guide for herbs –> herb_tending_and_harvesting_guide

If you have germination already, you should be thinning to one seedling per pod.  Make sure to cover up the unplanted openings to keep light from the nutrient solution.

Inside under LED lights.  

Make sure you have all of the pots, seed starting mix, lights, cord and timers needed for indoor planting.  We can direct sow cilantro in 2″ pots for either growing and harvesting indoors or for transplanting outdoors.  You can do comparisons with your students about how they grow in each system.   I have a video below that will help you with direct sowing seeds in pots.

• Even though the video shows kale being planted, the technique is the same for cilantro.
• Remove the humidity dome after germination.
• If you do not have a humidity dome, you can use plastic wrap to lightly cover to provide humidity for germination.  Uncover the plastic wrap after seed germinate.
• Thin to one seedling per pot as shown in the video below. Check below for thinning pictures.  The seedlings are kale, but the technique is the same.  Bottom water if you are going to gently pull the seedling from the pot as it will slide out of moist soil.  If the seedlings are too mature, or too close together, then trim the seedlings off at the soil level with scissors.

I planted three seeds and all three germinated. I need to thin to one seedling. Any of them would make a good plant, but if I keep all of them they will compete. I need to thin to a single plant in the pot.

Thinned to a single strong seedling that can grow to maturity and harvest in the pot, or can be transplanted outside.

Let me know what questions you have!  Make sure you engage your kiddos in the process. Looking forward to a wonderful Ag in the Classroom season!

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 am excited to get started growing with you and your kiddos. Lots of information in this post will be similar to last weeks as I know that many of you are just getting started in your growing.  You can always email me with any questions to mcdermott.15@osu.edu

Let’s check out the forecast.

Wow is this great planting weather or what!   Check out the planting recommendations below. Not a lot of rain forecast after Tuesday so make sure you water as needed.

Outside in the raised beds:

There are some tasks we are looking to get started outdoors this week if possible.   Not a lot of rain in the ten day forecast so make sure that you water every day or so until you get germination. Some action items for those who are using GTS:

1. Uncover your raised bed by removing the black plastic  if you covered the beds over the summer.  Add soil if needed to bring the level up.
2. Save the black plastic!  Fold it up and store it for use at the end of May next year.
3. Add some fertilizer according to the label on the package.
4. For GTS we are planting radishes, cilantro, and peas outdoors in the raised bed.  Other veggies that could be seeded if you have the seeds would be leafy greens, carrots, and green onions.
5. Plant according to seed size.  We plant seeds about 3 times as deep as the seeds are large.  Radish and cilantro seeds are tiny so they are planted only about 1/4 inch deep. Peas are larger so they are planted about 1 inch deep.
6. Make sure to thin your seedlings when they come up so that they end up about 3-4 inches apart.
7. Water as needed, but likely once or twice a week based on rain until harvest.

For CCS teachers if you need soil, seeds, or fertilizer let Katie know.

If you did not cover your raised bed make sure to remove all the weeds in the bed before you start!

Do you need to get raised beds started and want to learn how to do that?  I made a quick little video to walk you through the process.

Here is a quick and engaging video with information on best varieties to seed or plant directly.

Outdoor planting recommendations:

• Planting can be done any day this week.
• We have rain on Tuesday, if you plant after that make sure to water your raised beds until germination and then once or twice per week as needed.
• We have temperatures in the high 40’s overnight but that will not cause a problem with seedlings so you do not need to use your season extension garden cover right now.

Inside in the Aerogarden:

It is time to get some herbs started in the Aerogarden! Make sure you have seed pods and fertilizer.  Any CCS teachers who need supplies should contact Katie.

 Aerogarden has some great information on planting on their website.  CLICK HERE for their product manual website.

Click here for the Aerogarden planting guide for herbs –> herb_tending_and_harvesting_guide

Inside under LED lights.  

Make sure you have all of the pots, seed starting mix, lights, cord and timers needed for indoor planting.  We can direct sow cilantro in 2″ pots for either growing and harvesting indoors or for transplanting outdoors.  You can do comparisons with your students about how they grow in each system.   I have a video below that will help you with direct sowing seeds in pots.

• Even though the video shows kale being planted, the technique is the same for cilantro.
• Remove the humidity dome after germination.
• If you do not have a humidity dome, you can use plastic wrap to lightly cover to provide humidity for germination.  Uncover the plastic wrap after seed germinate.
• Thin to one seedling per pot as shown in the video.

Let me know what questions you have!  Make sure you engage your kiddos in the process. Looking forward to a wonderful Ag in the Classroom season!

Want to grow at home this Fall?  You are supported not only in your school but in your backyard or community garden space as well.  I did a video in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy on Fall growing you may be interested in.