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!