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!
Have you been using the Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons guidebook to assist you with your growing?
Want to learn what Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons (GTS) is? Check out the Guidebook HERE and the 20 Online Modules HERE! It is a great way for a teacher to learn how to engage their kiddos in agriculture in a data driven and teacher tested method based on the academic calendar.
Lets take a look at the weather:
Outside in the raised beds:
This month’s GTS work in the raised beds is getting the collard greens transplanted. It would be great to get them into the beds to grow before Spring Break if that timeframe works for you. Then you do not have to mind them under the LED lights. If you need to transplant them this week, make sure to harden them off to the cold, plus make sure they go under row cover. Next week’s weather looks better for transplanting if possible. Check out the transplanting video for guidance.
- It looks like this week has some good growing weather plus some overnight cold temperatures
- We got lots of rain last week, so your garden should be good to go for water right now, check again Friday before the weekend.
- If you do want to harvest: Make sure to wait until the season extension garden cover is fully thawed before you pop open and check the plants. The best time to do this will be around mid-day. Replace the season extension garden cover after you harvest to let the heat build back up.
- Make sure the season extension garden cover is secure on Friday before you leave for the weekend.
Here is a video from the GTS Online Modules to learn more about Season Extension
Here is a video that show how to safely harvest and store your fresh leafy greens
Here is a video on transplanting
Inside under LED lights:
This month you are maintaining collard greens under LED lights for transplanting outside in the raised beds later this month. I put some guidance on this in the raised bed paragraph above. Let me know if you have any questions.
- Make sure to fertilize according to the directions with the pink fertilizer.
- Water as needed. They are growing fast!
- Make sure to check and water on Friday before you leave.
- If they are ready to transplant, see the video and guidance above.
- Email questions to me at mcdermott.15@osu.edu
After you get the collard greens transplanted outside, if you have no other plants under the LED lights, make sure to clean all your pots and trays and store them with the lights, including the cord, in a safe spot for next semester.
Inside in the Aerogarden:
This month we are harvesting tomatoes from the Aerogarden.
- Make sure you are pruning as directed in the Aerogarden instructions.
- Make sure to pollinate your flowers to maximize your harvest!
- Check water levels daily! The tomatoes are growing fast and using lots of water.
Keep the tomato under the lights by pruning as needed.
I need some better pics of tomatoes in Aerogarden Harvest units. Does anyone have a pic to share? Send them my way!
Do you need seeds or seed starter for your project? 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 tomatoes.