Join me at The Scott’s Miracle Gro Community Garden Campus at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens on Sunday October 1st @ 8am for Coffee in the Garden, a fall garden walk! Coffee and refreshments will be provided. There is still lots to talk about with vegetables and a good amount of growing season left. The event is free and open to the public but does require registration 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!
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 this week so make sure you water as needed. To get great germination, water every day until your seeds germinate in your raised beds.
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 until you get germination. Some action items for those who are using GTS:
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.
Save the black plastic! Fold it up and store it for use at the end of May next year.
Add some fertilizer according to the label on the package.
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.
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.
Make sure to thin your seedlings when they come up so that they end up about 3-4 inches apart.
Water as needed after germination, 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.
With no rain forecast this week, make sure you water your seed bed every day until your seeds germinate.
No need for season extension 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.
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!
I had a great time talking what to plant to maximize your healthy fall harvest and live your best garden life with The Nature Conservancy. If you missed the webinar, here is the recording to enjoy.
Is there any better event than a garden walk? There will be a Garden Walk on Wednesday August 16th @ 6pm at the amazing Urban Farm Church. I cannot wait to see all the progress they have made! We will be talking summer harvest and fall planting plus many more topics as well as taking your questions.
The event is free and open to the public although registration is required. Bring your friends and your questions!
I am excited to continue my many year partnership with the Bronzeville Growers Market to celebrate National Farmer’s Market Week by partnering with them for an in-person class at the Market on Thursday August 10th @ 5:00pm. We will talk about what you can plant right NOW! to get a Fall harvest. The market is open from 3-6pm and will have a fabulous assortment of produce and products. Bring your friends, your questions, and your wallets for some learning and shopping!
Do you want to live your best garden life? I will be partnering with The Nature Conservancy to continue our webinar series about how you can Live Your Best Garden Life: Fall!
Did you know fall is an excellent time to grow fresh veggies? Want to harvest produce for the Thanksgiving (and Christmas!) dinner table? We will be talking not only summer harvest, but what to plant NOW for a fall harvest deep into the season. The webinar event is free and open to the public but does require registration so bring your friends and your questions on Wednesday August 9th @ 6:30pm.
I had a great time last night partnering with The Nature Conservancy talking about how you can Live Your Best Garden Life this Summer! For those who missed the recording you can find it below.
Did you miss the Living Your Best Garden Life: Spring! webinar? Here you go!
The third webinar recording will be Living Your Best Garden Life: Fall! and will take place on Wednesday August 9th @ 6:30. Attendance is free but required registration. The link is below. Bring your friends and your questions! Register for Living Your Best Garden Life: Fall!
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.
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!
