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: More Cold!
- I recommend that you inspect the raised beds to make sure the season extension garden cover is secure.
- Keep track of the weather on Friday. If it is actually over 40 degrees and sunny, you may have a chance to peek under the season extension garden cover. Make sure that the cover is not frozen or you will tear it. Usually around mid-day is best. Then replace the cover carefully before you leave for the weekend.
- The good news is that the snow has been a great insulator for the plants and as it melts, it waters them for you.
Here is a video from the GTS Online Modules to learn more about Season Extension
Inside under LED lights:
This month’s seed starting under LED lights is lettuce. If you did not get a chance to plant spinach or kale you can seed start them as well this month. If you and your kiddos really liked the bok choy and you have the space under your lights and have some bok choy seed left then you can plant that as well. If you do not have space to plant all of those, and remember that we will be planting collard greens in pots in February so we need to plan on a little space for them. Prioritize spinach and kale if you do not have any outside in the raised bed since the kiddos will be tasting them in the next two months. Email questions to me at mcdermott.15@osu.edu
Here is a planting example:
Example: There are 32 pots in the tray. You could plant 8 lettuce, 8 kale, and 8 spinach now. Then plant 8 collard greens in February. Or substitute some bok choy or collard greens in for some of the kale and spinach. Let me know if you have questions.
The video below shows how to seed start kale. It would be the same process for lettuce, bok choy, collard greens, and spinach. The spinach will take at least a week to germinate however, while the other seeds will germinate in just a few days.
All of the seedlings we are planting now can will be able to be transplanted outside later on, or if you want to let them grow indoors until they are harvested you can do that too.
Inside in the Aerogarden:
This month we are planting tomatoes in the Aerogarden. If you planted herbs in the Aerogarden last semester you will need to clean out the unit before you plant your tomatoes so you can start fresh with a clean Aerogarden. Follow the instructions for tomato planting carefully, a link to the guide is below. If you need tomato pods then contact Katie.
- Plant just one tomato pod in the Aerogarden Harvest.
- Keep the small plastic dome on the pod until germination.
- Remove the small plastic dome after the seed sprouts.
- Thin to only one tomato plant in the system.
- Keep the other holes covered with the black or white plastic caps to keep light from entering into the reservoir with the nutrient system.
One tomato pod in an Aerogarden Harvest centered in the middle to get the most light, with the rest of the holes capped off.
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.
