Season Extension

School Garden Week of May 1st, 2023

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!

CCS GTS Teachers!  Make sure you are checking your inbox for emails from Lauren about the focus groups. 

Let’s check out the forecast.

Outside in the raised beds:

We have some cold nights this week,  make sure your row cover is covering your raised beds before you go home each day.  We are generally getting good rain but it can be hit or miss depending on where your garden is located.  Make sure check your beds this week to see if they are dry or if the rain provided enough water for them.  We have great harvest windows toward the last half of the week. 

Make sure that you let the beds warm up before you pop the top.  The best time will be around mid-day to early afternoon.  Then re-cover the beds before you leave for the day because we have some cold nights. 

We are pretty much done with the need to use plastic but do not throw it away.  Let it dry out and then fold it up and store it so that you can use it next year. Keep using your row cover.  If you uncover your beds during the day,  place the cover back over the beds before you leave.  It will help with the temperature as well as protect your crops from nuisance wildlife. I have gotten some reports about bunnies eating the crops.

If you are using the pink crystal fertilizer (not the Aerogarden fertilizer) then make sure that you fertilize your outside plants every two weeks mixed in water according to the label.  Contact Katie if you need more fertilizer.

If you have some Shake and Feed or Nature’s Care from prior years that would be a good choice. I had pictures of them in last weeks post for reference. With there only being a month left in the school year, you would only need to apply either Shake and Feed or Nature’s Care once.

Here is a picture shared by Eastmoor.  They have some mushroom growth in the raised bed, which is not unusual this time of year.  Some mushrooms can be poisonous so make sure if you encounter mushroom growth in your beds you take the time to address this with your students as it is a great learning opportunity.

Inside in the Aerogarden:

Hopefully you are getting a harvest!  I had some delicious pizza made for me last week during a school visit.

Tomatoes are growing in the Aerogarden.   Follow the instructions for tomato planting carefully.  Make sure you are checking water levels and fertilize as needed.  Make sure you check water levels each Friday before you leave school so that the water level does not drop too low over the weekend.  CLICK HERE for the Aerogarden planting guide.

Keep your lights about 1-2″ from the leaves to avoid leggy plants.  Remember If you started two plants in your Aerogardens, you might need to thin to only one plant or they will overwhelm the Aerogarden eventually. You will need to start pollinating your tomato flowers once they appear.  Check the Aerogarden site for guidance on pollinating.  You will also need to do some pruning of your tomato plants to keep them growing correctly.

All of that is detailed very well in the Aerogarden Tomato Guide  –> tomato_planting_guide

 

Inside under LED lights.  

Does anyone have any plants under the LED lights indoors?   Make sure you continue to fertilize every two weeks as they grow.  The bigger they get the more you will have to water.

I got a question about transplanting basil from the Aerogarden to the outside raised bed.  Basil is very cold intolerant and would likely not survive, even under row cover. You could plant it in a pot and keep it under the LED lights with occasional trips outdoors.

If you have plants under LED lights then there are some good days for transplanting this week.

This week in transplanting:

  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: Too chilly and windy.
  • Thursday, Friday:  Good days to plant outdoors under row cover,  Replace the row cover over the beds when you are done. Great days to check plants and to harvest.
  • Be sure to re-cover your beds after you transplant.
  • Use only row cover and not the extra plastic layer so that the plants get watered when it rains.
  • If you are done with plants under the lights then clean all your materials (warm soapy water, dish soap is fine) and pack them up very carefully, including the cords, timers, etc… and label the box with your name, so that they will be ready for you next year.

Check out the transplanting video below to help with the process:

School Garden Week of April 24th, 2023

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!

CCS GTS Teachers!   Focus groups start next week, there are only a few spots left and we will contact those who have not signed up yet. 

 Please check to make sure you have filled out the March survey as well as any surveys your may have missed earlier in the school year. 

 

Let’s check out the forecast.

Outside in the raised beds:

We have some cold nights this week,  make sure your row cover is covering your raised beds before you go home each day.  We did not get good rain over the past week.  I recommend that you water once or twice a week as well especially as we have no rain in the forecast until the weekend. Add fertilizer to your water if you are using the pink crystals every two weeks.

A good amount of water is to count to ten as you water with a watering can for each plant to make sure that you water deeply enough to get all the way down to the roots. 

Make sure that you let the beds warm up before you pop the top.  The best time will be around mid-day to early afternoon.  Then re-cover the beds before you leave for the day because we have some cold nights. 

We are pretty much done with the need to use plastic but do not throw it away.  Let it dry out and then fold it up and store it so that you can use it next year. Keep using your row cover.  If you uncover your beds during the day,  place the cover back over the beds before you leave.  It will help with the temperature as well as protect your crops from nuisance wildlife. I have gotten some reports about bunnies eating the crops.

If you are using the pink crystal fertilizer (not the Aerogarden fertilizer) then make sure that you fertilize your outside plants every two weeks mixed in water according to the label.  Contact Katie if you need more fertilizer.

If you have some Shake and Feed or Natures Care from prior years that would be a good choice. The pictures of those two fertilizers are below. They are granular fertilizers that are mixed into the soil according to the label instructions. If you would like some of these fertilizers, contact Katie to see what she has.

 

This can be added into the soil when you transplant, or sprinkled around the plants on top of the soil and then gently worked in to the soil before you water. This will feed plants for two months so you should only need to use this once the rest of this season. Follow the instructions on the label.

 

This can be added into the soil when you transplant, or sprinkled around the plants on top of the soil and then gently worked in to the soil before you water. This will feed plants for three months so you should only need to use this once the rest of this season. Follow the instructions on the label.

Inside in the Aerogarden:

Tomatoes are growing in the Aerogarden.   Follow the instructions for tomato planting carefully.  Make sure you are checking water levels and fertilize as needed.  Make sure you check water levels each Friday before you leave school so that the water level does not drop too low over the weekend.  CLICK HERE for the Aerogarden planting guide.

Keep your lights about 1-2″ from the leaves to avoid leggy plants.  Remember If you started two plants in your Aerogardens, you might need to thin to only one plant or they will overwhelm the Aerogarden eventually. You will need to start pollinating your tomato flowers once they appear.  Check the Aerogarden site for guidance on pollinating.  You will also need to do some pruning of your tomato plants to keep them growing correctly.

All of that is detailed very well in the Aerogarden Tomato Guide  –> tomato_planting_guide

 

Inside under LED lights.  

Does anyone have any plants under the LED lights indoors?   Make sure you continue to fertilize every two weeks as they grow.  The bigger they get the more you will have to water.

I got a question about transplanting basil from the Aerogarden to the outside raised bed.  Basil is very cold intolerant and would likely not survive, even under row cover. You could plant it in a pot and keep it under the LED lights with occasional trips outdoors.

If you have plants under LED lights then there are some good days for transplanting this week.

This week in transplanting:

  • Monday: Too chilly and windy.
  • Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday:  Good days to plant outdoors under row cover, wait until mid-day when it warms up. Replace the row cover over the beds when you are done.
  • Friday: Scheduled to rain which will be great for the transplants.
  • Be sure to re-cover your beds after you transplant.
  • Use only row cover and not the extra plastic layer so that the plants get watered when it rains.
  • If you are done with plants under the lights then clean all your materials (warm soapy water, dish soap is fine) and pack them up very carefully, including the cords, timers, etc… and label the box with your name, so that they will be ready for you next year.

Check out the transplanting video below to help with the process:

School Garden Week of April 17th, 2023

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 hope that you had a safe and restful Spring Break.

 

CCS GTS Teachers!   Keep your eyes open on your email for an email from Lauren Preston to pick your times for end of the season focus group times (due this Thursday!)  and for the March survey. 

 

First up is Extension Today at Georgian Heights where the kiddos are planning, planting, harvesting, and tasting fresh school grown produce indoors and outdoors. I had a wonderful time filming this segment.  I am so proud of them, they did an amazing job!  All of you who engage your kiddos in agriculture are making a huge impact in their lives.  I appreciate you.

Let’s check out the forecast.

A little bit of heat mid-week and then it looks like normal spring weather for a little bit.

 

Outside in the raised beds:

We did not get good rain over the past week.  I recommend that you water as well as fertilize your outdoor beds, especially as we have some mid-week heat. 

We are pretty much done with the need to use plastic but do not throw it away.  Let it dry out and then fold it up and store it so that you can use it next year. Keep using your row cover.  If you uncover your beds during the day,  place the cover back over the beds before you leave.  It will help with the temperature as well as protect your crops from nuisance wildlife. I have gotten some reports about bunnies eating the crops.

Make sure that you fertilize your outside plants every two weeks mixed in water according to the label.  Contact Katie if you need more fertilizer.  It is the pink crystal one for indoor seed starting and watering plants outside,  not the Aerogarden fertilizer. If you have some Shake and Feed from prior years that would be a good choice.

Inside in the Aerogarden:

Tomatoes are growing in the Aerogarden.   Follow the instructions for tomato planting carefully.  Make sure you are checking water levels and fertilize as needed.  Make sure you check water levels each Friday before you leave school so that the water level does not drop too low over the weekend.  CLICK HERE for the Aerogarden planting guide.

Keep your lights about 1-2″ from the leaves to avoid leggy plants.  Remember If you started two plants in your Aerogardens, you might need to thin to only one plant or they will overwhelm the Aerogarden eventually. You will need to start pollinating your tomato flowers once they appear.  Check the Aerogarden site for guidance on pollinating.  You will also need to do some pruning of your tomato plants to keep them growing correctly.

All of that is detailed very well in the Aerogarden Tomato Guide  –> tomato_planting_guide

 

Inside under LED lights.  

Does anyone have any plants under the LED lights indoors?   Make sure you continue to fertilize every two weeks as they grow.  The bigger they get the more you will have to water.

I got a question about transplanting basil from the Aerogarden to the outside raised bed.  Basil is very cold intolerant and would likely not survive, even under row cover. You could plant it in a pot and keep it under the LED lights with occasional trips outdoors.

If you have plants under LED lights then there are some good days for transplanting this week.

This week in transplanting:

  • Monday: Too chilly and windy.
  • Tuesday:  A good day to plant outdoors under row cover, wait until mid-day when it warms up..
  • Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Good days to plant outdoors.
  • Be sure to re-cover your beds after you transplant.
  • Use only row cover and not the extra plastic layer so that the plants get watered when it rains.
  • If you are done with plants under the lights then clean all your materials (warm soapy water, dish soap is fine) and pack them up very carefully, including the cords, timers, etc… and label the box with your name, so that they will be ready for you next year.

Check out the transplanting video below to help with the process:

Spring Vegetable Planting Class @ Grandview Heights Public Library on Tuesday April 11th, 2023 @ 6:30pm

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!

CLICK for directions. 

Spring Garden Walk at Bexley North Community Garden on Thursday April 6th, 2023 @ 6:30pm

There will be a spring garden walk at Bexley Community Garden North on Thursday April 6th @ 6:30 pm.  This event is free and open to the public so bring your friends and your questions!

Topics will include:

Integrated Pest Management

Crop Rotation

Soil Health

Season Extension

And what to plant NOW for spring!

 

 

 

 

 

April 6, 2023 6:30 p.m.
Bexley Community Garden – North Garden
located at Delmar Ave. & Cassady Ave.
(Use 528 Cassady Ave. for GPS directions, gardens are behind the school.)

For questions contact bexleygardens@gmail.com

Living Your Best Garden Life: Spring 2023

For those who could not make the Living Your Best Garden Life: Spring Planning and Planting webinar that I did in partnership with The Nature Conservancy last week you are in luck!  We recorded the webinar and you can access it below:

We will be Living Our Best Garden Life: Summer on Wednesday May 3rd, 2023 @ 6:30pm.  The event is free and open to the public but does require registration.  Link to register is below,  bring your friends and your questions so you can Live Your Best Garden Life this summer!

Link to register for Living Your Best Summer Garden Life webinar on Wednesday May 3rd @ 6:30pm

School Garden Week of March 27th, 2023.

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!

 

CCS GTS Teachers!   Keep your eyes open on your email for an email from Lauren Preston to pick your times for end of the season focus group times. If you have not done the February survey, please fill that out this week as the last day is Friday March 31st.

 

Let’s check out the forecast.  It looks pretty good.

Best day to transplant is Thursday, you could harden off seedlings this week for a few hours a day on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

 

Outside in the raised beds:

It looks like we have a good window of opportunity to plant outside in the raised beds.  I would do my planting any day from Wednesday to Friday this week.  If you have leftover seeds from fall here is what you can plant:  radishes, peas, cilantro, lettuce, kale, and bok choy.   Any cool season vegetable can be planted now.  If you have some seeds in your classroom of other varieties let me know and I am happy to provide any recommendations or guidance. 

Please Note:  Plant your peas in the middle of the raised bed as they will get the tallest. Meaning down the middle in the tallest part of the raised bed.

If you have transplants in the raised bed growing right now, I recommend that you fertilize them every two weeks by mixing the pink Miracle Gro fertilizer in your watering can when you water.  If you need seeds or fertilizer contact Katie and she can check to see what she has.

Keep using your row cover,  we have cold overnight and while the spring plantings are cold tolerant,  they will appreciate a little extra protection.

 

Important to Note! This week and next are really the last opportunity to plant seeds outdoors in the raised beds with enough time to get a harvest so make sure you get any seeds in the ground that you need to plant!

 

We are pretty much done with the need to use plastic but do not throw it away.  Let it dry out and then fold it up and store it so that you can use it next year.

Inside in the Aerogarden:

Tomatoes are growing in the Aerogarden.   Follow the instructions for tomato planting carefully.  Make sure you are checking water levels and fertilize as needed.  Make sure you check water levels each Friday before you leave school so that the water level does not drop too low over the weekend.  CLICK HERE for the Aerogarden planting guide.

Keep your lights about 1-2″ from the leaves to avoid leggy plants.  Remember If you started two plants in your Aerogardens, you might need to thin to only one plant or they will overwhelm the Aerogarden eventually. You will need to start pollinating your tomato flowers once they appear.  Check the Aerogarden site for guidance on pollinating.  You will also need to do some pruning of your tomato plants to keep them growing correctly.

All of that is detailed very well in the Aerogarden Tomato Guide  –> tomato_planting_guide

Start to plan what you will do with your Aerogarden if you are leaving town for Spring Break.  Take the unit home, find a babysitter, or perhaps a fellow teacher who can keep the water added and the tomatoes fertilized. 

Want to share a kid-safe video with your kiddos on what hydroponics looks like growing in a greenhouse?  Check out this Extension Today segment we filmed last year at Howlett Greenhouse on OSU’s main campus.

Inside under LED lights.  

How do your plants look under the LED lights?   Make sure you continue to fertilize every two weeks as they grow.  The bigger they get the more you will have to water.

Make sure that you fertilize your outside plants every two weeks mixed in water according to the label.  Contact Katie if you need more fertilizer.  It is the pink crystal one for indoor seed starting and watering plants outside,  not the Aerogarden fertilizer. If you have some Shake and Feed from prior years that would be a good choice.

This week in transplanting:

  • Monday: A good day to harden off transplants for a few hours,  bring back in to your classroom overnight.
  • Tuesday:  A good day to harden off transplants for a few hours,  bring back in to your classroom overnight.
  • Wednesday: A good day to harden off seedlings for a few hours.  A good day to plant under row cover if this is your only option to plant.
  • Thursday and Friday: Good planting dates.  The predicted rain on Friday will be helpful to new transplants.
  • Be sure to re-cover your beds after you transplant.
  • Use only row cover and not the extra plastic layer so that the plants get watered when it rains.

Check out the transplanting video below to help with the process:

School Garden Week of March 20th, 2023.

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!

 

CCS GTS Teachers!   Keep your eyes open on your email for an email from Lauren Preston to pick your times for end of the season focus group times. 

 

Let’s check out the forecast.  It looks pretty good.

It looks like we will have some planting weather going forward! I will provide guidance below in this email.

 

The weather predictions for the rest of the school year look great for planting, transplanting, and harvesting outdoors.

This is a great prediction for a future harvest from the raised beds.

Outside in the raised beds:

It looks like we have a good window of opportunity to plant outside in the raised beds.  I would do my planting any day from Wednesday to Friday this week.  If you have leftover seeds from fall here is what you can plant:  radishes, peas, cilantro, lettuce, kale, and bok choy.   Any cool season vegetable can be planted now.  If you have some seeds in your classroom of other varieties let me know and I am happy to provide any recommendations or guidance. 

Please Note:  Plant your peas in the middle of the raised bed as they will get the tallest. Meaning down the middle in the tallest part of the raised bed.

If you have transplants in the raised bed growing right now, I recommend that you fertilize them every two weeks by mixing the pink Miracle Gro fertilizer in your watering can when you water.  If you need seeds or fertilizer contact Katie and she can check to see what she has.

 

Inside in the Aerogarden:

Tomatoes are growing in the Aerogarden.   Follow the instructions for tomato planting carefully.  Make sure you are checking water levels and fertilize as needed.  Make sure you check water levels each Friday before you leave school so that the water level does not drop too low over the weekend.  CLICK HERE for the Aerogarden planting guide.

Make sure to check your water level and fertilize as needed to keep the plants healthy. Keep your lights about 1-2″ from the leaves to avoid leggy plants.  Remember If you started two plants in your Aerogardens, you might need to thin to only one plant or they will overwhelm the Aerogarden eventually. You will need to start pollinating your tomato flowers once they appear.  Check the Aerogarden site for guidance on pollinating.  You will also need to do some pruning of your tomato plants to keep them growing correctly.

All of that is detailed very well in the Aerogarden Tomato Guide  –> tomato_planting_guide

 

Inside under LED lights.  

How do your plants look under the LED lights?   Make sure you continue to fertilize every two weeks as they grow.  The bigger they get the more you will have to water.

Make sure that you fertilize your outside plants every two weeks mixed in water according to the label.  Contact Katie if you need more fertilizer.  It is the pink crystal one for indoor seed starting and watering plants outside,  not the Aerogarden fertilizer. If you have some Shake and Feed from prior years that would be a good choice.

This week in transplanting:

  • Tuesday:  Keep the raised bed covered to build up heat,  start the hardening off process by placing transplants outside for a few hours to acclimate to the outdoor world.  Bring them inside before you leave for the day.
  • Wednesday: A good day to harden off seedlings for a few hours.  A good day to plant under row cover if this is your only option to plant.
  • Thursday and Friday: Good planting dates.  Be careful about thunderstorms.  The predicted rain will be helpful to new transplants.
  • Be sure to re-cover your beds after you transplant.
  • Use only row cover and not the extra plastic layer so that the plants get watered when it rains.

Check out the transplanting video below to help with the process:

 

I want to thank the students at Eastmoor Academy.  I had a wonderful time planting with them this morning.   They named a tomato after me which is much appreciated.

Any questions?  Feel free to email me at mcdermott.15@osu.edu

School Garden Week of March 13th, 2023

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!

 

CCS Teachers!   Keep your eyes open on your email for an email from Lauren Preston to pick your times for end of the season focus group times. 

 

The end of the week looks like we should have an opportunity for planting and harvesting outdoors.

 

Outside in the raised beds:

It looks like we have some cold weather (for the garden,  normal for March) to start the week.  I think Thursday is a good planting day for direct seeding under row cover.   Take a look at your seeds: there is a chance to plant some of the things that we may not have gotten a chance to plant in fall like radishes, peas, spinach and kale seeds this week outside under row cover.  A good day for this would be Thursday before Friday rain. (You could also plant Friday before the rain if you are able)  That will give you a chance at a spring harvest to share with your kiddos. 

If you want to check your plants make sure it is a warmer day,  close to 50 degrees which is the last half of the week.  It is best to open the covers closer to the middle of the day when it is a little warmer, and then close the covers up tight after you view plants or take a harvest in order to build the heat back up under the cover to protect the plants.  You will need to make sure the row cover is in place Friday for sure as we get cold again this weekend.  Make sure you do not have plastic over your row cover if you were using that to provide extra protection as we will have needed rainfall for the plants and the rain will pass right through row cover, but not plastic. If you have been using plastic as supplemental heat you will probably need to water as it may be dry in the raised bed. Make sure to fertilize when you water as the outdoor plants will need the feeding. 

IF you want to plant any extra peas this week, try to plant in the middle of the raised bed as they will be your tallest plant eventually. 

 

Inside in the Aerogarden:

 

I check the water every other day right now as the tomatoes are growing fast. I need to move the lights similarly. I pollinate and prune according to the Aerogarden tomato care guide linked below.

 

Make sure to cover up your unused holes in your Aerogarden. That keeps fungal disease from growing in the nutrient solution.

Tomatoes are growing in the Aerogarden.   Follow the instructions for tomato planting carefully.  Make sure you are checking water levels and fertilize as needed.  Make sure you check water levels each Friday before you leave school so that the water level does not drop too low over the weekend.  CLICK HERE for the Aerogarden planting guide.

Make sure to check your water level and fertilize as needed to keep the plants healthy. Keep your lights about 1-2″ from the leaves to avoid leggy plants.  Remember If you started two plants in your Aerogardens, you might need to thin to only one plant or they will overwhelm the Aerogarden eventually. You will need to start pollinating your tomato flowers once they appear.  You will also need to do some pruning of your tomato plants to keep them growing correctly.

All of that is detailed very well in the Aerogarden Tomato Guide  –> tomato_planting_guide

 

Inside under LED lights.  

How do your plants look under the LED lights?   Make sure you continue to fertilize every two weeks as they grow.  The bigger they get the more you will have to water.

Make sure that you fertilize your outside plants every two weeks mixed in water according to the label.  Contact Katie if you need more fertilizer.  It is the pink crystal one for indoor seed starting and watering plants outside,  not the Aerogarden fertilizer.

This week the best day to transplant seedlings outdoors is Thursday. You would want to harden the plants off a little bit each day outdoors to acclimate them prior to transplanting. . 

Check out the transplanting video below to help with the process:

Any questions?  Feel free to email me at mcdermott.15@osu.edu

School Garden Week of March 6th, 2023

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!

CCS Teachers!   Send me pics of what you are growing, good and bad and let me know if is OK to publish them.  I want to share examples with your colleagues. 

Next up a weather report to get us through the week for planning on our season extension:

It looks like we have some cold weather (for the garden,  normal for March) for the next ten days or so.  I will keep watch very closely to see when we can get a window of time to plant seeds outdoors in the raised beds.  Take a look at your seeds:  we will be looking to plant some of the things that we may not have gotten a chance to plant in fall like radishes and peas later on in March.

However, If you have extra spinach and kale seeds and did not have a chance to plant last fall, you could direct sow some seed outside under the row cover this week as well.  That will give you a chance at a spring harvest to share with your kiddos. They germinate well in cold. 

Outside in the raised beds:

If you want to check your plants make sure it is a warmer day,  close to 50 degrees.  It is best to open the covers closer to the middle of the day when it is a little warmer, and then close the covers up tight after you view plants or take a harvest in order to build the heat back up under the cover to protect the plants.  You will need to make sure the row cover is in place Friday for sure as we get cold again this weekend.  Make sure you do not have plastic over your row cover if you were using that to provide extra protection as we will have needed rainfall for the plants and the rain will pass right through row cover, but not plastic. If you have been using plastic as supplemental heat you will probably need to water as it may be dry in the raised bed. Make sure to fertilize when you water as the outdoor plants will need the feeding. 

Here is my lettuce growing under cover. I direct seeded spinach about ten days ago and have good germination. I need to get out to thin the seedlings soon.

Inside in the Aerogarden:

Last month we planted tomatoes in the Aerogarden.   Follow the instructions for tomato planting carefully.  Make sure you are checking water levels and fertilize as needed.  Make sure you check water levels each Friday before you leave school so that the water level does not drop too low over the weekend.  CLICK HERE for the Aerogarden planting guide.

I check the water every other day right now as the tomatoes are growing fast. I need to move the lights similarly. I pollinate and prune according to the Aerogarden tomato care guide linked below.

 

 

Make sure to cover up your unused holes in your Aerogarden. That keeps fungal disease from growing in the nutrient solution.

Tomatoes are growing fast in the Aerogarden right now. Make sure to check your water level and fertilize as needed to keep the plants healthy. Keep your lights about 1-2″ from the leaves to avoid leggy plants.  Remember If you started two plants in your Aerogardens, you will need to thin to only one plant or they will overwhelm the Aerogarden eventually. You will need to start pollinating your tomato flowers once they appear.  You will also need to do some pruning of your tomato plants to keep them growing correctly.  All of that is detailed very well in the Aerogarden Planting Guide linked below:

Aerogarden Tomato Guide  –> tomato_planting_guide

 

The Aerogarden website has a tremendous amount of content to assist with maintenance of the units, troubleshooting problems, or how to take care of the plants in the system.  CHECK IT OUT if you are having problems. Make sure to check your water level every week one or two times and add as needed.  Add fertilizer when needed according to the directions.   Email me if you have questions about that.

 

Inside under LED lights:  Review the video below to make sure you are thinning your seedlings under the LED lights as well as for the planting technique for broccoli if you need a refresher.  

This month’s seed starting under LED lights is broccoli.  Let me know if you are having any problems or if you have some great pics to share.  Start fertilizing using bottom watering technique once you have some leaves on the plant.

The lettuce started last month is looking good.  You can harvest the larger leaves off the plant to taste with your students,  you can harvest the whole baby head of lettuce to taste with students, or you can let it grow a little bit longer.  Make sure you continue to fertilize every two weeks as they grow.  The bigger they get the more you will have to water.

Make sure that you fertilize your outside plants every two weeks mixed in water according to the label.  Contact Katie if you need more fertilizer.  It is the pink crystal one for indoor seed starting and watering plants outside,  not the Aerogarden fertilizer.

This week is not ideal for transplanting.  If you really need to get plants outside due to space issues under your lights then email me and we will come up with a plan. 

Any questions?  Feel free to email me at mcdermott.15@osu.edu