Season Extension

School Garden Week of January 8th, 2024

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!

I hope everyone had a safe and restful break.  Welcome Back!!

 

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

 

Outside in the raised beds:

Hopefully everyone’s plants made it through the holiday break under season extension garden cover.  Make sure to do a visual inspection of your outside bed, but do not remove the cover.

For this week, I recommend leaving the cover on undisturbed. No need to water when using season extension garden cover as the water passes right through it and we are getting plenty of precipitation plus the plants are growing slowly. If you are using plastic consistently, you may need to water on a day when the temperatures approach 50 degrees. 

If your plants did not make it then do not worry!  We will be able to still plant and get a harvest in other ways. Let Katie know if you do not have any more spinach or kale seed but still need to plant spinach and kale.  We will be watching for a planting time outside in the raised bed.

If you still are getting your raised bed set up, let me know so we can talk about an individual plan for you at your school.

Otherwise keep the row cover on top of the raised bed and only check when temperatures get close to or above 50 degrees.

Have questions about how your plants are doing or if they are big enough to harvest?  Just send me questions and pictures to mcdermott.15@osu.edu

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 (on pg. 3 on the GTS manual it states broccoli in March,  but we start collard greens in February and I will remind you all of that) 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. 

We have been creating videos to support this project and have 4 done so far at our OSU Extension County YouTube channel.  We get lots of questions about seed starting under the LED lights.  Check out the video below for a super quick, kid-safe (can show in class to your kiddos) seed starting video using the materials you have for the pilot:  The same technique as for kale in the video below works for spinach, kale, lettuce, and bok choy.  

 

 

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.  CLICK HERE for the Aerogarden planting guide. 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.

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.

Do you need seeds or seed starter for your project?  Contact Katie.

Any questions about your growing?  Email me at mcdermott.15@osu.edu

School Garden Week of November 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!

 

Thanks for sending me pictures!  I am responding to them as fast as possible.  Keep sending them to me,  I enjoy seeing your progress.

Let’s check out the forecast.

 

I recommend you keep the row cover over your plants due to the overnight temperatures.

Outside in the raised beds:

This month is planting of spinach and kale.

This week planting recommendations:

  • All days this week – keep your beds covered with the season extension garden cover.
  • If you have not had a chance to plant spinach and kale outdoors, you could try to plant on Thursday but would need to wait until mid-day for the beds to warm up and then cover with the season extension garden cover after you plant. This is probably our last window to plant outdoors in 2023.
  • If the season extension garden cover is frozen, do not try to open it or it may tear.

For CCS teachers if you need soil, seeds, or fertilizer let Katie know.

Thanks to Cedric for the pics of the amazing Bok Choy he is growing with his kiddos at CCPSB.

Inside in the Aerogarden:

Hopefully you have had good germination and are getting good plant growth in your Aerogarden.  Send me some pictures and I will post them in the weekly email.

 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.  

How are your plants growing under your LED lights?  Send me some pictures and I will use them in the weekly email.  You will need to fertilize every two weeks.  The fertilizer for indoor LED lights is the pink crystals delivered through bottom watering mixed according to the instructions on the package.

Tips on Bottom Watering:  We have been getting lots of questions regarding bottom watering.  Here is a step by step look at the process:

  1. Be sure to bottom water twice per week under the LED.  Watering before you leave school on Friday is recommended as one of the times.
  2. Remove the insert tray holding the pots from the the bottom tray.
  3. Fill the bottom tray half full of water.
  4. Place the pots in the water so that they can absorb water through the holes on the bottom of the pots to fully hydrate the soil.
  5. Leave them in the water for about 30 minutes until fully hydrated.
  6. Dump the extra water from the bottom tray.
  7. Replace the insert tray into the bottom tray and put the pots back into the insert tray to drain.
  8. Every two weeks add fertilizer to the bottom water according to the label.

Check out this portion of the seed starting video that shows bottom watering.

 

  • 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.
  • As your plants grow, keep the seedlings within a few inches of the LED light panel so that they do not get too leggy.

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.

 

 

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!

School Garden Week of November 13, 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!

 

Thanks for sending me pictures!  I am responding to them as fast as possible.  Keep sending them to me,  I enjoy seeing your progress.

Let’s check out the forecast.

 

I recommend you keep the row cover over your plants due to the overnight temperatures.  There are good opportunities to plant or check existing plants.  There is very little rain in the forecast so water new seeds daily until germination and water growing plants at least twice per week.  Try to make one of the watering days be Friday, if it does not rain, so it is watered over the weekend.

Outside in the raised beds:

This month is planting of spinach and kale.

This week planting recommendations:

  • All days this week – keep your beds covered with the season extension garden cover.
  • All days are good planting days for spinach and kale,  make sure to water your seeds after planting to promote good germination.
  • If you want to pop the top on row cover to take a quick peek, any day will work this week, just wait until closer to mid-day so that the micro-environment warms up. Just be sure to cover back up when done viewing the garden.
  • If the season extension garden cover is frozen, do not try to open it or it may tear.

For CCS teachers if you need soil, seeds, or fertilizer let Katie know.

Inside in the Aerogarden:

Hopefully you have had good germination and are getting good plant growth in your Aerogarden.  Send me some pictures and I will post them in the weekly email.

 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.

There are three basil seedlings in this pod. They need to be thinned until there is one left.

Inside under LED lights.  

How are your plants growing under your LED lights?  Send me some pictures and I will use them in the weekly email.  You will need to fertilize every two weeks.  The fertilizer for indoor LED lights is the pink crystals delivered through bottom watering mixed according to the instructions on the package.

Tips on Bottom Watering:  We have been getting lots of questions regarding bottom watering.  Here is a step by step look at the process:

  1. Be sure to bottom water twice per week under the LED.  Watering before you leave school on Friday is recommended as one of the times.
  2. Remove the insert tray holding the pots from the the bottom tray.
  3. Fill the bottom tray half full of water.
  4. Place the pots in the water so that they can absorb water through the holes on the bottom of the pots to fully hydrate the soil.
  5. Leave them in the water for about 30 minutes until fully hydrated.
  6. Dump the extra water from the bottom tray.
  7. Replace the insert tray into the bottom tray and put the pots back into the insert tray to drain.
  8. Every two weeks add fertilizer to the bottom water according to the label.

Check out this portion of the seed starting video that shows bottom watering.

 

Tips for early seedling care. 

Check out the seed starting video for the technique.  It is kale in the video, but the technique is the same:

  • 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.
  • As your plants grow, keep the seedlings within a few inches of the LED light panel so that they do not get too leggy.

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.

If you have transplants ready to go outside,  here is a video to watch with your kiddos to guide you on that process:

It is getting close to Thanksgiving break.  If you have good growth in your Aerogarden and you are really careful, you may want to consider taking it home if the break is a long one like last year.  I will have guidance on the indoor and outdoor growth in raised beds and under the lights. 

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!

School Garden Week of October 30th, 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!

 

Thanks for sending me pictures!  I am responding to them as fast as possible.  Keep sending them to me,  I enjoy seeing your progress.

Let’s check out the forecast.

 

It looks like our nice weather is taking a break this week.  You will need to cover up your raised beds today with season extension garden cover.  If you have plastic, it would not be a bad idea to cover your beds with the plastic overnight as well.  Make sure if you cover with plastic overnight that you remove the plastic in the morning on the sunny days or it might get too hot for your plants. 

  

Outside in the raised beds:

This month is planting of spinach and kale.

This week planting recommendations:

  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,  and Friday – keep your beds covered with the season extension garden cover.
  • Thursday and Friday – good planting days for spinach and kale,  make sure to water your seeds after planting to promote good germination.
  • If the season extension garden cover is frozen, do not try to open it or it may tear.
  • Cover your beds with season extension garden cover Friday before you leave school if the weather changes and gets cold like it did this past weekend.

For CCS teachers if you need soil, seeds, or fertilizer let Katie know.

Inside in the Aerogarden:

Hopefully you have had good germination and are getting good plant growth in your Aerogarden.  Send me some pictures and I will post them in the weekly email.

 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.

There are three basil seedlings in this pod. They need to be thinned until there is one left.

Inside under LED lights.  

How are your plants growing under your LED lights?  Send me some pictures and I will use them in the weekly email.  You will need to fertilize every two weeks.  The fertilizer for indoor LED lights is the pink crystals delivered through bottom watering mixed according to the instructions on the package.

Tips on Bottom Watering:  We have been getting lots of questions regarding bottom watering.  Here is a step by step look at the process:

  1. Be sure to bottom water twice per week under the LED.  Watering before you leave school on Friday is recommended as one of the times.
  2. Remove the insert tray holding the pots from the the bottom tray.
  3. Fill the bottom tray half full of water.
  4. Place the pots in the water so that they can absorb water through the holes on the bottom of the pots to fully hydrate the soil.
  5. Leave them in the water for about 30 minutes until fully hydrated.
  6. Dump the extra water from the bottom tray.
  7. Replace the insert tray into the bottom tray and put the pots back into the insert tray to drain.
  8. Every two weeks add fertilizer to the bottom water according to the label.

 

Tips for good germination and growth:

  • October is Bok Choy planting time under the LED lights.

Check out the seed starting video for the technique.  It is kale in the video, but the technique is the same as they are cousins.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • As your plants grow, keep the seedlings within a few inches of the LED light panel so that they do not get too leggy.

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.

If you have transplants ready to go outside,  here is a video to watch with your kiddos to guide you on that process:

We had a fun PD recently with some new methods to grow.  Here are some pics for you to enjoy of some alternate ways to grow in hydroponics in your classroom.

Here is a Miracle Gro 12 unit growing at Berwick K-8. Looking great and growing marigold, poppy, spinach, and turnip. Looking forward to seeing how they grow.

The tower garden is growing like crazy!

 

We will have snap peas to eat soon. Peas are self-pollinating.

 

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!

School Garden Week of October 23rd, 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!

 

Thanks for sending me pictures!  I am responding to them as fast as possible.  Keep sending them to me,  I enjoy seeing your progress.

Let’s check out the forecast.

We have good growing weather this week.  Make sure you water every day until germination then every 2-3 days since we have had very little rain.

While we do not need to use the season extension  garden cover this week, it is coming for the week after. Make sure to to find your cover and your PVC supports if you removed them before the summer break.  

To get great germination, water every day until your seeds germinate in your raised beds. 

Outside in the raised beds:

This week planting recommendations:

  • Hopefully you have all your planting of radishes, peas, and cilantro done.  Let me know if you do not.  I do not recommend planting peas and radishes any longer, but cilantro does well in the cold weather and can still be planted.
  • Make sure you thin your seedlings outdoors.  See some pics below of some well spaced seedlings.
  • Friday – While we have rain in the weekend forecast, I recommend you try to water 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, outdoor school gardens next to schools, playgrounds, and parking lots are generally pretty good micro-environments for growing.
  • Fertilization:  If you added some granular fertilizer from Katie before you planted, you should be good to go for awhile. If you have Shake and Feed, and have not used any this season yet, then you can apply according to the label on the package.   If not, you may need to fertilize with the water soluble pink crystal fertilizer that we use for indoor growing. Fertilize according to the label on the package.

For CCS teachers if you need soil, seeds, or fertilizer let Katie know.

Next month we are planting spinach and kale outside in the raised beds.  Make sure to contact Katie for seeds now if you do not have any.

Inside in the Aerogarden:

Hopefully you have had good germination and are getting good plant growth in your Aerogarden.  Send me some pictures and I will post them in the weekly email.

 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.

There are three basil seedlings in this pod. They need to be thinned until there is one left.

Inside under LED lights.  

How are your plants growing under your LED lights?  Send me some pictures and I will use them in the weekly email.  You will need to fertilize every two weeks.  The fertilizer for indoor LED lights is the pink crystals delivered through bottom watering mixed according to the instructions on the package.

Tips for good germination and growth:

  • October is Bok Choy planting time under the LED lights.

Check out the seed starting video for the technique.  It is kale in the video, but the technique is the same as they are cousins.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • As your plants grow, keep the seedlings within a few inches of the LED light panel so that they do not get too leggy.

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.

If you have transplants ready to go outside,  here is a video to watch with your kiddos to guide you on that process:

We had a fun PD recently with some new methods to grow.  Here are some pics for you to enjoy of some alternate ways to grow in hydroponics in your classroom.

Here is a Miracle Gro 12 unit growing at Berwick K-8. Looking great and growing marigold, poppy, spinach, and turnip. Looking forward to seeing how they grow.

The tower garden is growing like crazy!

 

We will have snap peas to eat soon. Peas are self-pollinating.

 

The cucumbers are a hydroponic variety that is all female flowers and do not need pollinated.

 

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!

School Garden Week of October 9th.

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.

We have good growing weather this week.  Make sure you water every day until germination then every 2-3 days since we have had very little rain.   While I see a little bit of low temperatures this week  I do not think we will need to use season extension to protect the baby plants at that temperature.

While we do not need to use the season extension  garden cover right now, it is a good idea to find your cover and your PVC supports if you removed them before the summer break.  Make sure to locate those materials now for when we see some frost on the ten day forecast. 

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 through Thursday – all are potential planting days for outdoor seeding.  Make sure to water seeds deeply after planting and then each day until germination.
  • Friday – While we have rain in the weekend forecast, I recommend you try to water 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, outdoor school gardens next to schools, playgrounds, and parking lots are generally pretty good micro-environments for growing.

For CCS teachers if you need soil, seeds, or fertilizer let Katie know.

This row of radishes needs to be thinned to one radish every 3-4 inches. Water before you thin to make the thinning process easier.

 

This row of radishes is thinned to the correct spacing to allow the radishes to develop.

Inside in the Aerogarden:

Hopefully you have had good germination and are getting good plant growth in your Aerogarden.  Send me some pictures and I will post them in the weekly email.

 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.

There are three basil seedlings in this pod. They need to be thinned until there is one left.

Inside under LED lights.  

How are your plants growing under your LED lights?  Send me some pictures and I will use them in the weekly email.  You will need to fertilize every two weeks.  The fertilizer for indoor LED lights is the pink crystals delivered through bottom watering mixed according to the instructions on the package.

Tips for good germination and growth:

  • 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.
  • 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!

Check out the Apple Crunch flyer below for a fun activity you can do with your kiddos.

Coffee in the Garden: A garden walk at Franklin Park Conservatory Community Garden on Sunday October 1st from 8-10am.

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.

 

Register via QR code or CLICK HERE to Register.

Here are some location maps for the garden and for parking.

Here is the community garden campus.

School Garden Week of September 18th, 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 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:

  1. 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.
  2. Save the black plastic!  Fold it up and store it for use at the end of May next year.
  3. Add some fertilizer according to the label on the package.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Make sure to thin your seedlings when they come up so that they end up about 3-4 inches apart.
  7. 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.

 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

 

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.

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!

 

Apple Crunch time is coming up!

CLICK HERE to Register for Apple Crunch

Its Garden Walk time at Bexley South Community Garden on Tuesday September 12th @ 6:30 pm

Its Garden Walk time at Bexley South Community Garden, 925 Ferndale Place.  We are going to talk over wintered planting of vegetables, what you can still plant for late harvest, garlic planting, and season extension.  The event is free and open to the public so bring your friends and your questions!

 

CLICK HERE for Directions

School Garden Week of September 4th, 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 am excited to get started growing with you and your kiddos.

Let’s check out the forecast.

It is looking a little too hot to plant today and tomorrow but then we have a welcome batch of fall weather.  Check out the planting recommendations below.

 

Outside in the raised beds:

There are some tasks we are looking to get started outdoors this week if possible.  Since the heat breaks after tomorrow we will have great planting weather going forward.  Not a lot of rain in the ten day forecast so make sure that you water every day or so until you get germination. Some action items for those who are using GTS:

  1. 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.
  2. Save the black plastic!  Fold it up and store it for use at the end of May next year.
  3. Add some fertilizer according to the label on the package.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Make sure to thin your seedlings when they come up so that they end up about 3-4 inches apart.
  7. Water as needed, 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.

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

 

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.  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.
  • 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!

 

Want to grow at home this Fall?  You are supported not only in your school but in your backyard or community garden space as well.  I did a video in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy on Fall growing you may be interested in.