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.
Outside in the raised beds:
There are some tasks we are looking to get started outdoors this week if possible. Some action items for those who are using GTS:
It looks like we will have pretty good rain this week. This will allow your baby spinach and kale seeds to get good root growth.
Make sure you have your season extension garden cover and low tunnels good to go as we need them for the cold overnights. I recommend you use the cover this entire week and likely for the rest of the winter.
You may be getting a harvest now, Send me pics of your produce!! Make sure to let the season extension garden cover thaw before you try to open the cover to water or to harvest. Around mid-day is best. Then replace the cover.
I got some questions about the hardening off process. There is a great video that I linked below, in the online GTS modules.
If you have any transplants that need to go outside, wait until mid-day to put them out, water them in deeply, then cover the raised bed with season extension garden cover.
Inside in the Aerogarden:
Hopefully your Aerogarden herbs are doing great. Let me know if you have any questions and feel free to send me some pics! Any CCS teachers who need supplies should contact Katie.
I want to thank all of our Veterans who sacrificed to keep our country safe. Thank You!
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.
Outside in the raised beds:
There are some tasks we are looking to get started outdoors this week if possible. Some action items for those who are using GTS:
If you did not get a chance to plant spinach and kale seeds last week, I recommend you get them planted this week so we can get some good germination and early growth before the winter.
Make sure to water the seed bed until your seeds germinate. Kale germinates quickly, usually in a few days, spinach can easily take a week until you see germination.
Make sure you have your season extension garden cover and low tunnels good to go as we need them for the cold overnights. I recommend you use the cover this entire week and likely for the rest of the winter.
If you planted last week, you should see some germination. Make sure to go outside to the raised beds and give the plants a good watering at the beginning of the week and again on Friday before you leave for the weekend.
Otherwise we have some good growing weather this week!
You may be getting a harvest now, Send me pics of your produce!! Make sure to let the season extension garden cover thaw before you try to open the cover to water or to harvest. Around mid-day is best. Then replace the cover.
I got some questions about the hardening off process. There is a great video that I linked below, in the online GTS modules.
If you have any transplants that need to go outside, wait until mid-day to put them out, water them in deeply, then cover the raised bed with season extension garden cover.
Inside in the Aerogarden:
Hopefully your Aerogarden herbs are doing great. Let me know if you have any questions and feel free to send me some pics! Any CCS teachers who need supplies should contact Katie.
We should have Bok Choy growing under the lights right now.
Make sure you have all of the pots, seed starting mix, lights, cord and timers needed for indoor planting. 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 bok choy.
Remove the humidity dome after germination.
Thin to one seedling per pot as shown in the video.
Are you getting ready to harvest? Here is a video for safe harvest and storage.
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 see what others are doing? Check out the Columbus City School gardens at ccs_growing_teachers on Insta!
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.
Outside in the raised beds:
There are some tasks we are looking to get started outdoors this week if possible. Some action items for those who are using GTS:
Make sure that you have your seed for spinach and kale as those can be planted this week.
Make sure you have your season extension garden cover and low tunnels good to go as we need them for the cold overnights.
I got some questions about the hardening off process. There is a great video that I linked below, in the online GTS modules.
This Week Outdoors
We have not gotten much rain at all in the past couple of weeks and we have the return of warm weather. Make sure to go outside to the raised beds and give the plants a good watering at the beginning of the week and again on Friday before you leave for the weekend.
Otherwise we have some good growing weather this week!
You may be getting a harvest now, Send me pics of your produce!!
I recommend you use season extension garden cover this week, we have some colder nights in the forecast.
If you have any transplants that need to go outside, wait until mid-day to put them out, water them in deeply, then cover the raised bed with season extension garden cover.
Here is a quick and engaging video with information on best varieties to seed or plant directly. Check out the hardening off video above if you have questions about that.
Inside in the Aerogarden:
Hopefully your Aerogarden herbs are doing great. Let me know if you have any questions and feel free to send me some pics! 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. 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 bok choy.
Remove the humidity dome after germination.
Thin to one seedling per pot as shown in the video.
Are you getting ready to harvest? Here is a video for safe harvest and storage.
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 see what others are doing? Check out the Columbus City School gardens at ccs_growing_teachers on Insta!
Home Hydroponics is one of the most popular classes I get asked to teach. I get lots of questions from clients on this topic including what can I grow, what kind of lights do I need, how does this system work. It can be a little bewildering but the benefits are amazing! All this will be addressed at The Urban Farm Church on 11/13 at 6pm. This class is free and open to the public but does require registration (so they know how many snacks to make!) so bring your friends and your questions! If the weather is nice we can do a little garden walk too!
Table top unit growing eight heads of lettuce in less than a month!
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.
Outside in the raised beds:
There are some tasks we are looking to get started outdoors this week if possible. Some action items for those who are using GTS:
Make sure that you have your seed for spinach and kale as those will be planted soon.
Make sure you have your season extension garden cover and low tunnels good to go as we need them for the cold overnights.
This Week Outdoors
We have not gotten much rain at all in the past couple of weeks and we have the return of warm weather. Make sure to go outside to the raised beds and give the plants a good watering at the beginning of the week and again on Friday before you leave for the weekend.
Otherwise we have some good growing weather this week!
You may be getting a harvest now, Send me pics of your produce!!
You may or may not need to cover with season extension garden cover during the week, but I do recommend you use the season extension garden cover for the upcoming weekend based on the forecast.
If you have any transplants that need to go outside, wait until mid-day to put them out, water them in deeply, then cover the raised bed with season extension garden cover.
Here is a quick and engaging video with information on best varieties to seed or plant directly.
Inside in the Aerogarden:
Hopefully your Aerogarden herbs are doing great. Let me know if you have any questions and feel free to send me some pics! 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. 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 bok choy.
Remove the humidity dome after germination.
Thin to one seedling per pot as shown in the video.
Are you getting ready to harvest? Here is a video for safe harvest and storage.
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 see what others are doing? Check out the Columbus City School gardens at ccs_growing_teachers on Insta!
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?
There is a ton of information in the guidebook but also in the 20 Online Modules including kid-friendly videos to assist you with your indoor and outdoor planning. The online modules are free and easy to use and include a new Introductory Video that walks you through the GTS process. Click to access the Online Modules.
Pull out the season extension garden cover this week! We have some chilly nights!!
Outside in the raised beds:
There are some tasks we are looking to get started outdoors this week if possible. Some action items for those who are using GTS:
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.
This Week Outdoors
You can plant seeds outdoors any day this week. Make sure to water until germination plus on Friday before you leave. I would wait until about mid-day to plant if you are going to do so, then I would water the seeds in, and cover the seed bed with the season extension garden cover due to our cold nights this week.
You may be getting a harvest now, Send me pics of your produce!!
Our September planting outdoors was radishes, peas, and cilantro. I still recommend you plant radishes and cilantro if you have not had a chance, peas probably will not have enough time to mature. Make sure to water them until they germinate and to thin them. Check out the GTS modules for a thinning video to help you with this. Or watch it right here:
If you have any transplants that need to go outside, wait until mid-day to put them out, water them in deeply, then cover the raised bed with season extension garden cover.
Here is a quick and engaging video with information on best varieties to seed or plant directly.
Inside in the Aerogarden:
Hopefully your Aerogarden herbs are doing great. Let me know if you have any questions and feel free to send me some pics! Any CCS teachers who need supplies should contact Katie.
Our October Seed Starting is Bok Choy and it needs to be started right away. Check out the seed starting video below which uses kale, but works the exact same for Bok Choy.
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 bok choy.
Remove the humidity dome after germination.
Thin to one seedling per pot as shown in the video.
Are you getting ready to harvest? Here is a video for safe harvest and storage.
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 see what others are doing? Check out the Columbus City School gardens at ccs_growing_teachers on Insta!
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?
There is a ton of information in the guidebook but also in the 20 Online Modules including kid-friendly videos to assist you with your indoor and outdoor planning. The online modules are free and easy to use and include a new Introductory Video that walks you through the GTS process. Click to access the Online Modules.
Let’s take a look at this week’s weather. Looks like we have no rain predicted so we need to make sure to water the plants at least twice per week, making sure to water on Friday before the weekend.
Outside in the raised beds:
There are some tasks we are looking to get started outdoors this week if possible. Some action items for those who are using GTS:
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.
This Week Outdoors
You can plant seeds outdoors any day this week. Make sure to water until germination plus on Friday before you leave.
While it is getting a little chilly this week overnight, we should be fine with our cold tolerant plants and not need to cover them. I do recommend you make sure you have your season extension garden cover ready to go as we will use it soon enough!
You may be getting a harvest now, Send me pics of your produce!!
Our September planting outdoors was radishes, peas, and cilantro. I still recommend you plant radishes and cilantro if you have not had a chance, peas probably will not have enough time to mature. Make sure to water them until they germinate and to thin them. Check out the GTS modules for a thinning video to help you with this. Or watch it right here:
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.
Our October Seed Starting is Bok Choy and it needs to be started right away. Check out the seed starting video below which uses kale, but works the exact same for Bok Choy.
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 bok choy.
Remove the humidity dome after germination.
Thin to one seedling per pot as shown in the video.
Are you getting ready to harvest? Here is a video for safe harvest and storage.
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 see what others are doing? Check out the Columbus City School gardens at ccs_growing_teachers on Insta!
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?
There is a ton of information in the guidebook but also in the 20 Online Modules including kid-friendly videos to assist you with your indoor and outdoor planning. The online modules are free and easy to use and include a new Introductory Video that walks you through the GTS process. Click to access the Online Modules.
Well, how about that rain! Your outdoor plantings in the raised beds got a much needed drink. Hopefully they are thriving. Send me some pictures!
Outside in the raised beds:
There are some tasks we are looking to get started outdoors this week if possible. Some action items for those who are using GTS:
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.
This Week Outdoors
You can plant seeds outdoors any day this week. We had good rain on already planted seedlings, but if you still need to plant, make sure you water on Friday before you leave for the weekend.
Our September planting outdoors is radishes, peas, and cilantro. I still recommend you plant them if you have not had a chance, you can enjoy them next month. Make sure to water them until they germinate and to thin them. Check out the GTS modules for a thinning video to help you with this. Or watch it right here:
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.
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.
Are you getting ready to harvest? Here is a video for safe harvest and storage.
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 see what others are doing? Check out the Columbus City School gardens at ccs_growing_teachers on Insta!
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.
A great week to plant with rain coming over the weekend to assist germination.
Outside in the raised beds:
There are some tasks we are looking to get started outdoors this week if possible. Some action items for those who are using GTS:
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.
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, 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.
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.
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!
Send me some pics! I know we have some growing going on right now!
Guess what? The online modules to support Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons are LIVE!! You can access them HERE, or check out the go link –> go.osu.edu/GTS
Thank You Teachers! You are Awesome! I have enjoyed this past school year tremendously working with you and seeing the amazing job you are doing with your kiddos.
CCS GTS Teachers! It is time to get a last harvest and get your growing spaces cleaned and put to rest for the summer.
With only a few weeks left in the season it is time to think about harvesting and then cleaning up your indoor and outdoor spaces for the summer. I highly recommend that you do not garden during the summer in your outdoor space unless you need to do that for programming. Harvest your produce, pull any weeds, and then cover the raised bed with black plastic. That will prevent weeds and soil loss so that your outdoor agricultural space is ready to go in the fall when school starts back up. Enjoy your summer!
Closing Up Your Garden
Please be sure that all of your garden systems are closed up before you leave for the summer. We are getting closer to the last day of the year and now is a good time to engage your students to assist you with garden clean up. Here is some helpful information from Katie.
Outdoor Raised Bed:
Harvest all of the remaining produce from the outdoor raised bed.
Remove any weeds that are present.
Cover with black plastic and use landscape pins to pin down the ends, middle, and sides of the plastic.
Add some pavers or large rocks on top of the plastic to keep the wind from pulling the landscape pins out.
If there is an issue with vandalism at your site, you may want to take your white hoops off of your bed and store them in your classroom.
The black plastic is important because it will keep your garden free of weeds and pests over the summer. Then in August, all you will need to do is roll back the plastic, mix up your soil, and you are ready to plant. Please be sure to fold up this black plastic and store for use the following May. This item will not be replaced each year.
Be sure to clean and fold up your fabric row covers and clips and store them for the following year. These items will not be replaced each year.
Row Cover Cleaning:
Row cover can be washed by hand in a sink or large tub of hot soapy water and then rinsed a few times in clear water. Or you can wash it in a washing machine on the gentle or delicate cycle. It’s best to dry it in the sun as it will also help disinfect it and brighten it.
Indoor Grow Stations : Cleaning your AeroGarden
Start by dismantling your garden and cleaning out your indoor plants and any leftover roots. Roots can grow into the filter, so be sure to clean it out and reinstall after you’ve finished cleaning the bowl. If the filter looks too worn, replace the filter to prolong the life of your pump. Be careful not to throw away your filter by accident! It’s easy to do when removing plant roots.
After clearing out the roots, you should clean and sanitize your AeroGarden® hydroponics growing system to help prevent the growth of root pathogens that can destroy your live plants. There are various ways to clean your garden:
If you have a dishwasher:
Put your grow deck and bowl in the top rack of the dishwasher.
Run through a warm or cold water cycle (do not use a hot water or heat dry cycle).
Reassemble to start your next round of gardening.
If you don’t have a dishwasher:
Fill the bowl with either water and a ¼ cup of chlorine bleach OR 5 cups of distilled white vinegar (no need to use water if you’re using the vinegar). Vinegar also helps prevent and clean up mineral deposits in your garden.
Let the water pump or aerator circulate the solution for 5 minutes.
Empty the solution, rinse well, and then fill with clear water (no bleach).
Allow the pump or aerator to circulate the clear water for 5 minutes.
Empty and rinse once more to ensure that all solution is rinsed from the bowl.
Cleaning the Grow Deck:
Sometimes roots will grow through the nozzles on the grow deck and prevent proper water flow. Separating and cleaning the grow deck of any stray roots can help keep the water flowing efficiently. The grow deck can be separated on almost all AeroGarden® models.
First, remove the grow deck from the bowl of your AeroGarden® and place it upside-down on a flat surface. Locate the tabs on the underside of the deck and push the tabs inward and down. The tabs are flexible and designed to be separated. Use a scrub brush or similar cleaning tool to remove the roots and any other debris from the grow deck. Snap back together in place.
For your LED light and seed starting trays:
Clean trays and potting cups with soap and water (they are also top shelf dishwasher safe).
Remove the sides of the LED light and place back into the box with the light panel.
Store all of the potting cups, the timer, plug, and extension cord, trays and lights in a cabinet or storage tote. If you have any extra potting mix, fertilizer, or seeds please store them with these other supplies.
I know that many of you have harvest festivals and taste testing at school. Make sure that you follow safe harvesting techniques. Here is a video to guide you.
