This is a weekly look at what is happening in the school garden to assist teacher educators engage their students in agriculture.  It can be used by garden students of all ages however!

Have you been using the Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons guidebook to assist you with your growing?

Want to learn what Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons (GTS) is?  Check out the Guidebook HERE and the 20 Online Modules HERE!  It is a great way for a teacher to learn how to engage their kiddos in agriculture in a data driven and teacher tested method based on the academic calendar. 

Lets take a look at the weather:

Outside in the raised beds:

This month’s GTS work in the raised beds is getting the collard greens transplanted.   Then you do not have to mind them under the LED lights.  If you need to transplant them this week, make sure to harden them off by letting them spend a few hours outside to acclimate to the weather and wind for a few days prior to transplanting. Check out the video below for guidance.

• It looks like this week has some good growing weather.
• Make sure you water before you leave for break or the weekend.
• Your plants should be fertilized according to the package directions to maintain good growth.

Here is a video that show how to safely harvest and store your fresh leafy greens

Here is a video on transplanting

Inside under LED lights:  

This month you are maintaining collard greens under LED lights for transplanting outside in the raised beds later this month or for maintaining under the lights to harvest in the classroom.

• Make sure to fertilize according to the directions with the pink fertilizer.
• Water as needed.  They are growing fast!
• Make sure to check and water on Friday before you leave.
• If they are ready to transplant, see the video and guidance above.
• Email questions to me at mcdermott.15@osu.edu

After you get the collard greens transplanted outside, if you have no other plants under the LED lights, make sure to clean all your pots and trays and store them with the lights, including the cord, in a safe spot for next semester.

Keep the tomato under the lights by pruning as needed.

I need some better pics of tomatoes in Aerogarden Harvest units.  Does anyone have a pic to share?  Send them my way!

Aerogarden has some great information on planting on their website.  CLICK HERE for their product manual website.

Click HERE for the Aerogarden planting guide for tomatoes.

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. 

Lets take a look at the weather:

Outside in the raised beds: 

This month’s GTS work in the raised beds is getting the collard greens transplanted.  It would be great to get them into the beds to grow before Spring Break if that timeframe works for you.  Then you do not have to mind them under the LED lights.  If you need to transplant them this week, make sure to harden them off to the cold, plus make sure they go under row cover.  Next week’s weather looks better for transplanting if possible.  Check out the transplanting video for guidance.

• It looks like this week has some good growing weather plus some overnight cold temperatures
• We got lots of rain last week, so your garden should be good to go for water right now, check again Friday before the weekend.
• If you do want to harvest: Make sure to wait until the season extension garden cover is fully thawed before you pop open and check the plants. The best time to do this will be around mid-day. Replace the season extension garden cover after you harvest to let the heat build back up. 
• Make sure the season extension garden cover is secure on Friday before you leave for the weekend.

Here is a video from the GTS Online Modules to learn more about Season Extension

Here is a video that show how to safely harvest and store your fresh leafy greens

Here is a video on transplanting

Inside under LED lights:  

This month you are maintaining collard greens under LED lights for transplanting outside in the raised beds later this month.  I put some guidance on this in the raised bed paragraph above. Let me know if you have any questions.

• Make sure to fertilize according to the directions with the pink fertilizer.
• Water as needed.  They are growing fast!
• Make sure to check and water on Friday before you leave.
• If they are ready to transplant, see the video and guidance above.
• Email questions to me at mcdermott.15@osu.edu

After you get the collard greens transplanted outside, if you have no other plants under the LED lights, make sure to clean all your pots and trays and store them with the lights, including the cord, in a safe spot for next semester.

Keep the tomato under the lights by pruning as needed.

I need some better pics of tomatoes in Aerogarden Harvest units.  Does anyone have a pic to share?  Send them my way!

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

Aerogarden has some great information on planting on their website.  CLICK HERE for their product manual website.

Click HERE for the Aerogarden planting guide for tomatoes.

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. 

Lets take a look at the weather:

Outside in the raised beds:

• This looks like we may just want to leave the beds closed and growing.  
• If you do want to harvest: Make sure to wait until the season extension garden cover is fully thawed before you pop open and check the plants. The best time to do this will be around mid-day. Replace the season extension garden cover after you harvest to let the heat build back up. 

Here is a video from the GTS Online Modules to learn more about Season Extension

Here is a video that show how to safely harvest and store your fresh leafy greens

Inside under LED lights:  

This month’s seed starting under LED lights is collard greens, for transplanting outside in the raised beds later in the spring. 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. Email questions to me at mcdermott.15@osu.edu

The video below shows how to seed start kale.  It would be the same process for lettuce, bok choy, collard greens, and spinach.  The spinach will take at least a week to germinate however, while the other seeds will germinate in just a few days.

All of the seedlings we are planting now can will be able to be transplanted outside later on, or if you want to let them grow indoors until they are harvested you can do that too.

Thinning seedlings is very important so that they grow properly without competing with each other.  Here is a thinning video to answer any questions you have.  Remember to bottom water the seedlings prior to thinning so that they slip out OK.  If they are too tangled, gently use scissors to remove the unwanted seedling.

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Inside in the Aerogarden:

This month we are planting tomatoes in the Aerogarden.  If you planted herbs in the Aerogarden last semester you will need to clean out the unit before you plant your tomatoes so you can start fresh with a clean Aerogarden.  Follow the instructions for tomato planting carefully, a link to the guide is below. If you need tomato pods then contact Katie.

• Plant just one tomato pod in the Aerogarden Harvest.
• Keep the small plastic dome on the pod until germination.
• Remove the small plastic dome after the seed sprouts.
• Thin to only one tomato plant in the system.
• Keep the other holes covered with the black or white plastic caps to keep light from entering into the reservoir with the nutrient system.
• Make sure you are pruning as directed in the Aerogarden instructions.
• Make sure to pollinate your flowers to maximize your harvest!

 

One tomato pod in an Aerogarden Harvest centered in the middle to get the most light, with the rest of the holes capped off.

---

There are more than one seedling in the cup. You need to gently thin to only one tomato seedling per pod.

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

Aerogarden has some great information on planting on their website.  CLICK HERE for their product manual website.

Click HERE for the Aerogarden planting guide for tomatoes.

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. 

Lets take a look at the weather:

Outside in the raised beds:

• This looks like we may just want to leave the beds closed and growing.  
• If you do want to harvest: Make sure to wait until the season extension garden cover is fully thawed before you pop open and check the plants. The best time to do this will be around mid-day. Replace the season extension garden cover after you harvest to let the heat build back up. 

Here is a video from the GTS Online Modules to learn more about Season Extension

Here is a video that show how to safely harvest and store your fresh leafy greens

Inside under LED lights:  

This month’s seed starting under LED lights is collard greens, for transplanting outside in the raised beds later in the spring. 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. Email questions to me at mcdermott.15@osu.edu

The video below shows how to seed start kale.  It would be the same process for lettuce, bok choy, collard greens, and spinach.  The spinach will take at least a week to germinate however, while the other seeds will germinate in just a few days.

All of the seedlings we are planting now can will be able to be transplanted outside later on, or if you want to let them grow indoors until they are harvested you can do that too.

Thinning seedlings is very important so that they grow properly without competing with each other.  Here is a thinning video to answer any questions you have.  Remember to bottom water the seedlings prior to thinning so that they slip out OK.  If they are too tangled, gently use scissors to remove the unwanted seedling.

---

Inside in the Aerogarden:

This month we are planting tomatoes in the Aerogarden.  If you planted herbs in the Aerogarden last semester you will need to clean out the unit before you plant your tomatoes so you can start fresh with a clean Aerogarden.  Follow the instructions for tomato planting carefully, a link to the guide is below. If you need tomato pods then contact Katie.

• Plant just one tomato pod in the Aerogarden Harvest.
• Keep the small plastic dome on the pod until germination.
• Remove the small plastic dome after the seed sprouts.
• Thin to only one tomato plant in the system.
• Keep the other holes covered with the black or white plastic caps to keep light from entering into the reservoir with the nutrient system.
• Make sure you are pruning as directed in the Aerogarden instructions.
• Make sure to pollinate your flowers to maximize your harvest!

 

One tomato pod in an Aerogarden Harvest centered in the middle to get the most light, with the rest of the holes capped off.

---

There are more than one seedling in the cup. You need to gently thin to only one tomato seedling per pod.

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

Aerogarden has some great information on planting on their website.  CLICK HERE for their product manual website.

Click HERE for the Aerogarden planting guide for tomatoes.

Want to see what others are doing?  Check out the Columbus City School gardens at ccs_growing_teachers on Insta!