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 after Tuesday so make sure you water as needed.

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 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.

Outdoor planting recommendations:

• Planting can be done any day this week.
• We have rain on Tuesday, if you plant after that make sure to water your raised beds until germination and then once or twice per week as needed.
• We have temperatures in the high 40’s overnight but that will not cause a problem with seedlings so you do not need to use your season extension garden cover 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!

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!

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. 

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:

1. Harvest all of the remaining produce from the outdoor raised bed.
2. Remove any weeds that are present.
3. Cover with black plastic and use landscape pins to pin down the ends, middle, and sides of the plastic.
4. Add some pavers or large rocks on top of the plastic to keep the wind from pulling the landscape pins out.
5. 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.
6. 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. 
7. 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: 

1. Clean trays and potting cups with soap and water (they are also top shelf dishwasher safe).
2. Remove the sides of the LED light and place back into the box with the light panel.
3. 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.

CLICK for a PDF of the CLOSING THE GARDEN instructions –> Closing Up Your Garden

Outside in the raised beds:

Hopefully you are harvesting and tasting with your kiddos.  Only a short time left in the year!  Make sure to enjoy the harvest.

We have had very little rain lately so water if your plants need it.  You do not need to fertilize any longer.  This week is good to get a harvest of plants to enjoy with your kiddos and then follow the clean up instructions to put your indoor and outdoor grow spaces to rest for the summer. 

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.  

Make sure to harvest any remaining plants or transplant them outdoors as you will want to get your indoor LED lights, pots, and trays cleaned and stored before summer break.

Want to grow over summer in your own garden at home?

Check out the Full Year of Growing page that has 33 videos, webinars, fact sheets, and articles designed to assist the new to intermediate growers of produce and poultry.

If you need to contact me over summer feel free to email to Tim McDermott.15@osu.edu