Background
Information
Lesson Plan
Ideas and Suggestions
How
Does My Garden Grow?
Planning your garden on paper is a good way to begin your growing season. Use graph paper to lay out your garden plan. Remember that gardening in beds instead of rows does not necessarily require the conventional rectangular bed. If you have a little piece of available land in a triangular or circular shape, go ahead and prepare your soil. After all, geometry doesn't mean a thing to a radish. Mark each bed on the paper, allowing room for pathways. That way, you can work around each bed easily without compacting the soil.
Put sun-lovers like tomatoes, corn, melons, peppers, and cucumbers where the sun lingers. Put the shade-tolerant crops, or those that tend to bolt, in the shadier places. To conserve space in your garden, plant sprawling vegetables like melons, squash, and pumpkins on the ends of the beds bordering the garden, where they can get the growing room they need while using very little bed space.
Covering the Basics
Regardless of your garden's final form, you'll need to pick a location that receives a minimum of six to eight hours of sunlight each day. Make sure it's set away from trees or other vegetation that will leach soil nutrients away from your plants. Trees can take sustenance from the soil in an area as far reaching as the tree's widest branches. Remember that vegetables planted in beds make better use of your available space. They can be tucked into most areas that get enough sun, such as flower borders, window boxes, or on trellises or fences. Cucumbers grown on a fence, for example, need a space only two-and-a-half feet wide.
Calculate your planting schedule and write on your garden plan the dates you will set out seed and plants and begin harvest. Keep it as a reference for next year's planting dates and to manage crop rotation.
Raised Beds
The raised beds work well for student gardens. A system of beds allows the student gardeners to concentrate soil preparation in small areas, resulting in efficient use of soil amendments, an ideal environment for vegetable growth and a whole lot less work for everyone.
Ideal size for the raised beds is 4'X 8'. This size allows the students to work from either side of the bed, without having to walk on the soil. Borders for the raised beds can be used railroad ties, landscape timbers, 2" X 8" or 2" X 10" boards.
Several raised beds can be constructed and a group of students assigned to each bed.
Soil Preparation
Soil preparation is the key to successful gardening. Soil preparation should be started in the fall by tilling to loosen the soil. It also helps to till in organic matter such as leaves, compost, grass clippings, etc. This organic matter will rot over the winter enriching the soil. A roto-tiller is the fastest and easiest way to prepare the soil. In the Spring the garden should be tilled again, making sure there are no dirt clods remaining. If a tiller is not available a spading fork can be used to work the soil and prepare a smooth, weed free, clod free and rock free seed bed. A good, all-purpose fertilizer can be worked into the soil at this time.
Planting
Check with your county Extension Agent about planting times for different vegetables. This should be done in the fall or winter for spring planted gardens. Check with neighborhood feed stores and garden supply centers. They might provide seeds and in some cases maybe even gardening tools and supplies for a school garden.
After the garden is planted the soil should be kept moist, not wet, until the seeds sprout. Students should be given the opportunity to watch and measure the progress of their garden. They should keep it weed free. (Make sure they know the difference between their vegetable plants and weeds.)
Your County Extension Agent and your local Master Gardener volunteers are great sources of advice and assistance.
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