Planting the Garden
Now that the garden plot in designed, it is time to plant!
First, a few tips:
If planting seeds, a great tip is to use spice shakers for children. Simply pour the amount of seeds needed for a particular plot into a spice shaker. Children can shake seeds into the soil, and this will avoid spills and dumping too much in one place.
If you have the space, consider having a “test plot” to demonstrate planting techniques before youth head off to plant their own plots.
Three ways to outline your design in the soil prior to planting, copying their quilt square design:
Use a twig, stick, or small branch to “draw” the design in the soil.
Draw the design by sprinkling white play sand.
Use carefully placed pebbles, gravel, or small stones to create the outlines of your shapes.
Second, demonstrate:
Show the angle to hold the shaker so that seeds come out easily.
Demonstrate different kinds of shaking and have a conversation about what appears to be too light, too hard, and just right
Show how to take handfuls of spare soil and sprinkle it over newly planted seeds.
Some seeds need to be planted rather than sprinkled on top of the soil. Show how to lay seed, such as nasturtiums, spaced on top of the soil, then push them gently into the soil.
Show the correct way to plant veggie plants (if doing so) – how big to dig hole, how to place plant roots, how to sprinkle soil over newly planted plant, etc.
Third, Watering tips:
Watering a newly planted salad garden can be tricky. Lots of tiny seeds are sitting on or just below the soil surface. A gush of water will send them cascading far from where they were planted. You may want to do a demo on a spare patch of bare soil.
Use a watering can or an adjustable water wand on the gentlest setting, demonstrating holding it high and slowly moving it back and forth to avoid puddles.
THINNING YOUR GARDEN
A fun way to teach how to thin your garden is to have a TASTE TEST! Once you garden is well‐established, and the children have the routines of watering and weeding established, they will wonder WHEN CAN WE EAT? A lot of times many tiny seeds usually creates too many seedlings in a small space. Removing the excess seedlings, called thinning, allows enough room for the remaining plants to grow. While you’re thinning, allow kids to taste! Rather than tossing the thinned seedlings on the compost pile, run a taste test to check out the flavors and other qualities of the veggies.
First assess the gardens to determine which lettuces and greens need thinning.
Make a chart listing the variety names, as well as the names of the youth in the group.
Decide on a rating system. You can rate each on a scale of 1 to 5, give a thumbs up or thumbs down, use different versions of smiley faces, or use an “icky,” “ok,” or “yum” rating.
Rate greens one variety at a time. Taste, share your ratings one by one, and record on the chart.
Have water on hand to drink in between tastes.
Save your ratings chart and repeat the taste test at harvest time. Has anyone’s opinion changed? Has the taste of some greens improved or declined with time?