We had the first of what we hope will be weekly workdays in the elementary school courtyard garden last Friday.
I was relieved to see that even after some neglect during Easter/Passover break, most of my seedlings are thriving. I gotta get some of these in the ground soon!
The only things that didn't sprout too well were the broccoli and Sugar Ann peas -- this is the bush variety of sugar snap pea. So far I've been real disappointed in the percentage of Sugar Ann seeds that have germinated - less than half! I'm trying to remember if I left my packet somewhere it shouldn't have been where it affected the seeds.
Classes have started to come in to plant. Here's a group that a kindergarten class has started.
Another class is planning a Mother's Day gift.... (awww......)
And the tomatoes (Celebrity and Purple Cherokee) are going gangbusters.
We're hoping to give our perennial beds a little bit more winter color. We put in several different colored broom plants, and some Provence lavendar.
But what's got me most excited is our new berries! We have 4 new blackberry bushes and 3 new blueberry bushes.
I was relieved to see that even after some neglect during Easter/Passover break, most of my seedlings are thriving. I gotta get some of these in the ground soon!
The only things that didn't sprout too well were the broccoli and Sugar Ann peas -- this is the bush variety of sugar snap pea. So far I've been real disappointed in the percentage of Sugar Ann seeds that have germinated - less than half! I'm trying to remember if I left my packet somewhere it shouldn't have been where it affected the seeds.Classes have started to come in to plant. Here's a group that a kindergarten class has started.
Another class is planning a Mother's Day gift.... (awww......)
The Purple Opal basil is going to be such a nice contrast in the herb beds.
And the tomatoes (Celebrity and Purple Cherokee) are going gangbusters.
We're hoping to give our perennial beds a little bit more winter color. We put in several different colored broom plants, and some Provence lavendar.
But what's got me most excited is our new berries! We have 4 new blackberry bushes and 3 new blueberry bushes.
And our wee apple tree has some blossoms coming!
Now the quandry: CORN! To my surprise, there are plans to put corn (I'm guessing about 10 rows) in here and I've been asked to come up with some varieties to try.
We thought popcorn might be fun to grow with the kids -- or maybe some late sweetcorn or Indian corn that we can harvest when the kids come back after Labor Day. Can we plant both? Since my fellow committee members and I are complete novices in this department, any ideas or advice would be appreciated - no matter how corny.
Now the quandry: CORN! To my surprise, there are plans to put corn (I'm guessing about 10 rows) in here and I've been asked to come up with some varieties to try.
We thought popcorn might be fun to grow with the kids -- or maybe some late sweetcorn or Indian corn that we can harvest when the kids come back after Labor Day. Can we plant both? Since my fellow committee members and I are complete novices in this department, any ideas or advice would be appreciated - no matter how corny.
8 comments:
I can't tell you much about edible corns other than needing to be careful about which ones you put next to each other because of cross polination and such - - when I've bought seed I've bought it from Gurney's and relied on their information (it's pretty extensive).
One of the rows might be broomcorn - - it's what brooms were made of and you can also use the fibers a cake testers - - here's one link - there are many http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/broomcorn.html
have fun
w
I have never seen an elementary school that does so much with gardening! Kudos to your school and the people who put this together. I like that late season corn idea so the kids can enjoy it. Maybe check with a local farmer who grows native corn and can give a little advice?
What you and the school are doing is wonderful. Fun, educational and outdoors!
HAHAHA! Corny! Popcorn or an ornamental are both great ideas because they can be incorporated into another project like eating, making necklaces, corn husk dolls, etc. It's great that you are so involved with the school's garden. It's really important.
Sounds so much fun! And you guys are very lucky to have such a big space to garden!
Definitely yours is not an ordinary elementary school with this sort of gardening activity!! Well done.... I was a member nature club in secondary school decades ago.., yes we did garden beds and planted many veggies... Veggies were harvested during term break, and we came back disappointed.... haha... cheers! ~ bangchik
You're school garden is so amazing. I have yet to see one so organized. Hats off to you!
BTW...loved your comment about Garden Needs Attention Everywhere Disorder. I just diagnosed myself.
yea! you are doing so much for these kids.
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