Timing for Planting and Harvesting Edible Crops
Overview
One of the challenges of school gardens is scheduling planting activities so that crops are sown in the optimal season for their growth AND at a time when they will reach maturity when students are present to harvest and consume the fruits of their labors. This how-to session is about getting that timing right. You will learn about frost dates in your zone and use information typically found on a seed packet to learn to plan for crop harvest during the school year.
Free online lessons about Timing for Planting and Harvesting Edible Crops
Kids Cook Farm Fresh Food “Designing your Own Farm” (Chapter 1: Corn). This curriculum helps California’s classrooms make the connections from farm to table using cooking activities, gardening activities, and information about California agriculture. The activity includes information on the seasons in which over 30 fruits and vegetables are grown. Older students design farms and determine what they will grow in a given season.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/he/kidscook.asp
“How to Plant the Three Sisters from Three Sisters” The three sisters—corn, bean, and squash—are all warm season crops that are planted, harvested, and eaten together to provide a range on nutrients needed in our diets. This activity guides you in the order in which to do that and gives participants an understanding of how crops grow together and how gardeners and farmers stagger planting dates to promote growth.
http://blogs.cornell.edu/garden/get-activities/signature-projects/the-three-sisters-exploring-an-iroquois-garden/how-to-plant-the-three-sisters/
“Seed to Salad: School-Based Program” Timing the plantings and harvest from a salad garden is pretty easy to get right during a traditional school year. Many of the crops have a long window of time during which they can be harvested. Salads lend themselves to varying amounts of different veggies depending upon what turned out best. This activity embeds planting and harvesting a spring garden for salad into a year-long set of activities that lead up to a Salad Party at the end of the school year.
http://blogs.cornell.edu/garden/get-activities/signature-projects/seed-to-salad/
Free online resources to support efforts in Timing for Planting and Harvesting Edible Crops
Crop Planning Resources from the Creating and Sustaining Your School Garden pages. www.csgn.org/crop-planning
California Master Gardener Program. www.mastergardeners.org This website will link you to gardening expertise in your county and region. Many counties provide information on optimal planting dates specific to their area.
Food for Thought
· Do you have the resources and skills you need to successfully plan for an edible harvest?
· Are there ways you could bring your students into the work of planning for an edible harvest?
· How might this type of task connect with other subjects you teach?
Garden-Enhanced Nutrition Education (GENE) Fall 2012 Section: Timing for Planting and Harvesting
For additional resources, visit www.csgn.org/gene Timing for Planting and Harvesting Edible Crops Overview