POTS OR PLOTS? INDOORS OR OUTDOORS? SOIL MEDIA?
Is your garden on a windowsill, in a container, in a raised bed, or in-ground? Physical space, climate, and time will determine the size and location of your garden. However, regardless of whether your garden is in a pot or in a plot, students can get their hands dirty with a rewarding educational experience.
School Greenhouse Guide
This online guide to school greenhouses is not a complete how-to, but rather, a basic overview of key issues relevant to educators planning to run—or currently running—a school greenhouse program. It covers operational and horticultural topics, with an emphasis on how to actively involve students in maintenance and investigations. National Gardening Association
Indoor Gardening Investigations
Seeds & Transplants
Plants may be started from seed, grown from cuttings, or purchased as mature plants.
Planting Seeds Outdoors/Planting Seeds Inside to Transplant Outdoors: Seeds may be planted outdoors directly into the garden or started inside on a windowsill and later transplanted to an outdoor garden (or remain as indoor plants). California School Garden Network
Ready, Set, Grow: These are basic rules for desert-like gardening conditions. Success with School Gardens Book
Garden Care
Composting, mulching, weeding, watering, fertilizing, and pest monitoring are important tasks for the success of your outdoor garden. Planting a seed is only the first step in gardening. Ongoing use of an outdoor garden will require maintenance scheduling, continued funding, and self-assessment of your project.
Maintaining Your School Garden
Once plants are in the ground or in the pot, you will need to maintain your garden by providing for the plants' needs. California School Garden Network
Finding a Row to Hoe
Consider your garden's access to sunlight, level ground, water, and good drainage. Success with School Gardens Book
Ready, Set, Grow
See pages 71-74 for tips on mulching, weeding, thinning, and fertilizing. Success with School Gardens Book
Sustaining Your Garden
Suggestions for activities to help maintain the momentum and sustain your school garden program. California School Garden Network
