Identifying Problems. Help children recognize the symptoms of plant stress, then consider a "problem" as an opportunity to investigate potential causes. Some crop losses or pest problems are responses to weather patterns, which are out of our control. Other problems may be due to factors such as poor timing for planting, road salt spray, nutrient imbalance, or gardener error (e.g., not providing the correct growing conditions). After carefully observing and researching the situation, consider whether it's best to simply observe the plants to see if the situation changes, or to take action.

Resources for investigating plant problems include gardening books, the local Extension Service Master Gardeners, and the Internet. (The National Gardening Association Web site features a Pest Control Library, How-to's and other useful tools.)

Low-Impact Pest Control. Sometimes, despite all your efforts, pests and disease will strike your garden. When children are involved, it's especially important to use environmentally benign methods of combating them. (Some states and school districts, in fact, forbid the use of synthetic chemicals on or near school grounds.) We suggest trying the first three pest control options listed below before trying sprays, since the latter have an impact on non-pest organisms such as bees and insect pest predators. Students may want to consider the pros and cons of various pest control methods before choosing one.

Suggested Sprays. Always use caution when working with any spray, even those that are considered organic or low-toxicity. Be sure to follow application, storage, and disposal directions on the product label. Some sprays can damage plants if they aren't applied properly. Before spraying an entire plant, try the spray on a sample leaf to make sure the plant can tolerate it.

Weed Control. We call a plant a weed if it's growing where we don't want it to grow. The fact is, what we often call weeds are just plants doing exactly what they've evolved to do: take advantage of available space to colonize. In the process, many prevent erosion and weathering of the soil. But they also compete with our crops for light, moisture, and nutrients, so we need to keep them in check. Once you and your students learn to identify the seedlings of your crops, you'll more easily recognize the weeds.

Low-maintenance weed control begins with mulch. Students can use various kinds of mulches and compare their different characteristics, such as rate of decay, ability to suppress weeds, and ability to retain moisture. Pull any weeds that come up in thin spots in the mulch or right next to your crops.

You can use a hoe to scrape the tops off masses of small weed seedlings, or use a cultivating tool to turn them under the soil. It's important to get rid of weeds before they blossom and go to seed, or they'll end up sowing a lot more weeds for you to pull next year. Also, try to remove weed roots, as many reproduce readily from sections of roots or stems that have been left behind.

If you have questions about any pesticide, call the manufacturer (the phone number will be on the label). For pest control options beyond this list, consult with Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners in your area.

The article above is adapted from our book for educators titled 10 Terrific Vegetables. It features a wealth of basic gardening information and abundant historical and cultural connections to deepen kids' appreciation of the 10 crops we highlight. It also includes a reproducible and classroom activity for each crop that reaches across the curriculum, exploring people/plant relations, nutrition, geography, and more.
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