Selecting Seeds
Starting annual vegetables and flowers from seed can be an economical and educational way to stock your youth garden. Watching seeds germinate, transform into tiny seedlings, and eventually become mature plants is a wonderful, hands-on learning opportunity. Tending seedlings helps students gain a comprehensive knowledge of plants’ basic needs and life cycles. Students will also practice plenty of math skills as they determine proper seed spacing; calculate germination rates; and measure, record, and chart plant growth.
But how do you decide what seeds to plant? As you research this with your class, you may be surprised by how many varieties you find. For example, garden catalogs can offer seeds for as many as 50 different types of tomato or 20 types of lettuce. You will see labels such as “organic” and “heirloom,” along with grower ratings and recommendations that may contradict each other. Even experienced gardeners can be overwhelmed by all the choices. This month we provide tips to help you select seeds for your youth garden program.
Selecting and Starting Annual Seeds
Lesson Ideas
Traveling with Seeds - Explore the importance of seeds to early immigrants.
Reading with Seeds - Practice reading comprehension using seed packets and catalogs.
Additional Articles
Family Room: Grow Your Own Salad Indoors - Growing greens indoors not only perks up your winter salads, it can be a conversation starter with your child or grandchild about where our food comes from.
Teens 4 Good -
A 2009 Mantis Award winner, Teens 4 Good is an innovative entrepreneurship program that revolves around a youth-led urban agriculture business.
Hansen's Natural and Native School Garden Grant Winners - Working to spread the message that "Native is Best," Hansen's and NGA are proud to announce the 2009 winners.
Welch's Harvest Grant - A new grant opportunity for school garden programs across the country.
Heinz Wholesome Memories Intergenerational Garden Award - Tips for starting an intergenerational garden program.
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