Planting the Garden

Ages 3 and up (many 30-45 minute sessions until the entire garden is planted)

Objectives:

To learn how to plant (depth and size of holes for plants or seeds)
To understand how to space plants for healthy growth
To becoming aware of proper use of tools in the garden
To become aware of the garden paths

Materials:

Plants and seeds
Gardening tools (trowels for everyone and a hoe)
Pot labels
Washable and permanent markers
Another adult

Set up:

Create the garden paths. (We used landscape fabric for paths). Ready the rows to be planted before the children come out to help. When planting with young children, try to get the help of another adult. One adult can supervise the taking of plants and seeds. The other adult can help the children do the planting.

For each plant, create two labels with a matching symbol that children can easily recognize. Place one label in the container of the plant to be planted and the matching label in its garden location. Talk to the children about the symbols and matching before they join you in the garden. Allow the children to match the pot symbol to the location symbol in the garden. Take them on a garden path walk, and ask them to be aware of their bodies in the garden.

Part One:

The children should choose their plants and find the location where they should be planted. Explain how large they should make the hole. Talk about different spacing for different plants. Do they know why the tomatoes are spaced so far apart? If plants are spaced too closely they won’t have what they need to grow, will become weak and may get diseased. If plants are spaced too far apart, more weeds will grow. (See table 1 for proper plant spacing).

Part Two:

After the plants are transplanted into the garden, start sowing seeds. Explain how deep different seeds should be planted, following the packet directions. Sow a few extra seeds that will be thinned out later. Make labels with permanent markers to show where seeds have been sown.

Part Three:

Thoroughly water all the transplants and seeds. Clean up all the tools and put them away. Wash hands and reminisce.

Questions to ask:

Why did you choose this plant?
What type of plant are you planting?
How big does the hole need to be for that plant?
Do you remember why we can’t plant seeds too deep?
What do seeds need to germinate?
Why do we pat the seeds down once we plant them?
Why do we water everything after we plant it?
How long will it take for the seeds to come up through the ground?
Why don’t the roots grow up and leaves grow down?
What will happen if we put a plant in the ground upside down? (Try it!)
Why are worms good for the soil?
What is the name of the tool you are using?
Why should we clean up our tools after we are through planting?