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Garden Development
byLala Kumar
Horticulture Specialist
Choosing the Best Location
• The success of your school garden depends to a great extent upon site. Even though you are probably limited in your choice of location, you should keep the following point in mind.
Choosing the Best Location
• Sunlight is absolutely necessary. Spot that receives full sunlight for at least 8-10 hours is the best. If school building is tall the garden site should be located in between South East to South West side of the building.
Choosing the Best Location
• If possible, plant your garden a distance from trees and shrubs at least equal to their height .Trees and shrubs compete with garden crops for sunlight, plant food and moisture. Never locate a garden next to walnut trees. Walnut tree produces toxin which prevent many vegetables to grow.
Choosing the Best Location
• A loose fertile, well –drained soil is the most desirable for a garden. If soil is compact and drainage is poor raised beds are preferred.
• Watering is important at all stages of growth. Access to an outdoor water faucet is must. A good garden hose delivers water 100 feet or more from an existing water hydrant.
Site selection criteriaCriteria Points
PossiblePoint Actual
Sun/Shade 40
Access to water 25
Site Security 20
Proximity to users 15
Wooded Raised Bed Construction4’x8’, 8” tall
Source: KCCG
Raised Bed Construction4’x8’, 8” tall
Source: KCCG
Cost of Raised Bed4’x8’, 8” tall
• Use rough cut cedar 2”x8”• 3 boards--2”x8”, 8’ long @ 26.67
per board= $80.01• Use Garden Mix: 50% soil and
50% compost• 1 cubic yard of Garden Mix
=$34.95• Delivery fee around $40.00 for
15 cubic yards• 4’x8’, 8” tall uses .75 cubic
yards of soil = $26.21• Total cost $80.01+
$26.21=$103.02+ deliverySource: KCCG
Reinforcement
Retaining Wall Stone Raised Bed
Cinder Block Raised Beds
• Blocks are generally 8′′x 8′′x16′′ $ coat $1.31 each
• Blocks for 4'x 8', 1.3 foot tall bed on level ground will cost around $ 57
• 1.6 Cubic yards @34.95=$56
• Total cost $57+56+delivery
Container Gardening
Cost Estimated for ½ Barrel
• Half-barrel container= 5 cubic feet• 3.6 cubic feet compressed
bale(7cubic feet loose)= $25.50• 4 cubic feet perlite = $17.95• 1 cubic yard garden mix (27 cubic
feet) = $ 34.95• Cost 0f half –barrel =$10.00
Cost Estimated for ½ Barrel• Perlite = $4.49/square foot• Pro-mix = $3.64/square foot• Garden mix soil= $1.29/square foot• 2 cu ft of pro mix @ $3.64= $7.28• 1 cu ft Perlite @ $4.49 = $4.49• 2 cu ft mix soil @ $1.29 = $2.58• Total 7.28+4.49+2.58+10.00=
$24.3
Planting Layout
Planting Layout
Plot Layout
Greenhouse Layout
Greenhouse Layout
Garden Tools• Spade & spading fork for turning
the soil• Iron rake for leveling the soil• Hoe for chopping weeds,
cultivating soil, making furrows or planting holes
• Hand Trowel for planting & transplanting
• Sprinkler can• Wheelbarrow
Soil test
• Analyze the presence of major plant nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium & magnesium
• pH level (measurement of active acidity)
• Percentage of organic matter
Growing seasons and School year
School yearAugust 3rd week to May 4th
weekSummer vacation--June, July &
AugustWinter holidays- Mid
December-Mid JanuaryJune, July & August active time
for growing and harvesting vegetables.
Growing Seasons for School Gardens
• September 1st and 2nd weeks for fall crops
• Beets, Radish, Spinach, Lettuce, Collard Greens, Turnips, Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cabbage
• Harvest by end of November• February 2nd week• Seed starting- Grow Lab
Growing Seasons for School Gardens
• March 2nd –April 2nd plant spring crops• Radish, Carrot, Spinach, Lettuce, Onion
bulbs, Chards*, Potato*• Strawberry* Day neutral (Tribute &
Tristar)• May 2nd week plant summer crops• Sweet Potato*,Tomato*
* Harvested after summer vacation
Planting Material
• Seeds/Direct seeding or Seedlings/Transplanting
• Hybrid• Non-hybrid (open pollinated)• Old open pollinated (heirloom
varieties)
Site preparation
Too many seeds
Source: Vegetable Gardening in the Midwest
Vegetable varieties
• Beets: ‘Early Wonder Tall Top’- 45 days
• Broccoli: ‘Premium Crop’- 56 days• Cabbage: ‘Stonehead’- 65 days• Carrot: ‘Mokum’ - 52 days• Collards- ‘Georgia’- 50-70 days• Kale- ‘Vates Blue Curled’- 56 days
Vegetable varieties• Mustard Greens- ‘Tendergreen
Mustard’- 40 days• Green onion -onion sets-40days• Potatoes – ‘Red Norland’ – • Radish- ‘Cherry Belle’ -25days,
‘Easter Egg’- 30days
Vegetable varieties
• Lettuce- ‘Allstar Gourmet Mix’ -28 days
• Spinach- ‘Space’ 39 days.
• Peas – ‘Sugar Bon’- 56 days
• Sweet potato – ‘Beauregard’
Watering
• Average gardener water too frequently and too lightly or shallow
• A light watering of garden every day is bad practice
• Leafy crops in general needs more water than root crops
• 1-1½′′ per week
Watering• Irrigate early morning• Apply water to the soil• Adapt your watering schedule to
weather & changing season• Deep watering to a depth of 6-8¨• Watering cans (1 gallon of water is
8 lbs.)• 1¨water on 32 Sq. ft. bed = 20 gals.
Mulching
• Keep down weeds• Conserve moisture• Maintain soil temperature• Improve plant growth & yield• Improve soil structure• Keep vegetables clean• Thickness 3-4′′
Weeding
• Remove weeds before they go to seed
• Shallow cultivation• Mulch• Proper plant densities, correct
planting time
Garden Operations
• Tilling• Planting• Watering• Thinning• Weed control• Mulching
• Insect Control• Fertilizing• Caging/trellising• Harvesting• Mowing/trimming• Trash pick-up
Growing problems
Other Resources• MU Extension Garden ‘n Grow
Program (MP 737 & MP 738)• Kansas City Community Gardens-
Beanstalk Children's Garden• Missouri Botanical Garden, St.
Louis- Doris I. Schnuk Children’s Garden
• Botanical Garden Springfield- MG Demonstration Gardens
http://www.kidsgardening.org/
http://www.communitygarden.org/
