GARDENING
WEEK 2
PLANNING YOUR GARDEN
What we would like you to learn:
1. Learn how the sun and shade are important for planting.
2. Learn about the different soil textures.
3. Learn how to test your soil before planting your garden.
EDUCATOR
Is there enough sun where I want to grow my vegetables?
• Fall and winter vegetables need 4-6 hours of direct sunlight.
• Spring and summer vegetables need 6-8 hours of direct sunlight.
North, South, East, and West: Which direction is best?
We know that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Fruits and
vegetables in your garden will be planted in rows from east to west, where
plants on the eastern side of the garden will absorb the most sun. You can
also plant rows from north to south for even sunlight. Taller plants such as
fruit trees or corn should be planted in the northern part of your garden.
This way they do not block the sunlight of the smaller plants, such as
berries or lettuces.
Activity: Draw in your favorite
fruits and vegetables in the
space provided to the right.
Remember that taller plants
should be planted in the
northern part of your garden.
WEEK 2 EDUCATOR: PLANNING YOUR GARDEN
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Materials needed: buckets with sand,
clay, silt, loam for children to see.
Let’s define some of the following terms:
Sand
Sand is the main particle in soils. You know that soil is sandy by how it
feels when you rub it between your fingers. Sandy soil is a combination of
rock, quartz, or silica. By itself, sandy soil does not have enough nutrients
to grow a healthy garden.
Clay
Clay is also a type of soil. Dry clay is hard and smooth to the touch, like a
clay pot. When wet it is very sticky. Clay is full of nutrients and is made
from small rock particles. Water and air have trouble making it through
dense clay soils so they are not the best for growing plants.
Silt
Sandy soil and clay make silt when they are combined. It is powdery to the
touch and does not stick together when it is wet.
Loam
When you mix sand, clay, and silt, you create loam. Loam breaks up easily
when it is in your hand, so air and water can easily pass through. It is the
best type of soil for growing plants.
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Testing your garden’s soil
• Just as our bodies need nutrients, plants need nutrients too. Nutrients
for plants are derived from the sun, the soil texture, and the minerals
in the soil.
• It is important to test your soil to see whether it is acidic or alkaline.
This is done using the pH scale. The pH scale ranges from 1-14 and
allows you to measure whether your soil environment is alkaline or
acidic.
• If your soil is either too alkaline or too acidic, your plants will not be
able to absorb the mineral nutrients they need to grow.
In Class: Using the pH test.
Materials needed: at home PH testing
kid to show the children.
- Demonstrate use of PH test.
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Acidic soil: Anything ranging from 1 to 6.5 is considered acidic. Calcium
and magnesium are harder for plants to absorb.
Alkaline soil: Anything between 7.5 and 14 is considered alkaline. Iron
zinc and manganese are harder for plants to absorb.
Neutral: The neutral zone is between 6.5 and 7.5 on the pH scale. This is
best for a healthy garden.
Some examples of fruits and vegetables on the pH scale:
Blueberry: 4.5
Cantaloupe: 7.5
Carrot: 6.0
On your own:
• Write in your journal about different places that could become a
garden. Think about the places around your home or that you pass
on your way to school. What does the soil look like? Where is the
sun? Discuss the steps you would need to take to plant a garden
there. Sketch a design for a garden.
WEEK 2 EDUCATOR: PLANNING YOUR GARDEN
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