Starter Plants Pot Planting

This week at our Uptown Good Food and Bronx Park East Farmer’s Markets, Uptown and Boogie Healthy Project arranged an activity where kids who were interested in participating created starter plants using plastic planters, seeds and organic greenhouse soil. The materials were sourced from our inventory at the Saint Nicholas Miracle Garden. This activity was run on Saturday July 12 and Sunday July 13 by our interns Clair Oduwa and Tiffaney Batista. The aim of this activity was to demonstrate that growing and harvesting plants is a practice that is accessible to everyone, regardless of outdoor space. Through in-depth instruction by our interns, our participants learned how to care for seedlings in a variety of settings. Our instruction allowed them to gain the tools needed to care for plants efficiently so that they can thrive in their new homes. Our activity was interactive and engaging, as we allowed the kids to make choices about the type of plant they wanted to care for. Our interns provided a wide variety of seeds for our participants to choose from, ranging between vegetables, flowers, and herbs. Some of our choices included sunflower, basil, okra, lavender, lettuce greens, peppermint, cayenne pepper, parsley, and sorrel. Children were also able to scoop soil themselves from out bucket, encouraging them to be engaged in the planting process, even if it gets a little messy!

Our interns ensured that kids learned how to promote the growth of their seeds so that they can transition into seedlings. They also made sure to account for several internal and external factors that can affect the nutrition and growth of their plants. Internal factors that were discussed included light, water, nutrients, fertilization and external factors that were mentioned included climate, temperature, air circulation, and number of seeds for each planter. For example, our interns made it a priority to explain that seeds for plants such as peas, beans, sage, oregano, thyme, dill and calendula all require using less seeds in the gardening process because they are known to germinate and spread at a faster rate within the spaces that they are originally planted in.

With the involvement of both the Harlem community (Uptown Good Food) and the Bronx community (Bronx Park East), we had a total of 20 kids join us to make their own plants with seeds and other supplies provided by us, making this activity local and accessible to our communities. All while promoting the idea of teaching kids the importance of farming and growing their own crops. This activity of planting and caring for your own seedlings is a great way to encourage the local youth to find ways to connect with nature and agricultural practices using simple gardening techniques. We hope that this activity also encourages the children who participated to build their own positive experiences with caring for the environment and relieving stress while building healthier agricultural habits. This activity takes about 5 – 10 minutes. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to create your own mini garden/planting using planters.

Supplies:

• Any Pot of your Choice must have holes on bottom (square, round, sheet)
• Organic Soil
• Seeds (any seeds of your choice)
• Shovel
• Painter’s Masking Tape
• Sharpie

Step-By-Step Instructions:

Start by filling your pot halfway with soil using your shovel. You should have enough room to pour the same amount of soil twice. Spread your seeds in the pot. This step is very important because different seeds grow differently in planters, some planters require less seeds. Cover seeds lightly with soil until the planter is full using your shovel. Leaving space 2-3 centimeters from the surface. Water gently and place in sunlight. Wrap your pot using your masking tape and label the type of seed you are using and the current date. This activity is as fun as it is also helpful to the environment. Caring for these plants is a necessity to keep these plants healthy and thriving. Here are some helpful tips to care for your plants.

First, check your planting zones so you are aware of the different areas your plant is most likely to grow well in. Plants do well in specific environments, temperature, or even more adaptable in outdoor conditions so knowing that information tends to be helpful. When growing your plants, it is best understood that some vegetables like lettuce, grape tomatoes, bell peppers, kale and radishes are pot friendly because they grow short or long enough to fit in a half gallon or gallon pot. Others might require you transport it to a bigger pot or garden. Plants need between 12 – 16 hours of direct sunlight per day. So, try to give them as much light as they need.

A very easy mistake to avoid is overwatering your plants. When watering it's best to listen to your plants. If your plants end up looking dry and light, they likely need more water until they’re moist and dark, however avoid overwatering in the process. Another way to water your plants is by placing a bowl filled with water wide enough to hold your planter under your planter and the soil will soak up the right amount of water. Once again, avoid using too much water in the bowl. Trimming your plants when they get a few inches tall. It will seem painful to do at first, however, it is necessary for your plants to grow taller and stronger in the long run.

Lastly, build your own compost. Compost is filled with tons of nutrients which your seeds soil and roots love. Creating your own hay sticks, dry soil and old recyclable food straps is a great way to strengthen the health of your plants.