The Huron Expositor, 1997-04-16, Page 21SCIDS ANI) �aARI)ENtNG UOMEtftd ul!EP G(I .g
Stat on
a scale to match diild's capabilities
.Childhood development spe-
cialists have long understood the
value of gardening. (iardening
provides children with invaluable
early life creative expcxrences. It
also teaches a number of impor-
tant life lessons, including a
'strong commitment to responsi-
bility, and emphasizes the rewards
one gains from care giving and
nurturing.
Many experts believe that one
of the most rewarding experiences
a child can have is to reap the
rewards of fresh flowers, fruits
send ,vegetables grown in one's
own ganicn.
Children as young as two years
old can be successful gardeners.
The trick, however, is to stall Oft A
scale to match the youngsters'
physical capabilities and attention
spars. It's important to give chil-
dren the benefit of early success
by allowing them an easily -man-
aged garden. In some. ea'ses, it
might be just:a bed of a few flow -
CIS, or ow or iwo.tomato plants.
You willbe:amazed at bow chil-
dren thrill at the joy of discovery
Time to prepare beds...
l3rttai neasea4
healthy elan. What should a gar-
dener do?
• Test the soil; Find out whether it
bas balanced pH and sufficient
nutrient and mineral reserves to
produce healthy growth. Soil test
kits are inexpensive and available
at most lawn and garden centers,
or through your local county
extension service.
• Aerate garden beds. Turning the
soil and allowing air into it is
vital; oxygen enables microorgan-
isms to digest organic matter and
so fuels the natural cycle.
• Add compost or other organic
matter to garden beds each year.
Turn over top two to four inches
of garden bed witha spade, then
rake or spade two to four inches
dehydrated or composted manure
into soil surface. This enhances
organic matter content, improves
air, water,. and •nutrient retention,
increases drainage, and.stimulates
microorganism :activity.
• Fertilize. A wd14odgarden .bed
should not used additional fertil-
izing. But if you ,wish to give
-plants an extra boost, feed them
with all -natural. organic fertiliz-
ers.
Natural, organic fertilizers are
those which have low numbers (in
the single :digits) on the label.
These come from plant or animal
sources; they are naturally low in
nitrogen and occur on forms that
are released slowly into the soil,
so that they do not blast plants
with nitrogen and other maims,
and do not leach into aid pollute
groundwater.
Feeding plants with an ail natur-
al, organic fertilizer will make
nitrogen and nutrients available to
the plants at a natural pace over a
longer period of time; plants will
sick longer roots, store more
nutrients, and grow more slowly
and vigorously.
thy watching their very own plants
gxow, mature and bear fruit. The
'best time to kad them into niece
,.dtallenging and physically
,rdemauding tasks is after a year or
two of fairly easy success.
GETTING STAIItTI'.ilD
To get started, choose an area
where you know things will grow
or arc currently growing.
Vegetables and annual flowers
aced .a full day of sun and plenty
of water. The area you choose for
your beginning gankoer . should
be level, toacvoid having seeds or
unestablished plants run off after a
heavy rain or watering.
The time to get started is after
what gardeners call the "last fear
of frost." You want the soil warm
and dry enough to work easily
�V1
withy.*nitn ds.
;Natt,.Noar the designed garden
area of all .vegetation.Many Chia-
dren secrete like having their gar-
den staked and tied off with cord,
making this their• own special ter -
num. 'Nett, spread . compost .or
peat moss . or shredded kavas .on
the ground at the este .of !two :to
throe: inches. Add a good:gene til
garden fertilizer, about oite pauad
per.IA.square tact.'.Work this into
the soil.
The remaining preparation is.to
divide the garden into rows with
stakes and string:.Cuuault the seed
packet information to determine
how far apart rows should be and
bow deep to plant the seed.
ArTRI :PLAKEING
After the.work. of planting is done,
=tire Teal lessons of :gardening
inn), because.it is timc for''tend-
ing" before any insults are seen.
The child learns that this:reaponsi-
ibifity is necessary if:futurr'results
arr'to he realized. -
When the young plants reach
two to three inches .in height,
"thin.' . out the garden by 'pulling
out._.extra seedlings. Too many
,plaits in one bed will rob all the
plants of needed growing space
and nutrients.
'When plants reach three to four
inches_ high, its lime .to sprinkle
small amounts of fertilizer along
the side of each row, then water
lightly. An alternative :is to use a
water,suluble fertilizer, which will
allow..you to' feed and water at the
same time.
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