Starting a School Garden
Ideas for getting started:
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Decide who will be involved with setting up and maintaining the garden. Consider perhaps one grade has one section or pots to look after. Or it could be for a club or interested students.
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Find old containers to use as pots or find a place in the school grounds to create garden beds.
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Add soil to the pots or garden. It will be helpful to use composting to nourish the soil (see compositing module). You can also add fertilizer or manure to the soil. Or consider hydroponics – see ideas below.
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Decide on your plants. You can plant seeds, seedlings or propagate from existing plants (for example: How to Grow Tomatoes Without Soil: A Comprehensive Guide).
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Water regularly (pay attention at the start until the plants are established).
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If edible, harvest plants when they’re ready.
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Have a mentor or experienced gardener to advise, if there is someone available.
Guides for vegetable/ fruit growing and composting
These ideas have been collected from a variety of sources. They provide cheap options for starting and growing a school garden. Please note that we have not individually tested each idea. Instead, we have put the source so you can read the article in full for further information.
Vegetables
How to Grow Ginger in Water: A Beginner’s Guide
Growing ginger sustainably in water. Ready to harvest in 3-4 months.
How to Grow Brinjal faster with Banana and Aloe Vera
Propagate new brinjal plants by planting brinjal vegetable stalk and end in banana. Aloe vera, honey and protein hormone are used to stimulate root growth.
The Mystery of How to Grow Tomatoes and Potatoes
Potatoes are used as a medium to propagate tomato plants. At the same time new potatoes grow in the same pot.
How To Grow Tomatoes Without Soil: A Comprehensive Guide
Outline of this alternative way to grow tomatoes. Includes steps, advantages and different types of hydroponics.
How to Grow Tomatoes from Seedlings
Step by step video guide.
Plant Sweet Potatoes Like This for Year Round Harvest
Video guide to grow sweet potatoes.
How To Grow An Endless Supply Of Garlic Right At Home
Establish and maintain continuous garlic plants grown from garlic cloves.
How To Grow Zucchini In A Pot: An effective 6 steps guide
A guide to growing zucchini in containers.
How To Propagate Banana Pepper Plants in Aloe Vera at home
Easy video guide for growing banana peppers in pots.
How To Grow Cucumbers in tyres Quickly for Harvest and High Yield
Video guide for growing cucumbers in confined spaces.
You Can Easily Grow Green Onions At Home
Don’t throw away the green onion root bulb after you have eaten the shoots. Place in water until the roots grow than plant in soil.
How to Plant, Grow and harvest Basil
Comprehensive instructions for growing basil from seed indoors or outdoors.
Discover the Secret- Grow Bok Choy Easily in Plastic Bottles
Easy video guide for growing bok choy.
Upcycling Plastic Containers for Thriving Okra Growth
Video shows how to maximise use of plastic bottles when growing okra.
Fruits
Simple step by step guide to grow a guava plant from the seeds of the guava fruit. Seeds take 2-8 weeks to germinate and are then ready to be transplanted into pots.
How to Propagate Lemon Trees, Grow Lemon Cuttings in 30 Days
Concise outline of how to establish a lemon tree cutting.
The Secret to Growing Super Fruit Vertical Garden Strawberries
Propagating strawberry plants in confined space using plastic bottles.
7 Expert Tips for growing Healthy Strawberries in Your Garden
Following the previous article about strawberry propagation, this article offers tips for successful and healthy strawberries.
How to Grow Banana Tree from Banana
Guide to raising and maintaining a banana plant outdoors or indoors.
Tips for Starting a Garden on a Low Budget
The following examples are plants that can be grown or propagated easily at home or at school.
Many examples show how you can use or repurpose waste such as bottles, tyres or pipes.
Don’t throw away cardboard tubes
These toilet paper tubes can be used as seedling planters and are if they are made of cardboard, the seedlings can be easily removed when big enough and the tube composted.
Use upside down nursery trays to stop pets and animals eating your seedlings
From: 23 Insanely Clever Ideas on Low Budget #13.
Use pallet to plant your seedings
Staple garden cloth to the other side of a pallet, fill the pallet with soil and plant your seedlings.
How to make your own vertical garden with plastic bottles
Guide to set up the vertical garden, suitable plants and maintenance.
Useful Plastic Bottle Garden Projects You Can Make Easy At The Home
From: 12 Easy and practical ideas for re purposing plastic bottles.
A variety of trellises that can be made at home
From: 19 Successful ways to Building DIY trellis for veggies and Fruits.
Make a garden fence with plastic bottles which double as planters
From: Useful Plastic bottle garden Projects you Can Make Easy At The Home #4.
Plastic bottle as water sprinkler
From: Useful Plastic bottle garden Projects you Can Make Easy At The Home #12.
17 Houseplants You Can Grow Easily In Water
Some plants will thrive indoors and grow in water. See the selection of plants and simple instructions for successful plants.
Lemon Skins Can Help Your Seedlings Grow
Lemon skin forms perfect cups that can aid in the growth of seedlings.
Growing tomatoes upside down can greatly increase the amount of tomatoes in a limited space.
From: Insanely Clever Ideas on Low Budget #15