Page 29 - Bringing out the Potential In Our Children - Gardeners - Food Producers

Chapter 4: Feeding and Watering Your Plants

Now that we have things planted and growing it’s time to look at caring for

our gardens, giving your plants everything they need to flourish and create
an abundance of fresh garden produce. M-m-m!

Let your child (now a young gardener) know that plant’s just like people
need to have food and water. For a lush succulent growth give your plants
regular watering.

 The general rule is to give your plants about 1” of water a week.
 Let that budding young gardener poke their finger into the soil
to see if it feel dry. They can stick their finger right in about 3-4” and if

it feels dry it’s time to water.
 Bring out the watering can or hose and you can bring out a rain
gage for checking to see how much water you are giving your plants

plus it’s always good to have a rain gage out to measure how much
rain your garden is getting anyway. This is a good indicator if you
need to water.

 The best time for watering is in the morning.
 Teach your kids not to over water and drown their plants

making them waterlogged.

Make your own homemade water gage:

What you'll need:

 A plastic (soft drink) bottle
 Some stones or pebbles
 Tape
 Marker (felt pen)
 A ruler

Instructions:

1. Cut the top off the bottle.