One challenge of having a school garden in the Northeast is that most of the growing season takes place when students are not in school. In Norwich, we are fortunate to have extended learning programs that take place during the summer, so that students can have the full benefits of our school gardens. That being said, there is so much to do and see in the garden during the fall while school is in session. The main activities taking place in the garden now are planting, seed saving, and harvesting.
Planting
It’s not too late to start another round of cabbage, broccoli, kale, collard greens, turnips, snow peas, lettuce and spinach. These crops thrive in the cooler days of autumn. Leaf vegetables like lettuce, spinach and kale are less likely to bolt and develop an unpleasant taste. Cabbage heads are less likely to split during the cooler weather. Many vegetables taste sweeter when grown during the cool season! Sugar water freezes at a lower temperature than plain water, and crops that are adapted to cool conditions such as lettuce and kale will produce more sugars in their sap in response to cool temperatures, to preserve themselves from freezing.
Seed Saving
In the fall, seeds mature from summer crops that have been allowed to go to seed. Seed saving is the process of selecting your best fruit and vegetable specimens, and collecting their seeds to plant next year. Over time, this process produces cultivars of fruits and vegetables adapted to local conditions. It also is frugal and sustainable. Many resources on seed saving are available (I’ve linked to one of my favorites below), and most crops are easy to save seed from once you know how to.
An excellent resource for saving seeds in school gardens is available for free online. Here is the link:
A Handful of Seeds: Seed-Saving and Seed Study for Educators – lessons linked to California educational standards, practical information on seed saving for school gardens, and history/lore
Harvesting
One of the best parts of fall gardening is harvesting and tasting the abundant ripe fruits and vegetables. This afternoon, Kelly Middle School students tried watermelon from the garden with their lunch! The garden is also still producing loads of tomatoes, beans, peppers, cucumbers, okra, cabbage and zucchini.