Emilia’s Garden Tips: How to Jump Start a School Garden

What to Plant Now for Quick Harvests

These crops need plenty of water at first to germinate and would appreciate a little shade in the late summer heat (plant in a space that gets partial shade):

• Radishes: approx. 30-40 days to maturity from seed
• Lettuces and spinach: approx. 40-50 days to maturity from seed

For a not so quick harvest but a very low maintenance, satisfying one before school lets out:

• Garlic: approx. 250-270 days to maturity; plant in October for harvest in June!

*Watering tip* Stick a finger in the soil and if it is dry up to the very first knuckle, it needs water.

Build Healthy Soil

Cut down your old plant stems at the soil level and then use cardboard (from all those boxes of new school supplies and equipment! — make sure to peel off any tape) or brown paper to cover the soil and then spread 3-5 inches of compost on top. Water it all in and plant right in the compost. 

If planting root vegetables, make sure to poke a hole with a sharp shovel through the cardboard layer so the roots are able to get through before the cardboard is fully broken down. 

If you don’t have the energy or resources for all of that, just cut down your weeds and old plants and add some compost to wherever you plant (seeds or seedlings). Make sure to find some dead leaves or plant material and spread it thickly over the top of the soil to keep it covered (retain water and block weeds). 

*We will also have free straw at our Garden Maintenance morning on September 10, 2022 from 11 AM – 12 PM* 

Cover Crop

Selected plants that will cover and improve the soil, especially good for areas that had tomatoes or another summer crop, or that are compacted and light brown. 

We highly recommend cover crops to help manage soil erosion, increase soil health, decrease weeds and pests. All you have to do is sprinkle the seeds over the soil and water them in. 

Fall cover crop options are: 

• Winter rye, winter wheat, and Austrian winter peas: can plant through mid-November
• Crimson clover and red clover: make sure to let it flower to get maximum nutrient input to your soil, can plant through mid-October
• Hairy vetch, winter barley, and oats: can plant in September, except oats need to be before 9/15

See our 6 Season Garden Maintenance Guide for more tips throughout the school year.