Stanley(r) Jr - Stanley Jr. Gardening Is Awesome!: Projects, Advice, and Insight for Young Gardeners

Projects, Advice & Insight for Young Gardeners

CHRIS PETERSON

Wouldnt it be great to have a big place to call your own, a place full of fun and adventure? Somewhere you could enjoy bright sunshine, be supercreative, do work that feels like play, and learn important things in fun ways? Well, guess what? That place is right outside your back door (or side door or front door). Whether you have a small yard, a grassy field, or a tiny concrete patio, you can grow an incredible garden full of wonderful plants that tickle your imagination, provide something delicious to eat, and impress friends and family.

Gardening is easy. You dont need to be an expert to grow a garden full of fresh herbs or delicious vegetables. Maybe youve never gardened before. That doesnt matter; you can still grow a bed of flowers or other plants. Thats because plants love to grow. With a little attention and the right gardening know-how, youll be ready to create your own dream garden.

It might be a veggie garden growing the healthiest, most delicious food there is. Or maybe youre imagining your moms smile when you surprise her with a pot full of her favorite flowers, blooming right outside the back door. Most important of all, when you grow a garden, you help the environment.

A pretty, lush garden bed like this one isnt hard to create; its just a matter of the right know-how and spending a little time making a design.

Vegetable gardens are as fun to grow as they are to eat.

The right garden can even teach you all kinds of lessonsfrom chemistry, to biology, to mathin interesting and real-world ways that are a lot less boring than classroom lessons. Thats right: your garden can make you smarter! Who knew you could grow better grades?

Start by understanding the conditions plants need to survive and thrive. Figure out your local seasons and weather, investigate the soil in your yard, and maybe amend it. How much water do your plants need? What about air circulation and pests? Youll find those answers in the first three chapters of this book.

The last three chapters are all about different types of gardens where you can put your new knowledge to work. Along the way, youll find lots of projects, experiments, and explanations about the science of gardening. Those are superfun ways to learn and see your garden in a different light. All youll need from then on is a little bit of good soil, some basic tools, a touch of sunlight, and a sprinkle of water every day or so. Your garden itself will supply the food, flowers... and the fun!

When you stand in front of a rack of seed packets or leaf through a nursery catalog, its easy to get excited for what you can grow in your garden. There are so many different plants to choose from! Of course, plants cost money and gardening takes time and effort, so its only smart to do a little homework and know everything you can about your garden and how it will serve your plants before you start gardening. That way, you wont waste time or (your parents) money.

Just like every person must have water, oxygen, food, and sleep, every plant has certain basic requirements. These include the right amounts of sunlight, water, circulating air, and nutrients. Too little, and the plant wont grow. Too much, and its likely to die.

Thats what this chapter is all aboutplant basics. We start out with the most basic information of all: what is a plant? Once you understand the physical parts that almost all plants share, its easier to grasp how plants get nutrients from soil and take up water to stay hydrated. Knowing these simple basics is the secret to growing a garden that not only survives, but really thrives and provides all the flowers or edibles you hope it will.

Once youve got these basics down, youll get to put those seed catalogs or seed packets to good use. The choice is actually kind of simple: pretty things or things you can eat (though there is a lot of crossover between the two). Youll find loads of options from on, along with all the information youll need to grow a garden in the ground, in containers, or even in raised beds that let you control everything (and make it easier to tend plants). First, though, lets cover the basics.

QUESTIONS THIS CHAPTER ANSWERS

Look around at all the plants in the world and they seem really different. But most of them share certain physical features that help them get nutrients and water, defend themselves against attack, and breathe. Knowing what these features do is your first step in giving your plants exactly what they need to grow big and reward you with plump, delicious tomatoes or huge, showy flowers. Heres an easy lesson covering the most common plant parts and how they work.