Designed by Ashraf Al Shafaki
Objectives
By the end of this course you will:
- Understand the function of different plant parts.
- Know the basic requirements of plants.
- Be able to germinate seeds successfully.
- Be able to Use the moon as a guide for when to perform different gardening operations.
- Be able to perform fundamental gardening operations.
- Know when, how and why to prune plants.
Advantages
- Course is designed and delivered by a gardening fan making the course incredibly easy to understand without the technical clutter.
- Provides a purely organic approach to gardening without the slightest trace of chemicals being used.
Opening
The following can be used to entice participants into learning the course content. It provides them with a motivation.
- Photos of plants suffering from problems (yellow leaves, eaten leaves, diseased fruits ...). Some reasons that caused such problems. (This would be a motivator to learn the course content including knowledge about soil, plant parts and their functions ... etc.)
Package
This package is provided to participants in order to use it for the practical part of the course including assignments and the final project. The package includes the following:
- Seeds of: basil, beans, lupin
- Bags of: peat moss, compost
- Pots: small plastic pots of several sizes
- Booklet containing basic gardening information.
Videos
Use videos from YouTube to demonstrate concepts and motivate participants to carry on gardening.
Plant Parts
Main Plant Parts
Roots
- Absorb nutrients from soil.
- Fix plant in soil providing support.
Stem
- Transports nutrients to the rest of the plant parts.
- Provides support for the plant to stay erect.
- Bends in the direction of light to allow leaves to absorb more light.
Leaves
Act as both the lungs and the stomach of the plant:
- Manufacture food for the plant through photosynthesis.
- Breathes
Additional Plant Parts
Flowers
- Pollinate the plant to produce fruit.
Fruits
- Some are edible by animals and humans.
- Some Contain seeds.
Seeds
- Provide a means of propagating the plant.
- Some are edible by humans and animals.
Plant Needs
Water
Water is important for the plants for it acts as a solvent for nutrients present in the soil converting such nutrients into a solution that can be absorbed by the roots. Water is also a main constituent of plant parts as well. Moreover, water provides plants with a means to transpire and cool down.
Air
Air is important for plants in two ways. Firstly, carbon dioxide is needed by plant leaves in order to carry out the photosynthesis process during which a plant manufactures its food. Secondly, oxygen is used by the roots to grow and function properly.
Nutrients
Nutrients provide the essential elements for plants to grow and develop. Without such nutrients plans will not be able to grow their different parts nor fight disease and pests.
Light
Light is needed by plants during the photosynthesis process in order to produce food for the growth of the various plant parts.
Temperature
- Warmths: Seeds need warmth to germinate.
- Coldness:
- Some seeds need to pass through a period of cold weather in order to break out of its state of dormancy.
- Some plants need a period of cold weather in order to bear fruit.
- Different plants need different ranges of temperature in order to grow and thrive. Temperatures vary according to location and season. Hence different groups of plants are planted in different seasons and locations. However, temperature can be artificially regulated using greenhouses in order to grow plants out of season and at locations they could not have naturally been grown at.
Plant Types
Perennial
Annual
Biennial
Soil
Function of Soil
Support
Soil provides physical support for the plant by allowing the roots to hold on to it.
Nutrients
The soil provides nutrients for the plant to absorb through its roots as those nutrients dissolve in irrigation water.
Water
The soil absorbs and retains water to provide the plant with through its roots.
Air
The soil provides air necessary for the roots to grown and function properly.
Types of Soil
Clay
Sand
Peat Moss
Vermiculite
Perlite
Potting Mix
Soilless (hydroponic)
Properties of Soils
Drainage
The degree by which soil allows water to pass through it.
Water Retention
The ability of soil to absorb and retain water.
Aeration
The degree by which soil allows air to be exchanged inside it.
Nutrients
The nutrient content of the soil.
Weight
How heavy or light the soil is for a fixed unit of soil volume.
Pots
Types of Pots
Clay
Plastic
Ceramic
Wooden
Comparison of Pots
Drainage
Weight
Biodegradability
Price
Plant comfort
Propagation
By Seeds
Conditions for germination:
- temperature (warmth)
- humidity (water, moisture)
Additional preconditions before attempting to germinate some types of seeds:
- low temperature (to break dormancy)
- moisture
By Cuttings
Mulching
Adding mulch can improve the water retention ability of the soil and supply the plant with nutrients.
Grafting
Timing
Sun
The solar year can be used to determine best time for planting and carrying out other gardening activities. The month of the year, or more precisely the zodiac in which the sun is passing is used to determine suitable timing for planting.
Moon
The lunar month can be used to determine most suitable times for planting various plants. The moon can be further used in determining planting time by taking into consideration through which zodiac the moon is passing. This practice is termed lunar gardening.
Wind
Wind can have a profound effect on plants. Wind can act as a pollinator instead of insects like in the case of palm trees. Wind can also bring about rain which in turn affects plants. Furthermore, wind can blow and dry out the surface of top soil making it much less moist. Finally, strong wind can have its effect on the branches and even fruits of a plant breaking it apart and even destroying it completely whereas mild wind might help stems toughen up.
Location
Location of the plant is important because it affects the amount of lights the plant receives, the degree of humidity, temperature range and wind strength. It is essential to locate each plant appropriately according to its needs.
Irrigation
Companion Planting
Some plants are best grown side by side. One plant may attract beneficial insects that would feed on the pests of another plant. Companion planting can improve the health, vigor and even flavor of a plant.
Garlic can be used as a natural repellent of aphids and other types of pests. Besides its pesticidal properties, garlic has fungicidal properties as well. Garlic can also improve the flavor of other plants that are planted next to it. Therefore garlic is considered to be an excellent companion to many plans when planted side by side with them. Garlic is a popular selection for companion planting. However, garlic is not a good companion for legumes such as fava beans.
Crop Rotation
Planting the same crop at the same spot every season may deplete the nutrients from the soil and help pests and diseases persist. Changing the type of plant you grow in each area will help avoid those two problems. Some plants are best grown after one another. For instance, a plant that is a heavy consumer of nitrogen from the soil might best be planted after growing a plant that supplies nitrogen to the soil through nitrogen fixation such as legumes.
Composting
Composting is the process of recycling some kitchen remains such as fruit peal and vegetable remains in order to create a fertile soil amendment that is both safe and enriching for your soil. Not only does compost provide your plants with better health and an organic fertilizer but they also help you sharply cut down on your house waste.
- Difference between aerobic and anaerobic decay (why garbage smells so bad, while correctly managed compost smells that good).
Square Foot Gardening
Concepts
Assignments
- Germinate basil seeds in peat moss and bring your seedlings to class.
Exercises
Provide trainees with questions about common garden issues (such as leaves turning yellow, aphids harming the plants ... etc.) then ask them for their evaluation of the cause of the problem and suggestions for solving it.
Project
Select a completely or partially dead backyard. Design and implement a program to revitalize the soil life in that backyard and enliven it with a healthy system of plants.
Interesting Concepts
Terms
- Potting mix
- Photosynthesis