Deciding What to Plant

The next step in the process is for the “owners” of the individual beds and planting areas to decide what they want to grow. You will be able to integrate science, social studies, math, reading and other curricula into plant selection.

Vegetables are a mainstay of many school gardens. But other options abound. You can increase student interest and link the garden to the curriculum by including annuals, perennials, plants that attract birds, bees or butterflies, herbs, California natives, succulents, fruit trees, and berries, among others. Regardless of what you decide to grow, you will need to assess your local climate, and the horticultural needs (sun, shade, water) of the plants.

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