Kid's Gardening-Kid's First Garden-Learn about frost dates. How to plant seeds and flowers

KID'S FIRST GARDEN

Step 5 -Planting flowers and seeds.
Read information and tips to help you plant bedding plants
and seeds. Learn when it is time to start planting.

Review
Your garden is ready for the plants and seeds you have
chosen.

Observation- In spring, bedding plants, and most seeds
are best planted after there is no more risk of frost. Are
your nights still very cold? Is the grass and ground still frosty
some mornings? If so, it may still be too cold for planting.
Watch for warm nights and mornings.

When to plant
It is a good idea to know the frost dates in your area. Frost
dates are the averages of last spring frost dates, and the
averages of the first fall frost dates from previous years. . In
spring, the average last frost date gives you an approximate
date when it will be warm enough for planting bedding plants
or seeds. In fall, the average first fall frost date helps
gardeners know when to protect plants and get the garden
ready for winter. Ask at a local greenhouse or nursery for
the frost dates in your area.
The frost dates are not always going to be the same, and
can change. This depends on the present year's weather
conditions. Frost dates are just a guideline to help
gardeners. So keep an eye on your weather, and with some
knowledge of frost dates you can decide when it is time to
plant, and start the growing season. The time in between
the two frost dates are known as the growing season. This
is the planting and growing of plants.

Planting bedding Plants
After no more risk of frost you can start planting.
Transplant bedding plants on a warm but, cloudy day or in
the evenings. Transplanting is moving a plant from one
place to another.
Have a look and decide where you would like to plant each
flower. You can decide this by planning it out on paper first.
Read plant information on the tag or pot to see how tall
(height), and how wide a plant can grow. This will help you
decide where to plant a certain flower. For example, you
might want to put a flower that is going to grow very tall at
the back of your garden, and shorter ones at the front.
Spacing plants far apart from each other is important. A
plant tag will usually tell you how much space is needed for
a plant to grow. This is called spacing. Plants need enough
room to grow without being overcrowded. It's a good idea to
keep all tags and information on each plant you have
planted in your garden. This way you will always have the
plant's information. You can label the plants in your garden
and keep a planting record in your garden journal. With a
garden plan in place and bedding plants you are ready to
transplant.
Now you need the planting holes dug. Dig each hole the size
of the rootball. The rootball is the roots and soil combined
together. (Dig holes the size of the containers or pots the
plant was grown in.) Tip the container gently holding the
plant's stem between your fingers. Slide the rootball into
your other hand. Place the rootball in the hole. Pat down soil
all around the plant till it stands firm. (on it's own) Water
immediately after transplanting your bedding plants. Now
plant the remainder of your flowers.

Planting seeds
Plant seeds after no more risk of frost, and the soil has
warmed up.
Rake and loosen the soil in your garden.
Seed packets should have planting instructions on them.
Look for how deep to plant the seed in the soil. Different size
seeds are planted deeper in the soil than others. Spacing
between each seed is also important. Look for how far apart
to plant the seeds in the soil too. A finger is a good way to
make a hole for the seed. Just follow how deep to plant the
seed in the soil. After placing seed in the soil cover with soil
and pat down gently. Water with a sprinkler watering can. A
water hose is too fast and hard. It will wash away the seeds
from where you planted them. Seed packets will tell you how
many days the seed needs to grow into a sprout. This is
called germination. Look for germination on packet.
Keep the soil moist until germination has taken place.

Be proud, and Congratulations!
It's your first garden. Plan your garden how you would like it.
Have fun planting. It will be beautiful!

A Garden Journal Printout -
My First Garden's Growing Condition
Use what you learned in Steps 1 - 5 of the Kid's First
Garden Guide to complete this record of your own flower
garden. A great addition to a garden journal!
Click here to print out journal page now.

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