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  • 1.  Summer-Only Garden for Summer Camp-What to Plant

    Posted 06-05-2023 12:12:00 PM

    I'm going to be running a summer camp garden program in a sleep-away camp for children with disabilities.  The camp session runs for 7 weeks in July-August in New York, zone 6A.  I'm looking for ideas of what to plant during such a short cycle.  I can also start seeds in advance, but don't have much time.  Does anyone have ideas for short season summer crops?



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    Sharon Sommer
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  • 2.  RE: Summer-Only Garden for Summer Camp-What to Plant

    Posted 06-06-2023 11:46:00 AM

    Maybe cherry tomatoes and radishes. For flowers, marigolds.



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    Evelyn Margolin
    Sacramento, CA
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Summer-Only Garden for Summer Camp-What to Plant

    Posted 06-06-2023 11:46:00 AM

    Also, beans?



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    Evelyn Margolin
    Sacramento, CA
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Summer-Only Garden for Summer Camp-What to Plant

    Posted 06-06-2023 12:04:00 PM
    Hi Sharon,

    Cucumbers, squash, and beans sprout quickly.  Peas are also a good one. You might also consider getting some herbs in pots to put out. The sensory aspect is fantastic.  Pineapple mint is a favorite of the students we work with from our local school for students with special needs. 

    Sounds like a great camp! 

    --
    Michelle Zupan
    Curator 
    Hickory Hill & the Tom Watson Birthplace
    502 Hickory Hill Drive
    Thomson, GA  30824
    706-595-7777
    FAX: 706-595-7177

    Visit us at www.hickory-hill.org or on Facebook.
    Follow us on Twitter: HHEducation

    Historic homes of the Watson-Brown Foundation, Inc. 






    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Summer-Only Garden for Summer Camp-What to Plant

    Posted 06-06-2023 01:05:00 PM
    Radishes are 30 days, cucumbers and squash produce pretty quickly. All the greens are pretty quick but it is a little late for them.  Maybe lettuce in the shade. --
    Donna Burrus



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  • 6.  RE: Summer-Only Garden for Summer Camp-What to Plant

    Posted 06-06-2023 02:28:00 PM

    One of the projects we are doing is called pocket garden's. You take a 3"x4" zip lock baggie (mini) fill up 3/4 with dirt, plant seeds, water and velco onto the window, leaving opened. I used Morning Glory seeds from last years harvest. It only took 2 days for the seeds to sprout.  The kids can see the roots growing and the plant is now starting to grow out of the baggie, day 4.

     



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    Christian Crotty
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Summer-Only Garden for Summer Camp-What to Plant

    Posted 06-06-2023 04:53:00 PM

    If you have trellis or fencing, grow cucumbers and snap beans. They grow fast in the heat and super tall, so it would excite the children.  I would grow flowers around your veggies: marigolds, sunflowers, zinnias and cosmos do not need much time from seed to blooms. Also, radish from seed to harvest is short- only a month. If you can start some herbs, do! Plant basil, as it likes heat. Also try some parsley and dill, as they will bring black swallowtails to your garden so you can watch the lifecycle of the butterfly from egg to butterfly. I would plant some heat-tolerant greens so the kids can enjoy eating what they grow.  



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    Lori Princiotto
    Glenwood School
    Short Hills NJ
    9733797576
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Summer-Only Garden for Summer Camp-What to Plant

    Posted 06-07-2023 03:50:00 PM

    I am also the gardener ("Farmer") at a summer camp in NY.  Definitely the ones people have suggested: snap peas, shelling peas, beans, radishes and lettuce are all good ones to grow.  The surprising favorite last summer was yellow squash... the kids LOVED it!  Also, I recommend different types of mint.  A very popular activity was making tea, so I had choices for them - chamomile, mint, etc.  Also, for sensory - kids love lamb's ear for touching, and lavender for smelling. Also get a citronella plant to teach them about the repellant aspect of it.  And a large aloe plant to teach them about its benefits.  They love the sliminess of it!  Lots of great things you can do... it's an awesome job!



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    Celia Baczkowski
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Summer-Only Garden for Summer Camp-What to Plant

    Posted 06-08-2023 08:07:00 AM

    Thank you, everyone, for all of these suggestions!  I'm looking forward to trying these shorter season veggies, herbs, and flowers.



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    Sharon Sommer
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    Original Message


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