Plant Research

Strawberries!-I am interested in growing strawberries because I know that they are an excellent spring crop, and they are tasty! When I was younger, my favorite thing was going strawberry picking and I think it would be fun to grow some for the garden.

Tea (possibly chamomile)-I think growing tea in the garden would be unique, and hopefully turn out well. Brewing our own tea at the end of the semester would be very rewarding after spending the semester growing it. Adding a tea portion to the garden would add something new and interesting.

Catnip- Catnip is a drought tolerant herb, which are two sections of the garden. I am interested in growing it because it is a different herb to pursue, and I think it will add to the garden.





**German Chamomile-Herb. It has a two month growing time, and it can be a late or early crop. It will also grow back every year. It can be grown from seed or from the plant. It takes 4 to 8 days to germinate. The only special thing is that when the seed is planted, it shouldnt be completely covered in soil. It actually needs adequate light for the germination process. From seed to harvest, it takes between 70-80 days. I believe this will work with the semester. The plants need to be about 4 to 6 inches apart. It did not seem like it needed any specific soil requirements, but I did read about it doing alright in clay based soil and fertilizer was a good idea. Moderate watering (moist but not wet). I think overhead water would be best, depending on how much is put onto the plant. Chamomile does will with other herbs, onions and cucumbers. It also can be planted near stepping stones or pavement. One other note is that sometimes the chamomile seeds will blow in the wind and end up in random places.

Chamomile is medicinal, and is used to make a soothing tea. It is used to calm upset stomach, nerves and is good for digestion. It is also used as analgesic for burns, cuts and scrapes.


Strawberry- Fruit. The growing season is in the spring, and it is advised to plant them when the soil is not wet and on a cloudy day. From my research, not many people grow the strawberries from seed, but it is possible. If we do grow them from seed they must be frozen for 2 weeks and take 2-3 weeks to germinate. Most articles and stores sell the actual plant. The time to harvest is anywhere from 6-10 months, but it is also dependant on how the mature the strawberry plant is when you plant it. In 4 to 5 weeks, the plant will produce daughter plants and runners. I think it makes sense to plant, even if they aren’t ready in time for exhibition they might be ready during early fall for the next group of students. Since we don’t have to worry about frost, there is potential for the strawberries to continue growing, some plants can come back for up to 6 years. Strawberries need to be planted 12-18" apart in rows 3-4 feet apart. No specific soil requirements, but it is advised to have as much organic matter as possible and to use fertilizer. The soil's pH should be slightly acid, from 5.5 to 6.5.The soil is supposed to be worked very well, almost one foot into the dirt. Watering is 1-2 inches per week, or a moderate amount, especially when the flowers are blooming.

An interesting fact/tip is most website’s advised to pluck the flowers off of the plant before they become fruit in the first year. If the plant focuses on roots for the first year, it will yield a larger crop the next year.