Weighing Produce

How much produce did you get by the end of the growing season? Keep track of the number of produce and weight of each vegetable or fruit as it is produced. You can keep a chart of all of this information to look back at after your garden stops producing. In the vertical columns list each specific plant by its species and an assigned plant number. Across the chart, number from 1 - 20. Each time you can harvest a particular plant's produce record the weight and length of the produce in the columns next to the plant name. Continue adding onto this chart throughout the growing season. Compare the produce from each plant. Which plant of each species grew the most produce? Which plant species provided the most produce? What was the heaviest piece of produce you weighed? What was the lightest? Will this data change how you plan your garden for the next growing season?

Mammoth Sunflowers

Have you ever seen a Mammoth Sunflower? They can grow to be from 6 to 12 feet tall! Ask an adult to help you measure the height of a mammoth sunflower in your garden. Now ask them to measure you. What is the difference in height between you and the sunflower? Are you half the height of the flower? Three-quarters?

Garden Perimeter

How you calculate the perimeter of your garden? You can use the information that you have to calculate the area of your garen. The perimeter is the added lengths of the boundaries of your garden. Below are some examples:

Rectangular Garden: 6 ft. +6ft. + 10 ft. + 10 ft. = 32 ft.

Square Garden: 7 ft. + 7 ft. + 7 ft. +7 ft. = 28 ft.

Circular Garden: 3.14 (pi) * Diameter = Circumference
3.14 * 10 ft. = 31.4 ft.

Mapping to Scale

Some people choose to keep gardening journals. If you continue gardening for several years, you will want to keep a map of your garden plot. This will help you remember where certain plants were, what your row arrangements were, and how many plants you began with, or even the size of the garden you began with. Draw a map, to scale, of your garden! This involves knowing the measurement and area of your garden beds.

Row Creativity

You can try different row arrangements depending on where you want to grow certain plants. Maybe you want to grow sunflowers or pumpkins in the back half of your garden, and produce in the front? If you have X number of plants, you can try different arrangements. Perhaps you have six plants. You could plot two rows of three plants each or three rows of two plants each. If you think about plotting your rows this way, it will give you more flexibility in your garden arrangement!

How Many Plants?

After you plant all of the seedlings and plants in your garden, you may not realize the huge number of plants you have in your garden! Try counting all of the plants you have, and also count them by the species of plant. You will probably be surprised at how many plants you actually have! After a few weeks, try counting the number of leaves, flowers, or upcoming produce you might have!

Zucchini Bread

One of the great things about having a vegetable garden is being able to eat what you grow! Here is a recipe to make some great zucchini bread. You will need to accurately measure these ingredients. Make sure you ask an adult for help!



INGREDIENTS
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 1/4 cups white sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups grated zucchini
1 cup chopped walnuts



DIRECTIONS
1. Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
3. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
4. Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.