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END OF THE YEAR TOMATO FEST
As you are all aware, I love to end the year with a taste of some kind. When you picked out our tomato plants some of you chose a variety based on your love of sauce on pizza or pasta, or because you like the small sweet cherry tomatoes. I hope your tomato plants are productive and you are enjoying them! Usually when we are on campus at the end of the year -- we make some kind of fresh tomato recipe to try together. If we are lucky the 3rd graders leave us some masa (the ground corn) to make some tortillas to eat it with. But we have also made bruchetta - which is a appetizer from Italy using bread. Here are two recipes you can try with fresh tomatoes:
You can use your tomatoes from your plant when they are ready OR there are many around because it is their SEASON! Fresh basil or other herbs make tomatos taste even more delicious.
June 25th: Hello Fifth Graders. How are your Tomatoes growing? This week I want to bring up the topic of FERTILIZER. Remember N-P-K? Tomatoes do not need too much N (or Nitrogen) however if they don't have enough they will give you the message. Worm compost can give you a small but balanced level of nutrients. Are you composting at home? As you know, composting is an important way not only to reduce the amount of trash you have -- but also to make great soil -- it is the cheapest fertilizer. Worm Composting -- like we do in our bins at school or our Vermiponics -- is a really great strategy for smaller spaces. The ingredients for any compost are the same. If you don't have a fancy bin you can make your own out of a container. If you have your composting down I would love to hear you make an advertisement for other people to do some composting on FLIPGRID: FLIPGRID LINK What points would you make to encourage them? What do you know about the value of composting?? How would you respond if they said GROSS??
June 16th: How are your tomato plants growing? I have heard from a few of you who took plants. It is NOT too late to get a plant -- I have some left! If you are not growing a tomato plant, you can still do some garden related activities. You can MAKE A SALAD using my MAKE A SALAD IDEAS and/or you can examine LABELS in your kitchen LABEL READING ACTIVITY -- two ways to get your nutrition on! Stay healthy 5th graders!! I miss you!
Awele and his dad picking up tomato plant
Awele's patio garden
tomato plants at Garfield 6/1/2020
tomato plants at Garfield 6/1/2020
TOMATOMANIA CONTINUED -- WEEK 3 - 6/2/2020
TOMATOMANIA CONTINUED -- WEEK 3 - 6/2/2020
Several of you have planted tomatoes. See Awele above, our ASB President, with his new patio garden. If you haven't planted a tomato and you have a spot, Ms. Mindy still has several tomato plants waiting for someone to adopt them. Just fill out this handy form: TOMATO FORM and we will arrange for a way for you to get your tomato plant! Even if you do not like tomatoes, your family might enjoy them! Also -- eventually we may have folks posting their favorite recipes, maybe it is that you just haven't tried tomatoes the way you love them!
Okay -- to this week's topic -- TOMATO COMPANIONS and TOMATO PESTS. As you are growing your tomato, the biggest job is OBSERVATION. Observation seems like a boring and simple task. But have you ever looked at something a second time and realized you missed so many details? As you sit with your tomato plants you may notice different things. Perhaps the leaves have a hole or a bite out of them -- maybe even a whole branch is missing that was there yesterday. You also may find that some leaves are droopy -- or even the whole plant. There may also be evidence of a critter -- scat (hornworms have big turds). This is the best learning part of gardening -- investigating and treating these problems. You get to be a sleuth and figure out what is wrong and what you can do! I have confidence in you 5th Graders!! Of course, I am here for you. Use this sheet to help guide your companion plant choices or tomato pests: TOMATO COMPANIONS and TOMATO PESTS If you have any questions or you just want to share your progress -- here is FLIPGRID here: 5th Grade Check In . Let me know how you are doing no matter what you are up to. If you are interested in seeds or plants contact Ms. Mindy using this form: BIRNEY READY TO GROW
TOMATOMANIA CONTINUED 5/21/20
TOMATOMANIA CONTINUED 5/21/20
Hello 5th Graders! Did you check out the Tomato time lapse video? Pretty cool, no? Well today I am going to show you how to plant a tomato plant and give you some additional tips to get your tomato plant off to a good start! If you DO NOT have a tomato plant at home, and you want to follow along with this tomato growing project, PLEASE contact me through this form TOMATO FORM. And remember, if you have NO idea how to figure out which one you want from this list check out the TOMATO CHOICE LIST. Those of you are already growing ahead, here is a great tip sheet from our own San Diego Master Gardeners: TOMATO TIP SHEET. So get growing tomatoes 5th Graders and share your progress...in fact even if you are not growing tomatoes, could you do me a favor and tell me what you are up to? I miss you! SHARE ON FLIPGRID
TOMATOMANIA
TOMATOMANIA
Fifth Graders are invited to try out your gardening skills at home by growing your own tomato plant. This is not required, however there is no risk! Read the sheet attached HERE to help you decide which tomato types that I have available would be best and most delicious for you and your family. Then click on this link to tell Ms. Mindy what tomato plant you would like to grow.
You can try growing a tomato from a slice, likein this video...but it is the timelapse that is amazing. If you want to try some more "eat the fruit, plant the seed" ideas -- check out my link for Seeds in your Kitchen
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