April 2018

National Month Spring Planting Guide Creating a Container Garden We all know that “April showers bring May will determine the size of the container flowers,” but did you know that April is used. Deep rooted vegetables require recognized as National Garden Month? As deep pots. the weather shifts, now is the perfect time • Make sure your pot has adequate April to consider how you can create a garden. drainage. Holes should be ½ inch Beet Broccoli What a great excuse to get outside and get across. Line the base of the pot with Brussels Sprout your hands dirty! newspaper to prevent soil loss. Cabbage • Set containers on bricks or blocks to Carrot Guide to Container allow free drainage. Cauliflower Even the smallest area can boast a • Line hanging baskets with sphagnum Cilantro of vegetables or a garden of flowers in moss for water retention. Keep baskets Collards containers. Planter boxes, wooden barrels, away from afternoon sun. Kale hanging baskets and large are • If you choose clay pots, remember that Lettuce just some of the containers that can be clay is porous, and water is lost from Mustard used. Consider the following guidelines the sides of the container. in clay Onion Parsley when choosing your container: pots should be monitored closely for Peas, Snap loss of moisture. Potato • Avoid planting in containers with • Since potting mixes drain water rapidly, Radish narrow openings. fertilizer will be washed out of the Spinach • Cheap plastic pots deteriorate in container as you water. Lighter mixes Turnip UV sunlight and terracotta pots dry will require more frequent fertilizing than out rapidly. Glazed ceramic pots are heavier mixes. It’s a good idea to use a May excellent choices, but require diluted liquid fertilizer with every other Beans several drainage holes. watering. Liquid or liquid (Bush and Pole) • Wooden containers are seaweed are great boosters. Corn susceptible to rot. Redwood • Check the labels on the products in your Cucumber and cedar are relatively rot- garden center to be Eggplant Cantaloupe resistant and sure that they Okra can be used contain a Peas, Southern without staining complete, Peppers or painting. balanced Pumpkin One advantage of solution Summer Squash wooden containers is that includes Sunflower that they can be built trace elements. Sweet Potato to sizes and shapes Tomato that suit the location. Watermelon • Use containers between 15 and 120 quarts capacity. Small pots restrict the root area and dry out very quickly. The Read more: Guide to Container Gardening | Garden size and number of plants to be grown Guides - https://www.gardenguides.com/685-guide- container-gardening.html Source: Kansas City Community Celebrate the Week Gardening with Children TM of the Young Child • Start Small: A garden does not have to be large. It can April 16 – April 20, 2018 be a raised bed or as simple as a window box filled with herbs. The Week of the Young Child™ is an annual celebration hosted by the National • Choose easy to grow seeds: Generally speaking, Association for the Education of Young the larger the seed, the easier it is to grow. Pick Children (NAEYC) celebrating early veggies such as peas, beans, corn, squash, learning, young children, their teachers peppers, broccoli and tomatoes. and families. Create a fun, educational week for children and families by • Look for plant extremes: To interest children participating in themed activities each in gardening, select plants that either grow tall day. and sprawl, or stay teeny-tiny. Sunflowers are an excellent choice for a children’s garden since they grow to be tall. Music Monday: Choose a music and movement activity to explore different • Be creative with containers and props: Make it sounds of music, movements of your playful and interesting. Plant in rubber boots, coffee body or simply have a dance party! can with holes poked in the bottom. Climbing plants such as green beans can climb up a teepee made of bamboo or sticks. Tasty Tuesday: Try a new fruit or vegetable today! Cooking introduces • Don’t be afraid of a little dirt: Allow science and math skills for children of all children to get their hands-dirty. ages. Discover a new, healthy recipe with It will feel like a special privilege. the children. Use garden tools and allow them to work away!

Work Together Wednesday: Create a • Eat what you have grown: When you harvest your city out of blocks or a fort out of blankets fruits and veggies, savor the flavor. and chairs; visit a park and build fairy houses from sticks and leaves. Use • Foster Responsibility: Create building activities to bolster social skills helpers for watering, weeding and and support motor development too. monitoring pests. Children can pick veggies too. Children will begin to take ownership of the garden and take pride Artsy Thursday: Get your creativity in their new responsibility. flowing! Plan activities that tap into the Source: Homemade by Jaci blog. Link not available. children’s creativity and support motor " development. Healthy Eats Lettuce Wraps Family Friday: Invite families to share Ingredients: time in your classroom with the children. Stories, special foods and pictures help to 1 Head of Romaine Lettuce 1 Tomato bring a family culture to your setting. 1 pkg. Sliced Turkey 1 Bottle Ranch Dressing 1 pkg. Sliced Cheese 1 Avocado Source: https://www.naeyc.org/events/woyc/ overview Directions: 1. Wash lettuce and pat dry. “Clip and Save” 2. Place 1 turkey slice on lettuce. 3. Add 1 slice of cheese. Makes it easy to clip out and save 4. Slice avocado and add to wrap. this healthy recipe before recycling 5. Dice tomato and add to wrap. your newsletter. 6. Roll lettuce and dip in ranch dressing to taste. """""""" Source: http://ourcommunityourkids.org/media/2965/Farm%20to%20PreK_Apr10_Lettuce.pdf Photo: https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/main-course/turkey/healthy-turkey-cucumber-lettuce-wrap.html

Early Childhood Wellness, a Program of Child Care Aware® of Kansas www.ks.childcareaware.org 1-855-750-3343 Funding for this project was made possible by the Kansas Health Foundation.