Introduction:

Trees are magnificient but they also take a very long time to grow. On the other hand, they can witness the miracle of creation through the growth of any plant and there are quite a few that you can easily grow in your classroom. Why not start a mid-winter, Tu b’Shevat, indoor garden with a variety of plants? Observe their development and use them as opportunities to teach about our role in helping to garden the earth. We have included directions on how to grow some plants using common foods.

Directions:

Avocado Plants

1. Place the flatter/wider side of an avocado pit down into a saucer or cup of water, so that at least half of the pit is in the water.
2. Stick 3 or 4 toothpicks into the pit.
3. In about a week, the avocado plant will begin to grow.
4. Wait until the root system begins to fill he cup and then transplant to a pot with soil.

Carrot & Horseradish Plants

1. Cut the top off of a carrot or horseradish, leaving ½ inch of the vegetable with some leaves sticking out of the top.
2. Place with the cut side down in a saucer or cup of water.
3. Place this inside a clear plastic bag and close tightly.
4. Put into a sunny place and watch the root system grow.
5. If water levels drop, open the bag and add more water.
6. It will not be long before you begin to see new growth. Transplant when leaves start to grow or when the roots fill the cup.

Garlic Plants

1. Place a garlic clove into a saucer or cup of water with the flatter side facing downward.
2. Make sure at least half of the clove is in the water.
3. Stick 3 or 4 toothpicks into a garlic clove.
4. In about a week, the garlic plant will begin to grow.
5. When the roots begin to grow, transplant to a pot with soil.

Pineapple Plants

1. Cut the top off of the pineapple, leaving ½ inch of the fruit with some leaves sticking out of the top.
2. Peel away the outside covering leaving just the top unpeeled.
3. Place with the cut side down in a saucer or cup of water so that the entire peeled portion is covered with water.
4. Place this inside a clear plastic bag and close tightly.
5. Put into a sunny place and watch the root system grow.

Popcorn Kernel Plants

1. Take popcorn kernels or kernels from decorative corn dried on the stalk and place in well- moistened paper towels or newspaper.
2. Let soak overnight.
3. Use a nail file to gently scratch the soaked kernels.
4. Place the wet paper into a clear container and position kernels of corn between the paper and the cup so that students will be able to watch the corn grow.
5. Keep the paper well moist and cover the top of the container with plastic wrap.
6. Put container in a sunny area and when plants begin to grow, remove the plastic wrap from top.
7. When the leaves start to grow a few inches over the top of the container, transplant to pots.

A Little Something Extra

Exploring our Garden

• Make observations of the different plants in the garden. Take measurements of each of the plants each week and compare how fast they grow. Compare and contrast their shapes, colors, smells, roots, etc.
   
• Make a garden journal, containing photographs and drawings of each of the plants.