Basic 3 · Our World and Our People · Plants and Animals
Caring for a Garden
In this topic you will learn how to maintain a garden until harvest.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Name ways to care for a garden
- Explain why each activity is important
- Know when to harvest
What you already know
- Making a garden
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- All Around Us
- Sub-strand
- Plants and Animals
- Indicator
- B3.2.2.1.1 – Explain how to make and maintain a garden
Introduction
The okra and maize seeds have germinated. Now the class must care for the young plants until they are ready to harvest.
1. Maintaining a Garden
| Activity | Why |
|---|---|
| watering | plants need water to grow |
| weeding | weeds steal water and food from crops |
| adding manure | gives plants food |
| removing pests | stops insects from eating the plants |
| fencing | keeps goats and fowls out |
| thinning | removes extra seedlings so others have space |
2. Harvesting
- Okra is ready about 2 months after planting; pick the young pods.
- Maize is ready when the cobs are full and the silk turns brown.
New words
- maintain
- To keep in good condition.
- weed
- An unwanted plant.
- pest
- An insect or animal that harms plants.
- harvest
- To gather crops when ready.
Summary
- We water, weed, add manure and remove pests.
- Fencing keeps animals out.
- We harvest crops when they are ready.
Class activity: Garden Duty
- Make a watering and weeding rota.
- Check for pests and remove them.
- Record how the plants grow each week.
You need: Okra, Maize seeds, Hand hoe, Watering can
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. An unwanted plant in a garden is a…
- A. Weed
- B. Crop
- C. Seed
- D. Fruit
Show answer
Answer: WeedWeeds compete with crops.2. Why do we fence a garden?
- A. To keep animals out
- B. To make rain
- C. To stop sunlight
- D. To make weeds grow
Show answer
Answer: To keep animals outGoats and fowls eat crops.3. Plants need watering to grow.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueWater is a basic need.4. We should harvest maize as soon as it germinates.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseWait until the cobs are full.5. To gather crops when ready is to ______.
Show answer
Answer: harvestThat is harvesting.6. Write three ways to care for a garden.
Show answer
Answer: Any three: water, weed, add manure, remove pests, fence, thin.These keep plants healthy.
Homework
- Water and weed a plant at home for a week.