Vegetables Straight from the soil

What vegetables do you typically eat?

Carrots Lettuce

Onions

Spinach Broccoli

Cucumbers Cucumis sativus

Lactuca sativa

Daucus carota

Allium cepa

Spinacia oleracea Brassica oleracea

General Soil Information

• There are three components– sand (the largest)– silt (smaller)– clay (the smallest)

• A well-balanced soil will have equal amounts of sand, silt, and clay– Also known as LOAM!– This is the best soil for gardening

Nutrients! Nutrients! Nutrients!• Two categories of nutrients in the soil– macronutrients

(high quantity) and micronutrients (low quantity) • Macronutrients are the most important of the two • Three most important macronutrients are:

– Nitrogen (N) – encourages leafy growth – Phosphorus (P) – needed for root growth – Potassium (K) – for healthy fruits and flowers

• Important micronutrients include: iron, boron, copper, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, and chlorine. – These can be replenished by adding more organic matter

(ex. Compost)

Lettuce & Spinach

•Kind of Soil Use: fertile, high in organic matter, good water holding capacity•Soil Moisture: damp •Plant in partially sunny & shaded area •pH Level: 6.0-7.0

•Kind of Soil Use: fertile, high in organic matter, well-drained soil•Soil Moisture: damp -Mulch of straw or grass clippings help retain moisture levels in the soil

•Plant in partially sunny & shaded area •pH Level: 6.3 -6.8

Onions & Carrots

• Kind of Soil Use: fertile, high in organic matter, well-drained soil

• Soil Moisture: damp • pH Level: 6.2-6.8• Plant in partially sunny & shaded area

• Kind of Soil Use: sandy loam, fertile, high in organic matter, well-drained soil

• Soil Moisture: damp • pH Level: 6.0-6.8• Plant in partially sunny & shaded area

Cucumbers & Broccoli

• Kind of Soil Use: clay loam, fertile, high in organic matter, well-drained soil

• Soil Moisture: damp • Plant in partially sunny & shaded area • pH Level: 6.0-7.0

• Kind of Soil Use: clay loam, fertile, high in organic matter, good water holding capacity

• Soil Moisture: damp • Plant in partially sunny & shaded area • pH Level: 6.0-7.0• Need high amounts of nutrients, esp.:

nitrogen, potassium &phosphorus

Overall…

• The soil need a high amount of organic matter – Provides the soil with necessary nutrients– Can be created naturally by composting

• Require loam kind of soil– There are some that require more clay (cucumbers &

broccoli) or sand (carrots) in the loam• Do best in cool soil (partially shaded)

– Needs good drainage• Soil should not be water clogged• pH level is usually 6.0 to 7.0– They like less acidic soil, can add lime to make it more

alkaline if need

Which vegetable would you like to grow for yourself?

ROSEMARY!! • Reasons:

- It smells nice- Want to use it at home when I cook - It grows best during these months (spring/summer)- The package said it is “guaranteed to grow!”

Before We Start: Some Background Info.

• Scientific Name: Rosmarinus officinalis • Family Name: Lamiaceae • General Description: Perennial, evergreen leaves, grows up to 2 meters high,

blossoms (blue flowers) during spring & winter, somewhat drought resistant, best grown in loam soil

• Location: Native to Mediterranean region, grow best in sunny, temperate areas—often found growing near sea, reason why called rosemary – Rosmarinus= “dew of the sea”= “dew”(ros) + ”sea”(marinus)

• Use(s): Herb– fresh/dried leaves used for flavoring– Medical uses: antioxidant, may reduce change of getting cancer, may help decrease chance

of getting neurodegenerative diseases (ex. Alzheimer’s disease)• Studies show scent is an effective memory stimulant (Symbol of remembrance and friendship)

– Farm uses: companion plant for cabbage, beans carrots and sage, helps to deter cabbage moths, bean beetles and carrot flies.

• Potential Hazards: Rosemary’s essential oils can be toxic if ingested— may cause seizures. Eating large amounts of rosemary leaves can also be potentially harmful too– may cause comas, vomiting, and spasms. Pregnant women should eat this sparingly

The Adventure Begins• The seeds were purchased from Ralphs• I used the bottom of a water bottle as a pot– Figured it would let me see the growing process– It’s sustainable! Because I didn’t have to go out and

buy a pot.• “Borrowed” some soil from all around UCLA

housing area• Found rocks, broken down organic matter, and some

really nice loamy soil• Planted my seeds!– Currently sits on my desk, gets sun part of the day, and

is in shade the rest.

My goal was to try and mimic the outside soil structure. On the bottom of my pot is a “parent bedrock.” When it breaks down, it provides nutrients to the soil. It also allows for good water drainage. My “A” and “B” layer consist of broken down organic matter which I found lying around UCLA. Rosemary enjoy soil that has good aeration and soil that is full of organic matter. Finally, my top most layer consist of broken down organic matter. This is the layer that will house my seeds.

The

Soil

The Living Conditions

• Temperature: around 70°F or so and temperature mainly stays constant

• Humidity: relatively low• Watering: given a light watering almost every

other day, just so the soil is slightly moist• Sunlight: receive full sunlight from afternoon

to early evening

Week One and Week Two

Week One [4/24-5/01]:No change in soil at all. Did see really small insects crawling around the soil though– whitish, clear looking. Although I couldn’t identify what kind they were, they may be good for the soil because they help break down the soil. Some insects are invasive and can be harmful towards the plants too.

Week Two [5/02-5/08]:MY FIRST SPROUTS APPEARED!! I counted 7 baby sprouts. This is the germination period for a plant. The soil still looks like it is in good condition– dark and slightly clumpy. Also during this week, saw the small insects again. They like to come out when it is sunny. At least I know the insects are still alive and running.

Week Three and Week FourWeek Three[5/09-5/15]:Five of my sprouts died. This could be for several reason– my soil is drier and more crumbly, lot more like sandy. This could be due to a lack of nutrients (the water washing the nutrients down the soil). Rosemary need loam soil to be able to thrive. The sandy soil could be limiting them from being able to thrive. Another possible reason is lack of full sun. I left for the weekend and the curtains were closed. The limited sunlight affected its ability to carry out its job of photosynthesizing.

Week Four[5/10-present]:Not much change since last week. The soil still appears to be very rocky and dry. Another sprout is coming up though. I now have three sprouts! The sprouts are probably still growing because rosemary can handle some drought/dry land.

Is this Sustainable Eating?

Rosemary is usually produced in Europe– growing my own reduces the my carbon footprint (transporting food). It also captures the free energy from the sun. Rosemary will continue growing after cutting some branches off when needed. It grows well in CA climate and needs little to no fertilizer (great soil here) and water (drought resistant).

The Ongoing Process

Hopefully my pot of soil will turn into a thriving rosemary bush! That way I can And then I can cook it and make it into a wonderful dish!

Directions:1. Preheat oven to 400*. 2. Toss potatoes w/ oil, salt & pepper in medium bowl to coat. 3. Transfer potatoes to small baking sheet; roast 20 mins., stirring once. 4. Add garlic and rosemary to potatoes; toss. 5. Roast until potatoes are just tender, about 10 mins. 6. Transfer to plate; serve.

Recipe for rosemary:Ingredients:8 oz. red potatoes, each cut into 6 wedges 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 teaspoon sea salt or other coarse salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary