I would like to plant some salad-type vegetables in my classroom to teach my third grade students about sustainability. From what I understand, growing veggies indoors is difficult. I don't have any UV lights. All I have are pots of various sizes and a full wall of windows. If I was to start planting radishes in a couple of weeks, how successful would I be?

Any suggestions would be most helpful. Thanks...

Logan

You could start with a vegetable that requires low or medium light. It will depend on what or how much sun you have? South sun full how many hours a day?

I believe my classroom windows face east and get sunlight for about 5 hours a day. Which veggies require low or medium light?

How about beans too?

Lettuce and Spinach do well in low light. Herb gardens can thrive in the windows. Rosemary, basil, thyme etc. all fun to w atch come up. As far as carrots or tomatoes? Someone else will have to give advice on that I don't have indoor experience with those with out flourecent light.

How old are the children you teach?

This has nothing to do with salads or edible foods, but if your children are young you can sprinkle some flower seeds around the class room.. The children can run around in socks. Then you plant the socks... yes the socks in some dirt, water and voilà a sock garden!!

Sprouts can be grown in a dark part of your room...

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Originally Posted by logan176

I would like to plant some salad-type vegetables in my classroom to teach my third grade students about sustainability. From what I understand, growing veggies indoors is difficult. I don't have any UV lights. All I have are pots of various sizes and a full wall of windows. If I was to start planting radishes in a couple of weeks, how successful would I be? Any suggestions would be most helpful. Thanks... Logan

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Hi! Logan, You could be very successful!

The only drawback is if you don't have the seeds already. With your N.Y. Location, and you have to go, and buy the seeds they would be near impossible to find at this time of the year. If that's the case my best suggestion would be to go to a local nursery or greenhouse that grows vegetables, they might have the seeds or you could order online.

Here's, but one of many:
Radish Seeds and Radish Plants for sale - Burpee

If you do have seeds:
It's been a while since I've been in an elementary classroom, but all the one's I have, always had the heat-o-lator right by that wall of windows, and radishes are a cool loving plant, that's one consideration, You'll need the light, but not too much heat.
You can use foam cups, a fine loamy topsoil is good. Fill the cups to ¾. Place 'bout 5seeds in each one, lightly - ¼ to ½” cover the seeds, water till just moist. Keep between 55 and 75°
Month to month and a half later, you'll have radishes.

This is a quick-download pdf:
http://extension.usu.edu/juab/files/...n/radishpr.pdf

This one offers a free newsletter, and a link to ask questions:
Growing Plants - Observing and Recording

This one covers, carrot tops, sweet potatoes, and potatoes:
http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data...0/35/11/7b.pdf

The Botanical Society of America Young children's page:
Suggested Web Links - Science Education and Outreach, Botanical Society of America

This one is from the University of Saskatchewan for older kids:
Plants in the Classroom

K

Awesome... thanks for all the info. I have third graders. I think I will do a trial run on my own before I have the class jump in. The last time I tried growing beans I must have had a bad batch because none of them grew.

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Originally Posted by logan176

Awesome... thanks for all the info. I have third graders. I think I will do a trial run on my own before I have the class jump in. The last time I tried growing beans I must have had a bad batch because none of them grew.

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Third graders are GREAT for the sock garden approach. It's fun and educational. You can use vegetable seeds if you so wish. But, seeing that fall is coming... flowers can be a beautiful end to the summer.