Plant Biology 🌱
Plants convert light into energy through a process called
What is photosynthesis
Name 2 members of the Cucurbitaceae family (aka the Gourd family)
What is cucumbers, chayote, melons, pumpkin, winter squash, zucchini, gourds, etc.
Flowers are beneficial to a garden because
What is they attract pollinators
Name one benefit of adding a thick layer of mulch to your garden
What is locking in moisture, temperature regulation, soil health improvement, weed suppression, erosion control
T or F: human urine has been used for thousands of years around the world to fertilize plants.
What is TRUE: Human urine can be used as a free and effective fertilizer for the garden. It is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and other micronutrients that plants need for growth.
When a plant sprouts from its seed the process is called
What is germination
The difference between an "annual" and a "perennial" plant
What is annuals complete their life cycle in one growing season, while perennials live for multiple growing seasons
Describe the four stages of a butterfly
What is egg, larva, pupa, butterfly
List 3 things you CAN compost and 3 things you CANNOT compost
CAN compost: fruit scraps, veggie scraps, coffee grounds, egg shells, nutshells, yard trimmings, sticks, leaves, etc.
CANNOT compost: processed food, grease, dairy products, meat or seafood scraps, pet waste, glossy paper, greasy paper, plastics, etc.
How many days of the year can you grow food here in SoCal?
What is 365!
Important information to consider on the back of a seed packet
What is understanding plant specs: e.g.: days to germination, days to harvest, planting depth, plant spacing, plant height, season
What are the "three sisters?"
What is corn, beans, and squash
Name three beneficial creepy crawlies in the garden
What is earthworms, ladybugs, praying mantis, pollinators (bees, butterflies, flies, and moths), parasitic wasps, green lacewings, spiders, soldier beetles, assassin bugs, hoverflies, robber flies
A key component to quality potting soil
What is aeration (pumice, perlite), moisture (coco coir, peat moss), nutrients (compost)
An olla is an ancient technology that originated in China and North Africa over 4000 years ago. These clay pots are buried in the garden with their tops above the soil. What are they used for?
What is irrigation
One of the three components inside a seed
What is embryo, food store, seed coat
How often should you water your garden per week in the summer?
What is 2x per week
Name one organic way to deter pests
What is companion planting, inviting natural predators, rotating crops, planting trap crops, amending with compost
An essential component to create compost
What is nitrogen "greens", carbon "browns", water, and air
The type of climate we have here in SoCal is
What is Mediterranean climate
Seeds need these three things to start growing
What is moisture, oxygen, and warmth
It's hot out there! What are two ways to protect plants from heat waves?
What is shade cloth, deep watering, mulching, intercropping, deep planting, watering in the morning, selecting resilient plant types
Name a flower that's great at attracting beneficial insects
What is Marigold, Sweet Alyssum, Zinnia, Echinacea, Cosmos, Queen Anne's Lace, Yarrow, Lovage, Tansy, Aster, Calendula, Bee Balm, Borage, Chrysanthemum, Daisies, Chamomile
Fertilizers often list an "NPK" ratio on their packaging (aka the three primary nutrients required for healthy plant growth). What does N, P, and K stand for?
What is Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K)
Bat guano, earthworm castings, oyster shells, bone meal, humic acid, kelp meal, dolomite, feather meal, and alfalfa meal are all examples of what you might find in WHAT
What is organic vegetable garden fertilizer