Elizabeth KillingerNebraska Extension Educator

NEBRASKA EXTENSION SPECIAL GARDEN PROJECT

Nebraska Extension Special Garden Project

Originated as a way for youth to gain an interest in gardening, try new and unusual vegetables and flowers, provide the education necessary to be a successful beginning gardener, and educate youth about the wide range of plant-science related careers.

Process• Seeds are made available statewide to

Nebraska 4-H youth• Counties respond with the number of

youth from their county that wish to participate

• Seeds are ordered, divided, and delivered to the counties

• Counties distribute to their youth along with supporting materials

• Youth grow the plants and exhibit at fair

In Addition to Seeds• Counties are sent a

flyer to promote the project, a letter that includes examples of exhibits, a newsletter, and a paper evaluation/link to an electronic evaluation for the youth.

Newsletter• Plant fun facts• Plant history• Plant families• Planting basics-

location, how to plant, type of crop

• Plant care- watering, mulching, weeding, pests, & diseases

• Harvest and

storage• Exhibiting• Specifics on the

cultivar/variety• Recipes (when

appropriate)• Plant related

careers• Additional

information- seed tape

Past Selections• Striped Armenian

cucumbers• Firecracker

Sunflowers • Amethyst Beans • Love-Lies-Bleeding

Amaranth • White Satin

Carrots*Photos courtesy of Johnny’s Select Seeds, Johnnyseeds.com, 1-877-564-6697.

Since 2010• Over 7,265 ‘packets’ of seeds and

educational materials have been distributed to youth in 85 of the 93 counties (91%) across Nebraska.

• Youth learned important skills and practices of gardening including weed identification, irrigation frequency, and insect control measures. They also planned how they could improve practices the following season including amending the soil and utilizing mulch for weed control.

ImpactCompiled evaluations were completed by 357 youth participants 2011-2014. Participants in the Special Garden Project reported: • 75.9% grew that particular cultivar of

plant for the first time • 55.4% learned new information about

gardening • 28.5% took a 4-H gardening project for

the first time

Youth Learned : • “The size of the seed has nothing to do with how

big the plant is going to be”• "With the drought this year, they need more water

than you think; deer like to eat the leaves; plant one more just in case."

• "A few plants can produce a lot of beans; fertilization, watering and weed control are all very important to production."

• “If you are trying to grow and produce these in a certain time frame, you must pay close attention to when to plant them so they will be ready to harvest when you need them.”

Youth’s Planned Changes:

• “Protect my plants better against insects.”

• "I want to try some newspapers around (the) plant to help keep weeds from growing."

• "Making a ditch around my plants for them to keep the water from draining away."

• “Interplant to make better use of my space. I also plan to compost and add the compost to my garden.”

Successes

Kiara Hochstein4-H is something every kid can do and enjoy. Hi, my name is Kiara Hochstein, and I am from Wayne County’s Combination Kids. The gardening projects are always fun because you get to have hands on experience, learn how to take care of plants, and to test your green thumb. This year’s special project was striped Armenian cucumbers. Here’s how I grew them. First, I got the seeds from my county 4-H office and read how to plant them. Then I planted them and gave them a few sprinkling cans of water. After that I watched them grow, and grow, and grow, until my mom asked how big they were supposed to be. I looked it up and told her 6-8 inches long. My mom helped me bring them into the house. We measured them and they were almost two feet long! But I was glad we had more and just in time for the fair too. I think the two I took were about a foot long. I got a purple ribbon on them and was very excited. After the fair, they kept on growing and growing. We take vegetables to the local Farmer’s Market, so it worked out perfectly. Many people asked about them, so we told them they have smaller seeds, don’t have to be peeled, have a milder taste, and the plants and fruit are fuzzy, unlike normal cucumbers which are prickly. Many people commented and said they were great. I will definitely grow them next year to sell at the market.

Successes

Erik HenryNational Junior Horticulture Association’s National Winner- Poem Age 11-14 My Love-Lies-Bleeding Amaranth Petite flowers cascading down the sprig,Adorning my patio in the planter next to the ceramic pig.The cotyledons had nearly been torn to shredsBy the insects with mandibles as sharp as a knife blade’s end.Whilst growing, the stalk was straight and tallBut weather and insects had withered it away, making it limp like a doll.The flowers it bore spread the seeds of its beauty,Soon filling my whole garden with the grains for any foodie.Those petite flowers with the pigment of violet,They will glamorize and serve as the dancer in my garden’s ballet. 

Successes

ConclusionThe goal of the Special Garden Project is to not only interest youth in gardening, but to arm them with life skills. Whether it is learning how to plant tiny amaranth seeds or how to keep weeds down in the garden, the Nebraska Extension Special Garden Project is teaching youth about gardening, one seed at a time.

Any Questions?Elizabeth Killingerelizabeth.killinger@unl.edu308-385-5088Twitter: @HuskerHorthttp://huskerhort.comhttp://www.slideshare.net/ekillinger1

Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States

Department of Agriculture.