Garden Club

Why Are Our Sweet Potatoes Playing Tough? (Plus, a Secret Tasty Treat!)

Have you ever wondered why some sweet potatoes turn out super skinny and tough instead of big and plump? It’s a trick called lignification!

When the plant gets thirsty or stressed, it gets scared and builds a hard "wooden shield" inside its roots using a tough material called lignin. Instead of making a juicy potato snack, it makes tough wooden strings! By watering our plants regularly, we keep them happy, so they grow soft, big, and delicious tubers instead. But guess what? You don't have to wait for the underground potatoes to eat like a garden champion! The bright green leaves on top are a secret superpower food! They are super tasty, packed with power vitamins, and taste just like spinach.

Kid’s Quick Yummy Recipe:

1.        Have a grown-up help you pick young, soft leaves.

2.        Sizzle minced garlic in a pan with a little oil.

3.        Toss in the leaves for just 2 minutes until bright green.

4.        Add a drop of soy sauce and enjoy your crispy green superpower feast!

Pic of the Week

Ms Mel has been able to successfully germinate the Nasturtium seeds, from last terms seed give away promotion.

Pest Patrol: The Case of the Sneaky Sapsuckers!

Summer is here, and so are the uninvited garden guests! Tiny sap-sucking pests like sticky aphids, cotton-ball mealybugs, bumpy scale insects, and fuzzy spider mites are throwing a feast on our favourite plants. But before you call the superhero squad, we have an organic secret weapon hidden right in the kitchen, White Oil!

White oil isn't a harsh chemical or poison. It acts like an invisible bug blanket! When sprayed directly on these soft-bodied pests, the oil coats them and gently blocks their breathing pores (called spiracles), knocking out aphids, scale, mites, mealybugs, and whiteflies on contact. Since it physically smothers them, bugs can never become immune to it!

DIY White Oil Superhero Recipe

Step 1: Make the Concentrate Base

• 1 cup Vegetable Oil (like canola or sunflower oil)
• 1/4 cup Dishwashing Liquid (eco-friendly soap works best)

Pour both into a jar or upcycled container and shake vigorously (or blender) until it turns creamy white!

Step 2: Dilute & Spray!

• Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of your concentrate into 1 Liter of clean water inside an upcycled spray bottle. Shake well before spraying!

The Golden Summer Rules:

1. Don't Fry Your Plants! Never spray when it’s over 30°C or under direct sun. Apply in the cool early morning or late afternoon so the oil doesn't cook the leaves.
2. Skip the Hairy Tops: Keep it away from fuzzy or delicate leaves like lettuce and squash.
3. Spray the Hiding Spots: Bugs love hiding on the undersides of leaves!

Target those sneaky bugs with your spray, save the day, and keep your garden thriving!

When is the Garden Club?

Garden Club happens on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, right after the gates open. We meet at the bubblers on the Churchill Avenue side of the school.

Garden Club is completely FREE to join! It's a great opportunity to learn to be a lateral thinker with limited resources, get first pick after a harvest, and see some fascinating creatures.

The information shared here is based on our experiences and knowledge, but we are not gardening experts. Think of it as friendly advice from one garden lover to another. Please remember that all gardening activities should be done with adult supervision and that you're responsible for your own safety and decisions.