Broccoli to Butterflies School Garden Templates

by Roxane SmithTravis County Master Gardeners Association

Broccoli to Butter�ies is a school gardening program that coincides with the academic year; beginning in September and ending in May.It is a long-term planting program using cool-season vegetables and herbs.Beds are planted in fall to go through until May. In late winter / early spring, some vegetables and herbs are allowed to �ower to attract and nourish bees, butter�ies and other pollinators. In spring, spaces created by harvested vegetables are �lled with brightly colored annual �owers. Beds are cleared in mid-May and planted with a summer cover crop in preparation for the next fall planting.�e program is designed to work with 4’ x 4’ or 4’ x 8’ garden plots.

About Broccoli to Butterflies

September: Prepare beds.September-October:

Plant out transplants when available in stores.Sow seed during appropriate time.

Fall, winter and early spring: Grow and harvest.March:

Fill in spaces created when vegetables are harvested with brightly colored annuals.Allow herbs and selected vegetables to bolt and �ower to attract bees and butter�ies.

May: Clear ground, dig over and sow with grocery store bought cow peas (black-eyed peas) for summer cover crop.

Calendar

2

3

Irrigation: Water sources must be nearby and easy to use for the garden to be a success.Site: As a cool season garden, plants can tolerate some shade, but more sun is better; no less than 4-5 hours a day.Drainage needs to be good. Do not plant in soggy soil.Start small; only tackle what is reasonable given time considerations and other pressing demands.Locate tall vegetables �rst and shorter vegetables after. Work further out from the border toward the edge of any side.Because they do not grow well during the academic year, there are no warm-season herbs and vegetables in this scheme: no tomatoes, basil, eggplant, cucumbers, peppers, or corn.Stories to include:Jack-and-the-Beanstalk (fava beans) from the Old World.Planting of the �ree Sisters (corn, summer beans, squash) from the New World.Classroom activities:Fall / Winter: meal of vegetable soup made in a stock pot or microwaved, then pureed in a blender with yogurt and herbs, served with baguette and a dessert brought from home.Winter / Spring: meal of wilted leafy vegetables with a little yogurt, parmesan cheese, and nutmeg served over ramen noodles with a small winter salad on the side.

Tips and Notes

Arugula

Parsley

4

Cardoon

Spinach

4’ x 4’

Garden Style Possibilities

Formal

Farm

Cottage

4’ x 8’

5

Pla

nt s

eed

unle

ss o

ther

wis

e no

ted

JAN

FEB

MA

RA

PRM

AY

JUN

JUL

AU

GSE

PO

CT

NO

VD

ECA

rtich

oke

(cro

wns

/tran

spla

nts)

---

----

crow

ns--

----

--

Asi

an g

reen

s (s

eeds

or t

rans

plan

ts)

Asp

arag

us (c

row

ns)

Bea

ns, s

nap

and

lima

Bee

tsB

rocc

oli (

trans

plan

ts)

Bru

ssel

s sp

rout

s (tr

ansp

lant

s)C

abba

ge (t

rans

plan

ts)

Can

talo

upe

(mus

kmel

on)

Car

rots

Cau

liflo

wer

(tra

nspl

ants

)C

hard

, Sw

iss

(see

ds o

r tra

nspl

ants

)C

olla

rds

(see

ds o

r tra

nspl

ants

)C

orn

Cuc

umbe

rE

ggpl

ant (

trans

plan

ts)

Fava

bea

nsG

arlic

Gre

ens,

coo

l sea

son

Gre

ens,

war

m s

easo

nK

ale

(see

ds o

r tra

nspl

ants

)K

ohlra

bi (s

eeds

or t

rans

plan

ts)

Leek

s (s

eeds

/tran

spla

nts)

---s

eed-

--

Lettu

ce (s

eeds

or t

rans

plan

ts)

Mus

tard

(see

ds o

r tra

nspl

ants

)O

kra

Oni

on, b

ulbi

ng (t

rans

plan

ts)

Oni

on, b

unch

ing/

mul

tiply

ing

Pea

s, E

nglis

h, s

nap

and

snow

Pea

s, S

outh

ern

Pep

per (

trans

plan

ts)

Pot

ato,

Iris

hP

otat

o, s

wee

t (sl

ips)

Pum

pkin

Rad

ish

Sha

llots

Spi

nach

(see

ds o

r tra

nspl

ants

)S

quas

h, s

umm

erS

quas

h, w

inte

rTo

mat

oes

(tran

spla

nts)

Turn

ipW

ater

mel

onP

lant

s gr

own

in w

inte

r will

bene

fit fr

om p

rote

ctio

n du

ring

freez

ing

wea

ther

Com

pile

d by

Pat

ty G

Lea

nder

, Mas

ter G

arde

ner V

eget

able

Spe

cial

ist

Janu

ary

2012

Pla

nts

grow

n in

late

sum

mer

will

bene

fit fr

om s

hade

cov

er d

urin

g es

tabl

ishm

ent

http:

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trav

is

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vism

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u.ed

u

-

--tra

nspl

ants

---

Average first frost November 27

Average last freeze March 8

Daph

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Exte

nsio

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Horti

cultu

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xten

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Serv

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Tra

vis C

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600-

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oad,

Austin

, TX

787

21

512-

854-

9600

6

Plant Guide

7

8

Plant Sizes

Height Key:

18+”

12-18”

6-12”

9

ExamplesKey:A = LettucesB = SpinachC = LeeksD = CilantroE = ChardF = Flat ParsleyG = BroccoliH = MustardJ = ArugulaK = CarrotsL = KaleM = RadishesN = Fennel/DillP = Cauliflower/CabbageQ = CardoonR = BeetsS = Fava Beans

A B

AB

E

H

D

J

F

GG

E

C

C

CC

A

A

B

J D

FF

FF

N

C

LJG

D

M

B

E

FK

4’ X 4’

- Dot denotes individual transplants.

S

S

S

Individual transplants:SpinachLeeksChardParsleyBroccoliKaleFennel/DillCauliflowerCardoonCabbage

Height Key:

18+”

12-18”

6-12”

10

0 1’ 2’ 3’ 4’

AB

A

B

4’ X 8’

A

A

B

B

KL

KL

G

E FH

C

G

DJ

CE

A M A

HF

E

JC

D

B K B

CL

E

H

SS

S

E

E

GG

S

FE E

C

SS

S

S

S

M

FJ

Q

G

A

B

P

D

R

Other Organizations, Publications and ContactsSquare Foot Gardening, Mel Bartholomew, Rodale Press, 1981�e Edible School Yard, edibleschoolyard.orgAustin Sustainable Food Center, sustainablefoodcenter.orgAustin School Garden Network, austinsgn.org

TEXA

S MASTER GARDENER

TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICETexas A&M System

Daphne Richards: Horticulture Extension Agent Travis County

1600-B Smith RoadAustin, TX, 78721

Master Gardeners Help Desk: 512-854-9600

Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.travismg@ag.tamu.edu

Graphic Design by Cheryl Harrison© 2011 Travis County Master Gardeners Association