Tower Gardening Tuesday: Plant Parts Study- ROOTS

Today #RAKids tended to our Tower Garden by pruning away dead growth, harvesting more Malabar spinach and basil, and adding water and nutrients to the system to promote continued and optimal growth. This tower has grown exceptionally well as compared to our outdoor towers (which have also yielded beautifully and consistently all summer).

We delved into the TG activity on Roots and Root Systems as our budding gardeners observed different root structures on various types of plants. We discussed which types of plants may grow well in both the Tower and soil gardens, and contrasted which others might do best outside due to their root types, shapes, and functions.

Plants’ roots serve to anchor them into the growing medium (i.e. soil, clay, rock/sand, or aeroponics system), to bring water and nutrients into the plant from the surrounding environment, and to store sugars/starches which have travelled down from the leaves. Some plants such as beets,carrots, radishes, turnips are actually grown for their root systems, known as storage taproots, as they store many of the sugars and starches the plant produces and are enjoyed by humans as food. Many other plants such as beans, corn, grains, have fibrous root systems which are all about the same length and spread out in all directions underground in search of water and nutrients.

Through our projects and programs, we strive to help youth become firmly anchored in a strong foundation, to develop and branch out seeking knowledge, and to nourish the world around them with the richness of their growth and potential!