1. In daily life, the vegetables we commonly eat come from different parts of plants: roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits.
1-1. Edible part: root Examples of vegetables: carrot, radish
1-2. Edible part: stem Examples of vegetables: potato, bamboo shoot
1-3. Edible part: leaf Examples of vegetables: bok choy, spinach, cabbage
1-4. Edible part: flower Examples of vegetables: daylily, broccoli, cauliflower
1-5. Edible part: fruit Examples of vegetables: pumpkin, loofah, okra
2. Before planting vegetables, you can learn which kinds are suitable for the current season, what environments they need, how long they take to grow, and what preparations are required by reading the instructions on seed packets, consulting people with planting experience, or checking books and other resources.
3. Temperature affects the germination of vegetable seeds and the growth of seedlings, so you should choose vegetables that are suitable for planting in the current season.
4. When growing vegetables, you can choose to plant them in a vegetable bed or in flowerpots or recycled containers. If you use recycled containers, you must pay attention to drainage to prevent the roots from rotting.
5. The tools that must be prepared for growing vegetables include seeds, a trowel, a watering can, planting containers, and soil.
6. When choosing a place to grow vegetables, you should consider whether the air circulates well, there is sufficient sunlight, watering is convenient, the soil is loose, and the plants can be taken care of easily nearby.
7. Different vegetable seeds have different colors, shapes, sizes, and surface features.
7-1. Tomato (a flattened teardrop shape, usually yellow‑brown or brown, with fine hairs on the surface)
7-2. Bok choy (round, usually brown or purple‑brown, hairless, with a white dot on the seed)
7-3. Carrot (oval, usually brown, with stripes on the seed and small bristles on the stripes)
7-4. Cauliflower (round, usually brown or reddish‑brown; similar in appearance to bok choy seeds, but larger)
8. The order of sowing is:
(1) Using broadcast sowing to plant bok choy as an example: fill with soil (loosen the soil) → sow seeds → cover with soil → water.
(2) Using dibbling to plant tomatoes as an example: fill with soil (loosen the soil) → dig holes → sow seeds → cover with soil → water.
9. When sowing, pay attention to the distance between seeds, the depth at which the seeds are buried, and the amount of soil covering the seeds (the bottom of the planting container must have holes).
10. After sowing, attention should be paid to sunlight, watering, transplanting and thinning, pest problems, and fertilization.
Activity 2: What factors affect the growth of vegetables?
1. After seeds have been sown for a period of time, they will germinate. The seedling first grows a pair of leaves called cotyledons. The shape of the cotyledons is different from that of the leaves that grow later (true leaves).
2. Items that should be recorded in a vegetable growth record sheet include: name of the vegetable, sowing date and weather conditions, date and time of observation, growth conditions (such as number and characteristics of leaves, height, etc.), and observations (such as problems encountered and solutions). You may also record your feelings or reflections.
3. Possible problems during the growth of vegetables and their solutions:
3-1. Points to note when watering –
a. Time: avoid watering at noon, or move to a shaded place to water.
b. Position: water directly onto the soil; keep the watering position low to avoid knocking over seedlings.
c. Amount of water: keep the water stream gentle to avoid knocking over seedlings, and water until water flows out of the bottom of the pot. On rainy days or when the soil is moist, do not water again.
3-2. Seedlings bending to grow toward the same side – sunlight: move the pot to a sunny place; with sufficient sunlight, the seedlings will grow upright.
3-3. Seedlings growing too densely –
a. Thinning: use flat tweezers to remove unwanted seedlings to provide enough space for growth.
b. Transplanting: dig up seedlings together with their roots and surrounding soil and move them to suitable positions to provide enough space for growth.
3-4. Leaves are gnawed by insects and have many small holes –
a. Searching for pests: catch insects or remove snails; if there are eggs on the back of leaves, remove them as well.
b. Repelling pests: spray homemade repellents so that caterpillars and other pests will not dare to approach.
c. Protection: cover the pots with mesh netting so that insects cannot get in.
3-5. Methods of fertilizing –
a. Selection: according to growth needs, consult experts or check information to choose appropriate fertilizers.
b. Consultation: apply fertilizer correctly according to the instructions.
Activity 3: What changes does a vegetable go through as it grows?
1. The growth process of a vegetable follows a certain sequence: seed → germination → seedlings growing leaves → plant growing taller and larger → flowering → fruiting (until it withers and dies). However, the cycle can continue endlessly through its seeds.
