← BACK THROUGH THE GARDEN GATE

01 / ROOTS / THE GROWING GARDEN

Notes from
a balcony.

A little patience. A lot of questions.

Follow the roots

Botanical illustration for The growing garden

Every interest has a place to grow.

I

Pumpkin Journal
& Fertilizer Study

01 / CONTROL

No chemicals added.

02 / CONTROLLED RELEASE

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose + ethyl cellulose (3:4) + KH₂PO₄.

03 / CONTROLLED RELEASE

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose + ethyl cellulose (1:3) + KH₂PO₄.

Three pumpkin seedling pots — Pumpkin journal / observation 01

Pumpkin seedlings in three treatment pots — Pumpkin journal / observation 02

Tall pumpkin plant in a pot — Pumpkin journal / observation 03

Four pumpkin planters with growing plants — Pumpkin journal / observation 04

FROM THE NOTEBOOK

Nutrient release
over time.

The original figure from my fertilizer study.

Nutrient release over time chart comparing controlled-release treatments — Original study figure / tap to enlarge

II

Arabidopsis thaliana
& EPM Study

This summer at Garcia, I did research on how ethanol precipitable material (EPM) from Rhizobium tropici can enhance plant growth by improving the bioavailability of phosphate in soil, providing a promising, more sustainable alternative to conventional fertilizers that does not require external chemical input.

Here are the lovely plants I grew, and those treated with EPM really thrived!

A closer look at growth

Follow the growing days All observations

All151820

After sowingControlExtra phosphateEPM

DAY15

Control, 15 days after sowing — Day 15 / Control

Extra phosphate, 15 days after sowing — Day 15 / Extra phosphate

EPM, 15 days after sowing — Day 15 / EPM

DAY18

Control, 18 days after sowing — Day 18 / Control

Extra phosphate, 18 days after sowing — Day 18 / Extra phosphate

EPM, 18 days after sowing — Day 18 / EPM

DAY20

Control, 20 days after sowing — Day 20 / Control

Extra phosphate, 20 days after sowing — Day 20 / Extra phosphate

EPM, 20 days after sowing — Day 20 / EPM

III

Bean sprouts
& Shanghai bok choy

Bean sprouts growing beside a window — Bean sprouts / on the windowsill

Young bok choy seedlings in a growing tray — Shanghai bok choy / first leaves

Bok choy seedlings across a growing tray — Shanghai bok choy / growing tray

Bok choy seedlings in a pot at school — At school / reaching toward the light

Young bok choy plants in a school pot — At school / another observation

KEEP EXPLORING

Next: Science + Art

A LEAF FROM THE GROWING GARDEN

Keep a little
of this garden.

Collect a leaf in your fieldbook,
then wander toward another plot.

Back to the garden paths ↗