Initial Plant Research

Environmental Science

Kelsey Murphy

9/3/09

1. Strawberries

2. Daises

3. Watermelon

Strawberries are a fruit grown from the soil of any traditional bed. They are usually grown in the late spring and need full sun or at least 6hours to produce the best crop. It takes approximately three weeks for the strawberry to show growth and ripeness. They need to be separated from weeds and 1-2 feet apart from other plants. Fertilizing the strawberries is also very popular before and after harvesting. Having the site that strawberries will be grown need to be well-drained and the beds should be away from the roots of any nearby trees so it will not interfere with the fruit. There are over 200 different pests that are known to invade on strawberries, but hopefully if the right amount of care is put into them, it wont be too much of a problem. Approximately one cup of strawberries contains 45 calories as well as an excellent source of vitamin C.

Fun Fact: Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside.

Daises are considered to be one of the easiest flowers to grow. They are grown from a seed and can be planted directly into the soil of the flowerbed. They need a good amount of sunlight, but if the daisies are planted into an area where it is too hot, it should bet provided with some shade. The soil should be rich with lots of nutrients. Like the strawberries, it’s a good idea to use fertilizer to encourage healthy growth. As the daisies start to grow/bloom they will need to be separated by hand to avoid “choking”. Fortunately bugs are not drawn to daisies to keeping them maintained is a rather simple. When planting the flowers, the soil needs to be as deep as 12 to 15 inches. This flower consist of many different colors such as the original daisy with white petals and a yellow center, orange petals, pink petals, orange petals, and more.

Fun Fact: Daisy leaves are edible and can be used in salads.