Post 1 of 6: Ground Cherry Planting

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 Post 1 of 6: Ground Cherry Planting


    In order to plant my ground cherry, I met Dr. Merchant on June 7th, 2023, at the teaching gardens across from Fifield Hall on Hull Road. When we met, she graciously offered her expertise pertaining to soil compaction, fertilizer use, germination rates, and more valuable information. She ensured that I not only planted my seed properly, but also had the skills necessary to continue caring for it. This was a gratifying experience, considering I have not gardened much in my lifetime. I was unaware that soil should be moistened before planting, which is one of many pieces of knowledge I will carry with me into the future.


   I took my new pot containing the ground cherry seeds back to Hume Hall and placed it on an interior windowsill in the oriented E/SE direction. This location primarily receives morning light. My dorm is often set to a cold temperature at night (<70 degrees Fahrenheit) due to my roommate's preferences. I feared that this nighttime temperature might adversely affect plant growth. A lack of water due to occasional travel is another threat to any plants I own. However, I have committed to doing my best to overcome this obstacle by setting watering reminders on my cell phone.



  Additionally, I have yet to have much success when it comes to gardening. This is likely due to forgetfulness in terms of watering and a lack of personal knowledge about planting seasons in the South Florida climate. With Dr. Merchant's expert advice, I look forward to a successful and fulfilling gardening experience.


After planting, all that remained was eagerly awaiting a sprout. -Hayden Hawes

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