4-H Project Ideas for Vegetable Gardening

Source: University of Minnesota Extension

Ideas for Your Project:

1.  Do experiments to test which fertilizer(s) work best with various vegetables.  You could bring the actual plants or pictures of them to the fair.

2.  Design and grow your own vegetable garden.  Include your original plans and reasons you may have deviated from them in your display.  Keep a journal describing the plans you made and the work you did throughout the growing season.

3.  Experiment with your vegetables by growing them in conditions where you might alter one or more of the following:  sunlight, soil type, temperature, water, etc.  Remember that you need to always provide a control plant and it may be best to only test one variable at a time.

4.  Contact one or more of the Master Gardeners and set up a time to interview them about their vegetable gardening experiences.  You might even volunteer to help one with his or her garden this year.  For a list of Master Gardeners and their areas of expertise, call the Extension Office.

5.  Do a study on weed control.  Work diligently to keep one section of your garden weed-free, but let the other area of your garden grow freely.  You might make a third section be weed-free and mulched.  Compare the difference in your vegetable quantity and quality when the vegetables are ripe.

6.  You've seen those pesky insects in your garden - now learn what they are and exactly what they're doing crawling around on your veggies.  Check out some insect identification books from the local library and try to identify them yourselves.  If you get stuck, bring them into the Extension Office or a local nature center to get their help.  Then do some studying to find out if they are helpful or harmful little critters.  If they're helpful, you'll want to do what you can to keep them around.  If they are hurting your plants, take the appropriate measures to get rid of them.

7.  Experiment with different types of gardening:  raised bed, hydroponic, aeroponic, etc.  Raise vegetables in the traditional and non-traditional means and compare your results at the end.

8.  Visit a local greenhouse and speak with the owner about the education and interest necessary to work in or own a greenhouse.   Ask them if you can shadow them or an employee during their busy season. 

9. Grow herbs, both for cooking and ornamental use.  Learn how to use dried herbs in cooking and craft making.

10.  Come up with your own activity, or call the Extension Office for more great ideas.  We also have several project books you can check out.  These books are full of hands-on ideas for you to learn more about vegetable gardening.

Links to Visit for Further Information and Ideas:

***Please note: these are non-ISU Extension web sites.

Aeroponic Gardening:  Find out what this non-traditional technique is all about at this website.

Crafter's Herb Garden:  Discover ways to use your herbs in craft projects.

Gardening Tips:  Get advice for the beginning gardener on everything from watering to soil type and everything in between.

Growing Vegetables:  The University of Minnesota Extension's Garden topics and publications on growing vegetables.

Hydroponic Gardening:  Get the latest tips and equipment for hydroponic gardening right here.

Raised Bed Gardening:  The Ohio State University Extension Service's fact sheet on this popular form of gardening.

Vegetable Gardening PLUS Sheet:  Get helpful hints for how to get started and project ideas to try.

Vegetable Insects and Diseases:  Click here to learn how to deal with these pesky problems.