Rocket sketches a giant garden with a pond, a corn tower and a hundred melons.
"Here is my dream garden!" he says.
Raven looks at their tiny porch. "What do you notice about our space?"
Nova hovers over the sketch. "Engineers start with the problem," she says. "What must the garden do? What are the limits?"
Rocket picks up a fresh sheet of paper.
Engineers begin by defining the problem.
Criteria are what the design must do to succeed.
Constraints are the limits, like space, materials and time.
A garden design has to meet what plants need: light, water, air, nutrients and space.
| Criteria (what it must do) | Constraints (the limits) |
|---|---|
| give fruiting plants at least 6 hours of direct sun | only one porch or windowsill |
| let extra water drain away | only pots and cups from home |
| be easy to water | one growing season |
| give each plant room to grow | a grown-up does any cutting |
Most vegetables need at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
Beans and other plants grown for their fruit need 6 to 8 hours.
Some root and leaf crops can handle light shade.
Avoid spots right under big trees. Tree roots take water and nutrients.
Plants also need soil that drains well. Vegetables do poorly where water stands.
A water source close by makes watering easier.
Check your bean plant. How many hours of sun does its spot get?
Excellent engineering start! Tomorrow we draw a garden map to scale.