A Guide to Garden Plants
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A Guide to Garden Plants
This course is part of Introduction to Ecological Gardening Specialization
Instructor: Emily Tepe
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What you'll learn
Select appropriate plant species and cultivars for different seasons and climates
Determine proper plant placement, timing, and care for healthy growth and productivity
Details to know
June 2026
11 assignments
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There are 3 modules in this course
This course helps learners build stronger gardening skills by understanding how different species of garden plants grow, function, and interact with their environment. The course emphasizes practical knowledge that supports confident decision-making in real garden settings.
Through a mix of videos, readings, images, and interactive activities, you’ll explore three core areas: cool-season crops, warm-season crops, and fruits suited to temperate climates. You’ll learn how to select appropriate species and cultivars, determine optimal placement in the garden, and support healthy growth from planting through harvest. The course also introduces basic pest awareness and seasonal planning for improved productivity. While developed for northern climates with shorter growing seasons, the principles taught apply broadly. Learners in other regions can adapt plant choices and timing to fit their local conditions. By the end, you’ll have a solid foundation for planning and managing a productive, resilient garden.
This module focuses on cool-season vegetables and herbs commonly grown in temperate gardens. These plants are cold tolerant, quick to mature, and well-suited to cooler weather, making them ideal for early or late-season harvests. You’ll learn what makes cool-season crops successful, how to choose species and cultivars that fit different garden conditions, and how to plan their placement within a broader garden design. The module also introduces the basics of starting, maintaining, and monitoring these plants throughout the growing season. By the end of this module, you’ll understand how cool-season vegetables and herbs can bring early and late season productivity, variety, and interest to a temperate garden.
What's included
2 videos13 readings3 assignments
2 videos•Total 6 minutes
- Course introduction•4 minutes
- Intro to cool season plants•2 minutes
13 readings•Total 182 minutes
- About this course•5 minutes
- About the assignments•2 minutes
- About cool season plants•15 minutes
- Amaranthaceae: The Amaranth family•20 minutes
- Amaryllidaceae: The amaryllis family•20 minutes
- Apiaceae: The carrot family•20 minutes
- Asparagaceae: The asparagus family•15 minutes
- Asteraceae: The daisy family•15 minutes
- Brassicaceae: The mustard family•20 minutes
- Fabaceae: The legume family•10 minutes
- Polygonaceae: The buckwheat family•10 minutes
- Planning for cool season plants•10 minutes
- Planting and establishing cool season plants•20 minutes
3 assignments•Total 60 minutes
- Quick check: Cool season plant species•15 minutes
- Quick check: Growing cool season plants•15 minutes
- Module quiz: Cool season plants•30 minutes
This module focuses on warm-season vegetables and herbs—tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, basil, and other summer favorites. You’ll learn what these plants need to grow well, how to choose the right varieties, and how to plan and care for them to get the best results. By the end of this module, you’ll understand how the right choices and care can bring a summer garden to life with color, flavor, and abundance.
What's included
1 video11 readings4 assignments
1 video•Total 2 minutes
- Intro to warm season plants•2 minutes
11 readings•Total 165 minutes
- About warm season plants•15 minutes
- Asteraceae: The daisy family•15 minutes
- Convolvulaceae: The morning glory family•10 minutes
- Cucurbitaceae: The gourd family•20 minutes
- Fabaceae: The legume family•10 minutes
- Lamiaceae: The mint family•15 minutes
- Malvaceae: The mallow family•10 minutes
- Poaceae: The grass family•10 minutes
- Solanaceae: The nightshade family•20 minutes
- Planning for warm season plants•20 minutes
- Planting and establishing warm season plants•20 minutes
4 assignments•Total 130 minutes
- Quick check: Warm season plant species•30 minutes
- Quick check: Growing warm season plants•30 minutes
- Learning activity: Seed starting calculators•40 minutes
- Module quiz: Warm season plants•30 minutes
This module introduces fruit crops—some of the most rewarding and long-lasting plants you can grow. You’ll start with berries, then move on to vines and tree fruits, learning how to choose species and varieties suited to your climate and growing conditions. You’ll also explore what it takes to establish and care for these perennial plants so they thrive for years to come. By the end of this module, you’ll see how growing fruit can be both achievable and deeply rewarding, offering beauty and harvests that last season after season.
What's included
2 videos17 readings4 assignments
2 videos•Total 10 minutes
- Intro to growing fruit •8 minutes
- Intro to growing fruit trees•2 minutes
17 readings•Total 235 minutes
- Getting to know fruit plants•15 minutes
- Growing fruit in the garden•10 minutes
- Intro to growing berries•15 minutes
- Growing blueberries•15 minutes
- Growing currants and gooseberries•10 minutes
- Growing grapes•15 minutes
- Growing kiwiberries•20 minutes
- Growing raspberries•20 minutes
- Growing strawberries•15 minutes
- Growing fruit trees at home•15 minutes
- Apples•15 minutes
- Pears•15 minutes
- Stone fruits: Apricot•15 minutes
- Stone fruits: Cherries (tart/pie/sour)•15 minutes
- Stone fruits: Plums•10 minutes
- Stone fruits: Peaches•10 minutes
- Course recap•5 minutes
4 assignments•Total 135 minutes
- Quick check: Intro to growing fruit in temperate gardens•30 minutes
- Quick check: Fruit Review•30 minutes
- Learning activity: Growing fruit in Northern climates•45 minutes
- Module quiz: Fruits for the temperate garden•30 minutes
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