Grade 4 Agriculture Gardening Practices – Cereals Notes

Gardening Practices — Cereals (for age 9)

Topic: Agriculture — Subtopic: Cereals. In Kenya many families grow cereals like maize (mahindi), sorghum (mtama), rice (wali) and wheat (ngano).

When to plant

In Kenya plant cereals with the rains:

Simple steps to grow cereals (easy for kids)

1. Prepare the soil: Clear weeds and dig small holes or a raised bed. Mix in compost or well-rotted manure.
2. Plant seeds: Plant seeds 2–3 cm deep. For maize leave about 20–30 cm between plants. For sorghum/millet leave 10–15 cm.
3. Water gently: Water soon after planting. Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Water in the morning.
4. Mulch: Put dry grass or leaves around plants to keep soil cool and stop weeds.
5. Weed: Pull small weeds by hand so cereals can grow well.

Pests, diseases and simple care

• Birds like maize seeds — use nets or scare-crows (ask an adult to help).
• Insects (like caterpillars) can eat leaves — pick them off by hand if you see them.
• Leaf spots happen when plants are too wet — make sure plants have space and remove badly sick leaves.
• Always ask an adult before using any chemical sprays.

When and how to harvest

Maize is ready when the grains are hard and the husk is dry. Rice and wheat are ready when the plants turn yellow and grains are hard.

After picking, dry the grains in the sun for a few days. Store in a dry, safe place away from rats.

Fun activities and experiments

• Grow one maize seed in a pot. Count how many days until it sprouts.
• Try two pots: one with compost and one without. Which grows better?
• Make a small label for each plant with its name and date planted.

Enjoy growing your cereals — happy gardening! 🌾