flowers for training

[gan heather]

I'll be starting a garden in the school I work in. The space is surrounded by a metal fence which is good because it will protect the area from damage, but it does look a bit...institutional. Any recommendations for flowers we could train along the fence that would soften the look of it a bit (only requirements being the plants have to be relatively easy and quick growing)?

[Elaineb]

Don't know about along the fence, but up the fence I would plant some sweet peas, beautiful colour and scent. the kids can pick them and the more they pick the more flowers will grow. Your will have to cover the fence with netting first. If the children plant seeds now inside the school and then they could watch them grow and should be ready to plant out in about 6 weeks or so. Or failing that buy ready grown it plugs from the garden centre.

E x

[tamsin]

Do they kids have access? Sweetpeas/morning glory are nice but seeds are toxic. Otherwise I grew Carouby de Mausanne mange tout peas last year that grow about 5' and had lovely purple flowers but are non toxic. Climbing nasturtiums are also non toxic. I'm try canary creepers this year too which part of the nasturtium family.

[Two_Sheds]

I've got clematis, passion flower, jasmine growing up trellis fixed to my fences. Apart from a bit of tying in, they don't need much attention (bought for £2 each in QD or similar)

Sweet peas are good if you can keep picking them. Otherwise they go to seed quickly and die.