School Plot

[Satchel]

Afternoon Grapeviners,

The school where I work has had six small beds made (approx 6ft by 2.5ft) in which they want to grow veg and flowers.

Can you suggest suitable crops bearing in mind the age of the children (years 1 - 4) and the fact that they would like to harvest some/most of the veg before the summer holidays.

Crops can be left in over the summer holidays, but they won't get much attention for those 6 weeks.

Many thanks

Satchel

[Nicos]

Hello satchel...welcome to the Vine!!

johnty should be along soon- here's what he got up to....

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...hool_5261.html

[SueA]

Hi Satchel & welcome. If you're quick you can register for some potatoes to grow at school from the 'Potato Council', see the link below for details, you have to register by Feb. 8th so be hurry up if you want to join in.
British Potato Council - potatoes for schools
You could grow some early potatoes which should be just about ready for harvesting before the hols. Also quick growing crops such as salads :- lettuce, salad leaves, spring onions, radish & things like early carrots would be O.K. Good luck with the project, it's nice to see children getting the chance to learn how their food grows.

[SarzWix]

You could try this site too, although it's still under construction you can register the school's interest
Dig for Their Future - Rocket Gardens in School - Instant organic vegetable garden uk - Rocket Gardens

Oh, and welcome to the 'Vine Satchel

[Flummery]

My sister is a TA in a primary school and asked me the same question last year. Early potatoes in a big pot (they had less space than you) were very successful. They also grew radishes, lettuce, spring onions. I have suggested some strawberry plants this year.

[shirlthegirl43]

Hello and welcome to the vine. My son's primary school planted some herbs in amongst their shrubs a few years ago and Sam was very excited to come home and tell me what herbs were doing best and what was good for cooking with what foods.

[Satchel]

Thanks for the responses and the links. I have registered for the potatoes and the rocket garden so hopefully something will grow!!

Regards

Satchel

[veggieginger]

Thanks from me for this post too. I run a gardening club at my school and we have just be told we can have a (small) plot in the grounds, it gives us a lot more potential then just growing things in pots, although we will continue to do that as the kids can take things home then.

I have another link to add, I joined and they sent goodies; there are some good links too.

Royal Horticultural Society - Education: Schools Membership Scheme

[Shortie]

Hi Sachel

How about some perennial herbs, like rosemary and lavender? Both very hardy, edible and fab smells

Onions seem really hardy too. A few years back when I grew them in my back garden, they were trampled on by a 3 year old, and my ginger tom decided (often) that he wanted to smell of onion and would roll all over them . They survived very well

[Nicky]

I'd go with easy things such as radishes, runner beans, peas where they can eat some of the shoots as well as the peas when they've grown, something like butternut squash that can be left and covers the ground so other weeds don't grow as much although they are a bit big. Mint as a herb thay they can crush up and smell although that would have to be in a burried tub to stop it invading everywhere.

[Two_Sheds]

updated school plot photos: Flickr: Garden Club2011's Photostream