Best crops

[Filbert]

So what are the best crops for children to grow that are ready to harvest during term time and not the summer holidays?

[veggiechicken]

Have a look at the link in http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ces_87880.html

[ESBkevin]

Fast growing things like radish and lettuce work but are not that exciting to eat. Peas grow reasonably fast and are sweet so kids like them. Stawberries harvest in term but require a year to establish properly.
Potatoes planted early enough will be ready (if you have space) in 13-16 weeks and the marvel of them coming out of the soil is a joy to watch on thier faces.

[Thelma Sanders]

When I was running one, each child grew a small bush tomato in a tub to take home with them at the end of summer term (tubs free from the co op when I explained what they were for)
We planted pumpkins in May for cropping in Autumn, for display at the school harvest fair.
Mangetout worked well, some varieties quickly grow quite tall (with pretty flowers) and they liked eating them as they picked them. Ordinary peas sown as early as possible crop in time.
We grew multi coloured carrots, red and yellow beetroots, rows of different coloured lettuces, chives, potatoes in tubs, weighing them was fun
There was also a row of raspberries and a blackberry along the fence, plus a pear, apple and a plum.
Good luck!

Sunflowers and marigolds, as well as strawberries for edgings

[Filbert]

Thank you for all the suggestions so far. We have some raspberries that fruit in the summer holidays so we replaced 3 plants with Autumn fruiting so hoping for some success with those.
Will need to net them though as birds can be an issue.
We had wonderful blackcurrants last year but they fruit in July up here so it needs keen staff helpers as the kids are on holiday.
Peas sound good as you can eat so much of the plant and they grow quite fast.

[happyhumph]

All good suggestions - my two (3 & 7) also love sorrel - getting that lemony flavour from a leaf is so unexpected for a child, & it's perennial. Just cut it back a bit in September if it gets to big & tough over the holidays.

Another vote for different coloured carrots, and winter squash, pea shoots are good for a really quick crop (even in the classroom later in the year).

[Yola]

Just what I needed. Thank you.
anyone got any other ideas?

[Chestnut]

Mustard and cress? Simple, but quick.
Also sprouting seeds- bean sprouts would be the obvious one.
Do you have to get crops the same term? Or could you leave stuff to grow over summer and harvest in September?