[surbie100]

I've said I will help a local primary school who want to start a veggie garden by supplying some plants. They will have 3-4 raised beds and a polytunnel. From conversations with the Deputy Head they really don't know where to start with plants.

Given the issues with term times and holidays, what plants work well?

 

[sunshineband]

Ideally they need crops that are ready by the end of July, or those that are ready from September onwards.

It can be good for children to sow seeds, rather than receive plants.

Onion sets are useful and surprisingly exciting (as long as they are planted the right way up  ) First early potatoes, early carrots and peas are liked by children, and anything purple seems to go down a treat too 

If there is someone to water over the holidays, toms and cucumbers are winners,  as are runner beans

[Truffle]

Hi, My youngest is at primary school at the moment and they grow veg but it all very low key but they love it.

My advice would be to keep it simple. Attention span with this age of children is very short as they are easily distracted. They like to see things that happen quickly before they forget all about planting them, so salad like lettuce and radish are great for the quick appearance. Whilst Runner Beans are always a fave due to their changing and climbing nature, the grand finale of the growing season that children and adults a like love to see is the Pumpkin.

Anything else you can fit in around these are a bonus. Good Luck, with your venture 

[RJR_38]

When I ran gardening club at my last school favourites were:

Potatoes, onions, fast growing carrots (or at least ones not ready in July/August), broad beans, early strawberries (bit of a gamble on the weather but good if you have a tunnel! ) also squash and pumpkins

Cabbages and sprouts were good for the winter.

It is hard to get things that aren't harvested mid-July to August and that they know about/will recognise

I think it was the spuds they were most surprised at - they really thought I had buried more for them to 'find' and didn't quite believer it...

[surbie100]

That's great, thank you. Will talk these over with the Deputy Head.

[mumofstig]

Apply here for free  potatoes for schools....
http://gyop.potato.org.uk/

The children in my group chose mixed coloured carrots, yellow dwarf beans, purple peas and mixed coloured runner beans, crystal apple cucumbers, baby bear pumpkins, different coloured tomatoes, yellow courgettes, red cabbage and mixed coloured lettuce/salad 

Oh and we're going to try to grow a mega big pumpkin 

[bravemurphy]

Radish should be a good one because its nice and fast.

From my experience with children and gardening they like fast results 

[Beetroot Queen]

The school Florence should have attended do a lot of gardening which she would adore. They do broad beans, runners, french, spuds, etc etc they also have those animal shaped compost bins that the kids turn.  not sure how successful they have been.

Good luck. Fruit of any type is nice as they can pick and eat. Oh no these days it has to be washed first 

[pigguns]

I did buckets of spuds and carrots one year, and I have to agree the spuds were the most fun for them.

[RJR_38]

The only reason we didn't do runners or toms was because they would have all been ready during the summer holidays :/

[surbie100]

They have a polytunnel, so I was thinking that that might bring them on quick enough. I am meeting at the school tomorrow morning and will hopefully get a picture of who's doing what.

I only volunteered for donating a few plants - am going to resist any additional offers cos I really don't have the time.

[sunshineband]

Yes, projects like that can suck you in all too easily