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Last school year Mrs Craythorne and Mrs Kitchen worked very hard with a selection of year 4 and 5 children to plant vegetables and hedges. Both of which have thrived, obviously they have very green fingers!

 

 

 

They planted some ‘Vanguard’ potatoes in the raised beds. They used old potatoes which had sprouted eyes, these are the buds from which the new will potatoes from.

 

The children used a twig to make sure we planted the potatoes far enough apart.

  

During what is referred to as the flowering stage, the vines that form above the soil will begin to flower. The crop of potatoes will actually grow between the top of the soil and the seed piece of potato. It's important to keep these sprouts, and their resulting mounds, fully covered with soil so that they are not exposed to sunlight. The potatoes can start to be harvested about 3 weeks after the flowering stage ends.

 

Also a selection of children from each of the classes in school helped to plant some new Hazel, Holly, Dog rose and Dog wood hedges at the far end of the school field. Below is a little information about each of the hedges that we have chosen to plant.

   

Dog rose (Rosa Canina) is a lovely and popular addition to a mixed hedge with its burst of lightly scented pink/white open flowers carried in clusters in May/June followed by orange/red rose hips, so very much loved by wildlife that eat the seeds inside the hips.

 

Dogwoods (Cornus) are mostly grown for their coloured stems and provide a bright flash of colour in autumn and winter.