The Growing Schools project (growing.schools@dfes.gsi.gov.uk) is a major initiative which aims to 'harness the full potential of the outdoor classroom as a teaching and learning resource. As part of the initiative, Learning through Landscapes (www.ltl. org.uk) has developed an early years project, Growing Upwards, with four principal aims:
* To help young children understand where food comes from, and how we rely on plants for food
* To give children first-hand experience of growing and harvesting food
* To reinforce the health and community benefits of growing and harvesting food in early years settings
* To encourage the participation and support of parents and the wider community.
Not every early years setting can be part of the project, but practitioners considering developing a vegetable plot in their outdoor area should consider carefully its aims, as they are fundamental to a successful project.
You don't have to have a huge outdoor area to create a vegetable plot, but what you do need is lots of enthusiasm and a sunny space that is reasonably sheltered from the wind.
Starting out
Pots and containers are ideal for growing vegetables, as they can be placed wherever is most convenient. They don't have to be plant pots - any container at least 25cm wide and 25cm deep will do. However, the bigger the container, the better, as soil dries out more slowly in bigger containers and so will not require watering as frequently.
Consider using old tyres, half barrels, tin baths, ceramic sinks, terracotta pots, chimney pots, wooden boxes or grow bags. Ask the children's families if they have any unwanted containers at home.
It is important that whatever container is used it has good drainage. Make sure that the chosen container has several large drainage holes at the bottom. Then, with the children, add a layer of broken bricks, pieces of broken terracotta pots or pebbles to create better drainage. If you are using terracotta pots, soak them thoroughly before using them.
Buy a good quality peat-free potting compost. If you already have a digging area with garden soil, you may wish to add some to the compost to make it go further, and add some worms, which are good for the soil, and plants.
Make sure the soil is well dug over and never add more than one quarter garden soil to three quarters potting compost in a container.
Encourage the children to work collaboratively to fill the containers.
What to plant
What you choose to grow will be influenced by:
* what the children are interested in growing and would like to eat
* what is likely to grow successfully
* whether you have any offers of seeds or young plants from friends or families.
It is possible to grow almost any vegetable successfully, but there are some which are easy to grow and will, with a little care, ensure success.
These are:
* potatoes * carrots * leeks * pumpkins
* runner beans * courgettes * radishes
* spring onion * lettuce * tomatoes.
Once you have decided what to grow, it's important to decide whether to grow from seed or from seedling. All vegetables can be grown from seeds, but some take longer than others and are harder to grow. It is often best to have a balance.
Runner beans can be planted indoors (see 'Roots and shoots', page 8) and transplanted into grow bags later.
Easy to grow seeds such as carrots, spring onions, radishes and lettuce can be planted straight into containers and thinned out as they grow. Seed potatoes can be bought and planted directly into deep containers. When seeds are planted, it's important to record what is planted where, and the easiest way is to laminate the seed packets and fix them to stakes in the containers.
It is also worth looking for sturdy young plants at the garden centre - tomatoes, pumpkins and courgettes are often better bought at this stage.
This has the added advantage that there is no wait for germination of the seeds and the less patient young learners have something to observe immediately.
Watering
In the early stages, it is important to control the amount of water given to the seeds and young plants. Young children are often enthusiastic waterers and the seeds can become flooded. It is best to water little and often in the early days, so give the children small watering cans with fine hoses. It is really best to water the soil around the plant, rather than the plants directly.
Try to water the plants early in the morning, so that they are damp when the sun is out, and again in the early evening. Never water around midday.
As the plants grow, water them more, but less frequently. Plants in small pots and containers will dry out more quickly, and will still need to be watered twice a day in warm weather.
Hanging baskets
Hanging baskets make an exciting alternative to other pots and containers.
They also have an added advantage for settings that close during the long summer holiday - they can be taken home and cared for by the children!
Courgettes, peppers, tomatoes and dwarf peas are all good to grow in hanging baskets. It is best to either germinate the seeds indoors, and transplant them when they are sturdy plants, or to buy them as small plants. Choose the hanging basket carefully - solid plastic baskets are cheaper and don't dry out so quickly, but mesh baskets can look much more interesting.
It's important to choose a basket no smaller than 25cm in diameter, and the 35-40cm baskets retain more moisture and so are easier to maintain.
Mesh baskets should be double-lined, with a porous outer liner and a plastic inner liner which will help to retain moisture.
Put only one or two plants in small baskets and three or four in larger ones. Allow the plants lots of room to grow and trail over the edges of the basket.
Strawberries
As an added interest, you may wish to grow strawberries in hanging baskets.
These grow particularly well from small plants, and will continue to flower and fruit throughout the summer months.
Herbs
Herbs can be grown successfully and easily in containers, provided they have adequate drainage. Small plants are readily available, and will spread quickly. They have the added advantage of offering sensory experiences for children. Consider: thyme, parsley, sage, mint, basil and rosemary.
