I'm helping my cousin set up a small veg plot in his back garden. It will be about 2.5m x 5m and he wants to involve his children with the growing. What do you think I should suggest planting? I was thinking of a butternut squash, runner beans, a couple of potatoes, lettuce, radish and carrots. Any suggestions on the best way to handle this size plot and also other crops?
Thanks!
Take a look at my site, i have a very small plot.
http://backyard.8m.net/garden%20veg/main.html
It'll give you some ideas.
Quote from: PJW_Letchworth on March 11, 2007, 19:50:34
I'm helping my cousin set up a small veg plot in his back garden. It will be about 2.5m x 5m and he wants to involve his children with the growing. What do you think I should suggest planting? I was thinking of a butternut squash, runner beans, a couple of potatoes, lettuce, radish and carrots. Any suggestions on the best way to handle this size plot and also other crops?
Thanks!
cherry tomatoes in pots or hanging baskets, peas or french beans, or sugar snap peas, all grow in pots or small spaces, and kids love 'em..strawberries, again can be put in a pot or small area, nice just to get a taster ;D
I would put up a trellis and grow the runner beans and a squash on that, on the ground your squash will take over that size.There is a tiny pumpkin the size of an orange that is tasty like a squash that kids really get a kick out of and it rambles up a trellis no problem. Put a few outdoor tomatoes and an outdoor cucumber in pots so as not to use the ground space.There a great many varieties one can buy now that are small,eg Tom Thumb or Little Gem lettuce,plus baby caulis etc,almost everything has a mini version, any good seed catalogue will have varieties, or go online. Use pots to extend your growing space as much as you can,even little round Parmex carrotts will grow in pots. I have a very large pot with an obelisk in it that I grown 8 runner bean plants in really just for show but there are always loads of beans.You can grow spuds in plastic bags.
Good luck with your garden, the kids will love it.
XX Jeannine
I think this might be one for square foot gardening.
My 9 year old was really engaged by the idea of a 3 sisters bed - as described on 'Grow your Own Veg' so once I have dug and weeded the bed, that's what he is going to do with some sunflowers thrown in for good measure.
Involving the children usually requires some kind of competition like tallest sunflower, biggest pumpkin, the most courgettes from one plant etc.
I would suggest growing what your friends family enjoys eating! and thinking about growing in containers as well as the ground.
Sounds like a fun project PJW! If you go to www.squarefootgardening.co.uk it'll take you to a site dedicated to growing veg, herbs, flowers etc in a small space! Haven't inspected the site myself, as we have a lottie (eeek!) but hear it's well worth a visit!
Good luck, and make sure you take plenty of before, during and after piccies to share with us! x
I'd try lots of things that appeal to children - mini-veg, for instance, like cherry tomatoes, and those little cucumbers that are ideal for lunchboxes, and try some mini-sweetcorn which they'll love as the plants can get to 8ft high and can be planted about 15" apart in a block, giving the whole place a real 'jungle' look!
I know this may sound silly PJW, but the first question your cousin should ask is, what do I like to eat? There is no point growing stuff just for show if its not something you enjoy eating!! Think of the fruit and veg you like - then think of what to grow.
We have very limited space. We do not have enough room for onions or potatoes.
What we do grow are broad beans, peas, climbing french beans, runner beans, sweetcorn. We do grow a few potatoes in tubs. We also grow carrots in tubs.
Fruit-wise we have a Stella cherry tree, redcurrants, blackcurrants and whitecurrants, loganberries, tayberries and blackberries. and a Bramley apple tree.
In the greenhouse - tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines and chillies.
Basically, if you are not going to eat it, don't waste space growing it!!
valmarg
you sould get the seed catalogues out and get the kids to pick out all the plants they want to grow
You might find it helpful to slip one or two things they dont like as having grown it they might want to eat it.
You might like to have a look at these for insperation
http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/news-1
http://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/veg3x3.asp
Good Luck!
if you've got a greenhouse border you could always try the sweet potato, kids love them, especially made into wedges, or at least my 8 yr old grandson does ;D
Hi there, well, not much to add to all the good advice already given except to say that you can grow faster growing things like lettuce and radish in between slower growing crops. My friend has a tiny little veg patch ( although it seems to be growing with each season) and grows all of the above and more. Do start with what they actually want to eat, but do plant a few unknowns, as going out to pick it themselves seems to encourage children to eat it. Yellow courgettes work with my kids! Happy growing and I wonder how long it will be before you can't help your cousin coz you're growing your own!! ;D
Why not try some multi-coloured carrots, purple cauliflower, yellow beans and tomatoes......they should all appeal to kids, they'll love the crazy colours that you don't find in shops.
Also, try some alpine strawberries. They are so easy to grow and produce loads of tiny, but very tasty strawberries. They are almost always popular with children.
If you grow pumpkins you can scratch the childrens names into the developping fruits, and then as they grow their name gets bigger and bigger!
Good luck. I'm sure it will be worth it. My son LOVES gardening now. This year, he has finally become more of a help in the garden than a hinderance. Not bad for a 4 year old!
Quote from: creckless on March 12, 2007, 10:12:41
If you grow pumpkins you can scratch the childrens names into the developping fruits, and then as they grow their name gets bigger and bigger!
Oh, that is GENIUS! :o How fab is that?
Thanks to everyone for your help and advice. Loads of great ideas.
I already have an allotment Emmy and I'm wondering when I'll get time to go to work! :D
Quote from: PJW_Letchworth on March 12, 2007, 22:29:05
I already have an allotment Emmy and I'm wondering when I'll get time to go to work! :D
Yes, work does seem to get in the way of your hobbies rather doesn't it!
I know now why people do it for a living!! I'm starting to wish I'd taken up a horticulture course instead of my degree course, but i had all fine ideas about how you shouldn't do your hobby for a job etc... ::)
Don't forget that some plants like to grow together
... the sweetcorn could support the climbing french beans
... radishes will mark where you put the parsnips!!
... love-in-a-mist mixed with carots confuses the carrot fly
... this is a great challenge for "companion planting" ... love it ;)