Allotments 4 All

Not for this year, I know it's too late for that! But I'm in the process of writing the planting plan for the school garden, to start in september. I'm wondering when I would need to plant out spuds to get a crop around mid-July, and also if it's possible to have tomatoes and french or runner beans to pick around this time too. If so, when they'd need to be sown and planted out. We have a little plastic greenhouse and a few south-facing classroom windows (although I'd have to talk to the teachers about using the later). No space/budget for a proper greenhouse.

I'm not trusting toms to last until september without getting blighted - last year I had a great crop all summer, but as soon as school started up again I lost them!

I don't know for toms, but my spuds will be ready in a couple of weeks, planted out in a bed 7th April (Lady Christl) and the charlottes in bags might just be ready this weekend (put in 23rd & 31st March). I've had a furtle and there are some good-sized ones in there.

I sowed dwarf French beans (minidor and amythest) in early May and the Minidor are flowering now, so beans in a couple of weeks. These were sown and grown in pots on a north-facing balcony.

I think that runner beans would be a challenge for mid july, I have a few flowers and might get a couple of early beans but not enough for a whole class.

Dwarf French are much quicker, suggest Speedy or Purple Tepee, both of which I have found to be very quick.  Sow beginning of april chit in kitchen root and transfer to pots after about 6 days.  Kids will like seeing the roots appear from the seeds.  Then plant out May.   Watch out for frost and cover if necessary.  Slugs can be quite an issue.   Beans are hungry so September would be a good time to start a compost bin.  Turn all those banana skins and apple cores into lovely beans.   Hopefully get the compost worms,  Lots of lovely lessons, the weather, worms, recycling etc etc.

Courgettes are good for cropping by mid July, mine are just starting.  Sow mid april and plant out under 5 litre plastic bottles in mid May.  Start collecting the bottles in September.   Mulch round the side of the bottle except for the top to keep the plants warm. 

I do not have a greenhouse not really necessary.  Plastic bottles are cheaper.  Put a cane or a stick through the top of each one to stop it blowing away.

Thanks for all the dates! I've never had to grow with a date in mind before! Great about about the plastic bottles. I shall ask parents to bring them in. We are already composting. I just need to convince the cook to let us have peeling etc from the school kitchen!

It's rather cool really - I get an allotment, which someone else pays for and lots of little helpers!

Just eating broadbeans, sown February under bottles.  I chit first in kitchen roll, I do like seeing the little root.   Also gives you the opportunity to throw out any that rot off. The bottles keep the mice, squirrels etc off eating the seeds.  There is usually a nice couple days when you can put them in the ground.  Even if it gets really cold later they seem to be ok, they just wait for a little bit of warmth to get going.

spuds v achievable during July, even 2nd earlies, beans agree go with speedy / quick bush varieties
toms you are really struggling for mid july unless you go for a very early variety and stop them early even then quite hard unless in greenhouse.

Yes I would have said courgettes. I am eating mine now! They were planted out under cloches in early May.
Spuds, I have harvested my earlies already, Belle de Fontenay variety that I plant out the last week of February till the second week in March. But i think that even sown in March they will be ready by July.
I have flowers on my French beans, They are Tendergreen variety, and I sowed them on May 4. So gives you an  idea of the sow to harvest length, about 8-9 weeks. Peas might be a better idea as they are earlier?
What about garlic? Spring planted? Would be ready by then I guess...