MID JUNE UPDATE

A happy band of gardeners (and harvesters) on a rare sunny day!

Well the scheme to dedicate each raised bed to a single Year Group has started working pretty well with the help and involvement of our dedicated teams of gardeners! Here are some photos to show you how each Year Group is getting on....not that there's any pressure or anything!

Considering how terrible the weather has been it's all looking great!

Year 1 - a wide variety of crops!

Year 2 - awesome use of the available space

Year 2 broad beans doing very well!

Year 3 - again, very productive

Year 3 lettuces have been a big hit - & no slugs!

Year 4 the wild rocket has gone a bit wild.

Year 5 - post harvesting of the leeks

Year 5 - Roma tomato plant placed between the courgettes

Year 6 - also post harvesting of the leeks

Year 6 - 'Sweet Million' cherry tomato plant between the courgettes

Year 6 - runner beans (and French beans?)

One failure has been this rotating compost bin. It's an excellent machine and would be ideal for a small garden where it could be looked after and rotated properly. If anyone wants it they could have it for a donation to the PTA. It needs to have brown  matter (cardboard, paper etc) added along with the garden waste, and it need spinning every day. As it has been neglected it's just made a bit of a smelly mess. More details about the composter can be read here.

October Crops

The warm September has extended the growing season and the salads and tomatoes are doing especially well. The fennel [above] looks very beautiful and smells great, but I'm not sure the heads are large enough to eat. I suspect a lack of water at a critical growing time might have reduced the bulb size somewhat.


The tomatoes have been a great success, the small orange 'Sungold' variety proving specially sweet.
They're definitely on my list a favourites for next year!






We can look forward to these Cos lettuce and Swiss Chard providing some colour and flavour in the weeks to come. The Swiss Chard is the multi-coloured 'Bright Lights' variety. Click on photo for more detail!



Mixed salad leaves and rocket make an attractive display and a delicious salad (which has been going down very well with home made pizza recently chez Dutton! Brilliant pizza dough recipe available on request.......)

The mizuna leaves look great and add a bit of spiciness to the salad [right]
Look out for the leeks that are doing really well. The difference between home grown and shop bought is massive!

Remember, if you want to help out with the garden email me or say hello when you see me in the playground. Thanks!!

Oh, and an historic day at Belleville School - A masterclass in organisation!

Dig For Victory!

YOUR GARDEN NEEDS YOU!!

Are you a lower playground parent or will you be a lower playground parent next year?

Do you enjoy the vegetable garden?
Do you feel sad when you see the plants looking thirsty?
Would you like to earn the respect of your children?
Well now's your chance to help!

We're looking for volunteer 'drought wardens' to check on the garden at drop-off and pick-up time, and to water the garden if it looks dry. It would only take a few minutes although if you have longer to give the soil a good soaking, then that would be great. For more info see below:

The hose is easily attached to the tap
Don't water if the soil is already damp
When you water it's better to thoroughly soak some of the garden then wet the surface of the whole garden
Most veg require lots of water, but parsnips, garlic & onions need a little less when they are a decent size
The raised beds dry out very quickly and very deeply because they are laid on tarmac. It's a good idea to sometimes leave the hose on the surface of the soil while the water soaks in
Tomato leaves don't like being wet for too long, but on a warm and sunny day this isn't a problem
In order of water requirement: Potatoes, beans, courgettes and pumpkins, carrots, tomatoes, salads etc
If the gate is locked when you are finished you can leave via the school office

For some further entertainment try these excellent sites which are sure to give you a lift in these difficult times!
http://outonafunkytrip.blogspot.com/
http://skatalitesindub.blogspot.com/

Thank you for your kind attention - Ministry of Food