Garden Vegetables Glasraí
Any amount of vegetables can be grown in the school garden but I have only listed those that can be cropped before the end of June with one or two exceptions.
Broad Beans
General – One of the earliest veg to be planted, the broad bean is hardy and can withstand light frost and crop from June on. Preparation – Sow in toilet roll holders indoors in February or March. Maintenance – Plant out in late March and stake as they tend to fall over. Pinch out the growing tip to deter blackfly. Pick at the end of June.
Beetroot
General – Easy to grow and not troubled by pests. Choose round varieties for early picking . Boltardy is a favourite variety. Preparation – Sow in module trays in March or in the open in the middle of April spacing out seeds. Maintenance – Thin out seeds to about 5 to 10 cm apart. Water them well in warm weather. Pick in late June. The leaves can also be cooked or served raw in salads.
Carrots
General – Carrots are great for eyesight ! Don’t sow until April to guarantee a crop. Planting a quick growing variety will have carrots ready in September. Preparation- Mix the seed with sand and sow thinly along a shallow drill or in a piece of guttering and slide into a drill later.. Keep drills 15cm apart. Maintenance – Thin out when they begin to come up to allow space for growth. Be careful of carrot fly. They lay eggs beside roots in May.
Garlic
General - Garlic is very hardy and easy to grow. Its health properties are legendary. Preparation – Sow cloves in Autumn or January or February. The longer they are in, the bigger the bulbs. One clove will provide 8-10 new ones. Maintenance – weed and wait for the green shoots to die back. Harvest in June or wait until Sept.
Lettuce
General – Lettuce are mighty in the garden. They are easy to sow, not demanding on space and crop quickly, meaning that all your class can take one home. Preparation – Sow in module trays or a seed tray and transplant. Don’t sow directly in the soil unless you want a slug party. Maintenance – Plant out when big enough and mind the slugs. Cut leaves to suit or pull when the head has matured.
Onions
General – Grown from sets, onions need little work. Preparation – Push directly into the soil in April and net early on to stop birds picking them. Maintenance – Wait until the foliage turns brown and lift from the ground. Dry off inside and store or eat.
Parsnip
General – Slow to grow and so ready when back to school in October. A root crop. Preparation – Bigger seeds than carrots, plant into a shallow drill and cover. Maintenance – Thin out when they begin to grow. Lift as needed from October on.
Peas
General – Plant mangetout variety which kids love. Preparation – Sow in toilet roll holders in February and plant out. Maintenance – Water well and support tendrils with netting. Pick and eat as they appear.
Potatoes
General – For history as well as science the spud is the man for the garden. Can be grown in tyres or beds and is very easy to grow. Plus the kids can have wedges in June before they get their holidays. Plant first early varieties in school. Preparation – Chit on window in class in Feb and plant out 12 cm deep in soil around Paddy’s Day. Maintenance – Feed with potash and water well. Earth up around leaves. Dig in June.
Herbs
Herbs usually get a bed or wheel of their own to grow. Plant out from pots in late April. Some like basil will die off with the cold later in the year but others like fennel and chives will come back year after year. Pick and bag for home. Herbs are also great to grow from seed and sell at a school garden plant sale. Most commonly grown are parsley, thyme, coriander, basil, fennel, sage and chives.