In February Jacy planted some tomatoes in a Bisto pot. Now the tomato plant has grown big and strong.
Think we need to get Jacy growing more vegetables he’s definitely got green fingers!!
Bisto pot update
Tag: Garden Classroom
Wildlife Rangers helping in the Garden
Today Mason asked to help out in the garden. We decided to plant the bedding plants in the front garden as it’s looking bare before all the bulbs and wildflowers start coming through. Mason was extremely careful and gently took the plants out of the pots and planted them into the soil.
Looking in the Cold Frame 
All Done 
Jacy Sowing Sunflowers
Mason had a sneaky peek in the cold frame to see how our plants are doing. He noticed the pansies needed thinning and the marigolds are getting stronger.
Our Wildlife Wanderer sowed some Sunflower Seeds along the wall area, we are hoping they will grow very tall and strong.
Look who Jacy found in the garden!!
All the children wanted to have a look but were very scared incase he jumped at us!!
Tracie made a run for it when putting out the bins, she tripped up the step while rushing too fast and nearly fell into the Spider! Scary or what!!
Garden Therapy: Georgia Soon Forgot She Was Having a Tantrum!
Today Tracie took Georgia for a walk in the sunshine to calm her down, she was having a tantrum while the babies slept and we didn’t want them waking up.
Winter Jasmine 
We looked at all the plants and flowers to distract Georgia, her favourite flower was the Winter Jasmine, she said she loved it because it was bright yellow like the sunshine.
Peonies 
New Flowers 
Buddleia 
Climbing Hydrangea
While we walked around the garden, Tracie showed Georgia the new shoots and buds growing on the plants. Tracie explained to Georgia that they were her favourite plants, this is because it meant everything is beginning to grow and we are going to have lovely weather soon for trips to the forest and parks.
Georgia got excited and said she wants to go to the Zoo! Tracie said that we will see how things go and when they reopen we can, we will have to all go on the train. Georgia jumped up and down so much she forgot we came out into the garden because she was having a tantrum.
Wiggly Worm 
Sowing the Onions 
Being Careful
Once Georgia had settled Tracie decided it was time to sow the Onion sets, so she got Georgia digging, looking for worms and sowing the Onions. What a perfect way to forget about a tantrum? Gardening is like therapy for me and I love to share that with the children.
My Dad and Rosie
This is my dad Alan, he and my mum started my passion for Gardening and outdoor learning when I was young.
My dad worked in the Horticulture business for many, many years. He’s now retired, so he has all the time he needs to potter around his garden, instead of maintaining other peoples’ gardens.
Dad’s garden is amazing, he lives in Boston, England in the middle of the most amazing countryside. I think he should share his knowledge and garden with us all, so I am adding him to our Garden Classroom blog.
One of his lifetime ambitions is to have a beehive and this year he is finally making that dream come true.
The Base is Ready 
The Beehive 
Beekeeper Alan!
This is Rosie, my step mum. She has been encouraging my dad to set up beekeeping and has been busy growing a wildflower meadow for the bees to collect pollen.
Rosie is also passionate about their garden and providing wildlife which will enhance the bee’s environment.
My brother Jonathan bought Rosie a camera to go in her bird box for her birthday a few years ago.
This year a bird has already made themselves at home! We will follow the bird over the next year to see what they do.
Garden Challenge 2021: Using Different Materials
In half term, the Wildlife Wanderers used various different types of tubs from the recycling box to sow their seeds. This is how we got on.
Chloe chose an old mince carton, as you can see they have turned out very well! Chloe sprays them with water in the morning before school and will soon be planting them into the raised beds.
These seeds were sown by Jacy in old sausage tubs, he thought that with the grooves it would be good to sow in rows. They started off really well, unfortunately the grooves were too shallow and the plants dried out too fast and wilted.
These are amazing! They are Poppy’s nasturtiums and have grown so fast. We will be planting them out in the garden this week.
She used some seed trays that we brought last year, they have holes in the bottom so she has placed them in another tray without holes and waters them from the bottom. This is definitely a good way to grow seeds.
Jacy found this old Bisto tub and thought it would make a good planter for his Tomato Seed. He put the lid on the bottom to stop the water seeping through. It has so far worked very well and the tomato plant looks tall and healthy.
Jacy thinks that when the tomato is big enough he can take off the plastic lid and place the whole pot into the ground, and the roots will push through! We will have to wait until the last frost to plant out and see if he is right!
2 Cucumbers and 2 Tomatoes 
Growing Strong 
Martie’s Radish 
Marigolds 
Chillies
In February, the little seedlings planted Chillies, Radish, cucumbers and Marigolds. Everything is growing so well, we even had some surprises!
We sprinkled at least 20 seeds in the seed tray but again like last year only 2 have grown! And a second surprise was 2 tomatoes have grown in their tray, Mason said that maybe they are ‘cuematos’! Maybe we have made a new salad crop!!
We will keep you updated at the end of March about how our project is going.
Garden Challenge 2021: February Edition
Tracie and the Seedlings have been working hard sowing seeds ready for planting out in the veg trugs. We have ordered a ton of peat-free compost and look forward to it arriving and getting stuck in filling the trugs.
Tomatoes 
Fast Growing 
Veg Trugs 
Growing Tall
At half term the Wanderers got stuck in and sowed strawberries, thyme, coriander and peppers.
Ivor Sowing the Seeds 
Martha Filling the Eggboxes 
Ivor Using the Trowl
Jacey from the Wildlife Rangers sowed the cucumbers. Last year we had only two plants survive and gave us about nine good sized cucumbers. This year we want a bumper crop so hoping for good germination, so keeping them under glass.
Wildlife Rangers Recycling Pots
Jacey looked in the recycling box and found this Bisto tub. He thought it would be good to use for his Chilli as it needed potting on.
He thinks that as the tub is quite thick, it will last longer than the toilet rolls we usually use. Jacey has put the plastic lid on the bottom to stop the water coming out.
Jacey also thinks when the plant has grown, he could just place the tub into the ground without the plastic lid ensuring the roots don’t get disturbed as the pot should break down and let the roots escape.
Jacey wants to be head gardener so made himself this crown. He decorated it with leaves.
Big Garden Delivery
Today the children all got excited with the delivery of a ton of peat-free compost.
We watched the Lorry driver use the big crane to put the massive sack into the front garden.
Next week we will be filling up the vegetable trugs to transplant our crops.
Wildlife Wanderers and the Garden Classroom
We have been so busy in the Garden Classroom getting ready for Spring and the good weather.
Recycling 
Herbs 
Writing the Plant Lable 
Carefully Using a Fork 
Being Gentle 
Singing to the Plant
We started germinating the seeds in the warmth of the house as its so cold outside. In a couple of weeks we can put them in the frame to grow lots of strong roots and harden off before growing outdoors. The children have enjoyed using old milk cartons and juice bottles to sow the seeds in or repot them individually so they can watch the growth on the roots.
Garden Challenge 2021: Phyllis’ February Update
Phyllis has been working hard in her garden, building and digging her raised beds ready for next month.
The seeds Phyllis has sown have started to grow. They are in the conservatory keeping warm at the moment, when strong enough after the last frost in March, Phyllis will start hardening them off to go into the raised beds.
Tracie's Treasures 