We’ll finally after wanting one for years we have a Green house! Whoop Whoop
However it was not easy to put together. Gemma came around to help, it took us three days of total frustration to get it together.
We had to start with the base, we soon found out we needed a wooden base for the metal one to sit on!
We tried hard to follow the instructions but they didn’t make sense! we finally got the sides up then found the window fixers wouldn’t fit!
We had to take everything apart and start again making sure the ridge was on the outside for the glass.
When we finally got it up (Chloe helped too!) we realised it wasn’t suitable for the area we had erected it, so had to take it down and then put it up AGAIN!
Finally its in place and is full of growing plants.
Today with the Wonderers, we set up our Hydroponic System to start growing our Fruit and vegetables using air and water rather than soil.
First of all we discussed how we grow our plants. Mason said he remembers sowing the seeds last year in modular trays and soil. Chloe explained her mum uses coco coir at home to grow house plants.
Alfie said he grows his in the garden using the dirt and wiggly worms.
Unpacking The System Working Out How To Put It Together Slotting In Place The Pump And Light Stick
I explained to the group all about hydroponics and how it actually works. We started by opening the box to see what was inside. As soon as Alfie saw all the bits he was off to play, Mason said he wanted to plant the seeds but not read the instructions with us, so he went off to play too! Chloe was a superstar and read out the instructions, we then started to build the system so it was ready to sow the seeds.
Placing The Module TrayThe Lights NextMain Set Up DoneLights and Pump Working
We followed the instructions very carefully and managed to attach the pump, light arm, lights and base together.
Electric PlugSetting The Timer
Next steps where to fit the electric cable and plug it in. Chloe carefully pressed the switch and the lights and pump turned on. Wow it was very bright and I told the children not to look at them, guess what they did, looked at them.
There were a few instructions to read to explain the buttons on the top of the unit. The buttons turned on the lights and enables you to adjust the brightness, set the time for 16hrs a day and off for rest periods.
The Domes Fertiliser’s
We were now ready to fill the system, we started by mixing the two types of fertiliser A and B together to make up a litre of solution. We then carefully poured the solution into the unit and the pump kicked in making a bubbling noise.
Because Chloe had helped to set the system up I let her choose the first two seeds to sow, she chose Chilli Peppers and Water Lily seeds. She carefully put them into the hole which was already in the centre of the Medium provided with the system.
Mason Chose Peppers and Tomatoes Chloe Sowing Her SeedsMason Helping AlfieChloe Looking At It All Set UpAll Finished And Lets Hope It Works!
Mason chose Sweet Peppers and Hanging Tomatoes, Alfie wanted to grow herbs and lettuce. We also added Cabbages, Broccoli, Onion and Cauliflower.
Chloe put the little domes onto each seed box, this will keep the moisture and heat inside which will help germinate the seeds quicker.
Now we need to check them everyday and make notes on what grows first, how long it takes to grow, how big it grows and any other useful information we want to document.
We will be adding to the blog and letting you know how it works, so watch this space….
Back in April the Seedlings sowed pumpkin seeds in the vegetable plot hoping they would grow big for Halloween.
We had bought large pumpkins from the local supermarket last year and kept the seeds, dried them out and stored them in a paper bag to grow for this year. We hoped they would grow big and strong.
Pumpkin FlowerBaby Pumpkin
Unfortunately, our pumpkins haven’t grown as much as we hoped for yet so the Seedlings went to the shop and bought one for our activity.
First the Seedlings looked at the ones growing in the garden, they were way too small, green and some still had the flower on.
Martie Alfie
Next we looked at the shop brought pumpkin and Tracie cut it in half for the Seedlings to investigate.
They touched the skin and thought it was cold and hard. When the Seedlings were asked to touch the centre, two of the children said ‘yucky don’t want too’ but Martie prodded it with her finger and smelled it, she wasn’t impressed.
Leaf PrintingCharlie Concentrating Happy With Picture
Earlier, while out in the garden the seedlings picked some pumpkin leaves, for the activity they used green paint to make prints of the leaves onto paper.
Tracie cut the pumpkin in half and put it into some orange paint, the seedings swished the pumpkin to make sure it was covered in paint then used it like a stamper onto the prints of the leaves.
The seedlings made lovely pictures of the growing pumpkins in the garden. Alfie squished his pumpkin and the orange paint, mixed with the green to make an abstract painting.
The Finished Prints
The Seedlings loved the activity and we have displayed them in the front play room.
Over the summer holidays Poppy went to Grandad Smith and Nanny Rosie’s to see how their wildlife garden and beekeeping were coming along.
Buddleia and a Butterfly Nanny Rose, Trixi and PoppyBird HousesGiant asunflower
Poppy’s sister Chelsea came along for the trip, she loved learning all about the wildlife and the bees in her grandad’s garden. We all talked about nature, looked at the bird houses and saw some footage of the baby birds learning to eat while still in the bird box via a webcam. Never too old to learn!
We brought along some tadpoles from our pond in Liverpool and set them free in Grandad’s pond, hopefully he will have some frogs next time we visit. Do you think they will croak in a scouse accent?
We sat and watched the tadpoles swimming around settling in their new environment. While we were watching them we saw dragonflies, water fleas, snails, hoverflies and lots of beautiful butterflies.
Growing CucumbersExtra Long Baby Cucumbers Cabbages
We looked around Grandad’s vegetable garden, he has grown lots of lovely vegetables and fruit this year. Poppy went hunting and found cucumbers, tomatoes, grapes and lemons in the greenhouse.
LeeksLettuce BeetrootBeansSweetcorn Allotment
In the main garden we saw Sweetcorn, Beetroots, Green Beans, Cabbage, leeks, strawberries and lots of Raspberries.
Poppy picked so many Raspberries we had them for tea, snack and breakfast!
When Sophie and I walked around the garden, I asked her to pick out her favourite fruit and vegetables we are growing. Well, she chose these lovely Lilies. Not quite what I asked for but she’s right they are lovely.
Orange LilyWhite Lilies
While we are talking Lilies, look at our amazing 8 foot Lily trees. They tower so high and they are so fragrant you can smell them all around the garden.
Back to our fruit and vegetables, below is our cucumber and we have grown conjoined twins! Double the trouble and size! Poppy ate it in one sitting!! She said they were delicious.
Our apples are coming on nicely, they are getting plumper, Monty Don says you can tell when they are ready as they twist off easily. Guess we’ve got to keep waiting. Be worth it though. We also have onions, tomatoes and strawberries growing strong.
ApplesOnionsTomatoes Strawberries
In the greenhouse the Luffa vines are growing tall and strong. When they fruit the children are going to make luffa soaps.
Luffa
The Cucumbers and Chillies have now left the greenhouse and are in the garden growing strong. Tracie watered everything and added tomato feed to give them a boost.
Our new project this summer is the bath pond. We had our bathroom turned into a wet room and thought the cast iron bath could be up cycled into a large pond. Our growing tadpoles and frogs will have more space and we might even get some fish! We will add photos next time.
The weather turned too cold and wet for a couple of days. We went to the park on the Monday and got drenched so we all decided to have a games day. The sun ended up coming back out!!
What Am I?Am I Sweet?
We loved the game ‘Fast Fish’ it was fun rolling the dice and predicting the colours of the fish we had to rush and find. Jack beat Tracie and Martha beat everyone!
Connect 4 Fast FishBlue, Purple and Pink Go Go GoChloe and JackJacy is Ace at Chess!
Poppy and Sophia love anything Japanese at the moment so after the cinema we decided to pop in to Yo Sushi to try some new foods. The girls loved trying to use chopsticks, it made our lunchtime last forever!
Sophia Not So SureHaving a TryChop Sticks Collecting The Food
While in town, we decided to have a walk about. The girls loved climbing the suitcases on Hope Street.
Paddy’s WigwamReaching the TopLeaving Home? Statue
Back at our setting we were busy painting our rocks that we made last week.
Jack is a StarBig Jack Ivor and Martha SoohieIvor Loved Painting
Tracie and some of the children went on a trip to Acorn Farm. We went into the petting station and loved sitting still and stroking the animals. Tracie made a friend with a goat and Jack loved the meerkats.
Play Time Who You Looking At? Big RabbitPlaying The DrumSelfie Jack and The SheepChloeTime To Pet The AnimalsChickensCheeky Goats
Emma went on a trip to Hollywood Bowl. They all jumped on a bus, played a couple of games and had a lovely lunch! What a lovely fun end to a busy second week!
Wonder what fun we will have in week three!? The summer holidays are going fast!
We have had a lovely day today playing in the garden and going to Breckside Park.
Sophie Enjoying The Garden
Sophie looked at all the flowers and asked me to take photos of her favourites.
Lovely Blue
Pink Water Lily
Mason wanted to make a snail home using different items from around the garden. Jacy and Jack loved the idea and made their own. They asked me to choose my favourites. I explained they were all lovely and the snail will judge by going on the one it likes best.
Mason and Jack
Mason
Jacy
Mason
After playing in the garden it was time for lunch then off to the park.
Such Good Behaviour
The younger children enjoyed a kick about, quoits and catch the ball in the net. They ran about so much all they wanted was the pram, bottle and sleep. Job well done!
Sophie and Alfie
Mason Practicing
Catch
The bigger children set up the goal posts and had a kick about trying to see who could get the most goals. After about 2 hours and lots of sweat, tears and moans we decided to go back and have a cold drink and ice lolly’s. Four very over heated children!!
This is my Dad and Rosie’s garden in Lincolnshire, it is so beautiful and well kept. They both must spend all their time mowing lawns, dead-heading flowers and watering the plants.
Rosie has been working hard to produce a wonderful wildlife garden ready for my dad’s bees to arrive.
The Bee Hives
The garden has grown up so tall and I bet there are 1000’s of different insects thriving, living in the flowers.
Pathway of Wildlife
My dad has mowed a pathway to enable them to get through to the hives and greenhouse. I just want to go and run through, looking at all the different flowers there are.
All Dad and Rosie’s hard work has paid off and here is the evidence Thousands of bees have made it their home. They will be busy bees making lots and lots of delicious honey!
How do you all like your honey? I like mine on a chunk of crusty bread mmmm. Hopefully, later in the year I will be able to post photos of the honey!
We have been so busy over the last month. Today we were able to harvest our Mangetout. The little seedlings tried them once Tracie had washed them.
Three seedlings wanted to try them and no matter how much we encouraged Sophie she wasnt up for tasting them.
Alfie and Georgia loved the Mangetout and ate loads but Emma and Fearne were not so keen. We loved the faces Fearne made, at least they tried them!
Mangetout
Having a Taste
Alfie
Georgia
Fearne
Thumbs up
Below are our other tasty fruits and vegetables we have growing in the garden.
Cucumber
Tomatoes
Ginger
Leaves
Strawberries
Thats not a vegetable. It’s a massive Lily!
This is a collection of photos of the plants the Rangers and Wanderers wanted me to post.
Allium
Our New Strawberry, we sowed in February
Hosta
Amazing Detail
Flanders Poppy
Fizzy’s Hiding Place
Hot Poker
Peony
Plum
We also had a few whoopsies! We had some visitors come and make holes in our cabbages! Georgia thought it was a hedgehog, Fearne thought it was a snail and Sophie said “I don’t know Tracie!” When I told them all it was a slug they all said yucky!
Slug
Cabbage
Our other problem was the giant Poppies, they have over taken our vegetable patch!
Gemma’s vegetable beds are amazing and full of lush green produce. When the days are sunny Gemma gets Chloe to help water them.
Vegetable Beds
All Growing Lush
Gemma loves Pac Choi and hers have grown really well. Once they start to flower, which is called bolting, the seeds grow for Gemma to collect for sowing next year!
Gemma’s radishes are amazing, they are as big as a large marbles.
Unfortunately my radishes have not turned out so well! Mine are as big as a grape, but not so juicy.
Tracie's Treasures 