growing year the - growing schools€¦ · growing year the planner p h o t o c o p y r i g h ... 2...

growing yearthe

planner

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January

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is the month to...

n Sow sprouting seeds,such as mung beans, toprovide nutritious,crunchy bean sprouts. Nocompost needed, justgrow them in a jar, in thedark, and rinse with coldwater every day

n Plant fruit trees andbushes up to February

n Harvest leeks, winterradish and other wintervegetables

n Plan a new school garden, or improvean old one, by involving the wholeschool community. Children, teachers,parents, governors, support staff and thelocal community should all be involvedin the design, construction andmaintenance of your school garden.For advice and assistance in developingyour own growing zone, contactLearning through Landscapes atwww.ltl.org.uk In a limited space youcould try ‘square foot gardening’, anAmerican method of growing inminiature plots. For more detailedinstructions on developing a vegetablegarden, and square foot gardening, goto www.gardenorganic.org.uk/schools_organic_network

n Plan a crop rotation for your veg plot.Many pests and diseases are specific toparticular families of vegetables. Movingyour crops to a different area each yearhelps control these problems. For moredetails see the crop rotation factsheetson www.gardenorganic.org.uk orwww.rhs.org.uk

n Order seeds from mail-ordercatalogues for maximum choice.

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wildlife watch... bird and animal tracks

appear in snow or mud n colourful lichens brighten trees

and walls n snowdrops appear, even through the snow

n Collect egg boxes to start offseedlings or to support sproutingpotatoes – see next month.

recipe...Chinese-style salad(serves 8)n 115g flaked almonds

n 2 tbsp sesame seeds

n 3 tbsp sesame oil

n 4 tbsp rice wine vinegar

n 1⁄2 tsp sugar

n 1 tsp soy sauce

n 2 oranges, thinly sliced and chopped

n 1 chinese cabbage, shredded

n 5 large spring onions, finely sliced

n 250g bean sprouts

n 150g brussels sprouts, shredded

Roast almonds and sesame seeds in oven at150°C for 12 minutes. Pour oil, vinegar, sugarand soy sauce into tight-lidded small jar andshake well. Cut peel and all pith from oranges,slice thinly across segments, cut into smallpieces, add juice to dressing. Mix and dressall ingredients thoroughly before serving.

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February

actionn Sow outdoors earlypeas, and other hardyveg such as beetrootand early carrots, oncethe soil starts to warmup. Leave until nextmonth if it’s too wet ortoo cold – or usecloches or fleece to helpwarm and dry theseedbed

n Sow indoors lettuceand broad beans

n Plant apples andother fruit trees andbushes

n Harvest leeks andother winter veg

n Sprout potatoes to plant nextmonth. Early varieties should cropbefore the end ofsummer term;maincrop varietieswill not be readyuntil September. Buyseed potatoes,which are speciallygrown to be disease-free. Stand them inegg boxes so theend with most buds– the rose end - is on top, and putthem on the windowsill to grow. Thisprocess is called chitting.

n Grow the fastest crop of all,mustard and cress, on wet kitchentowel, for salads and sandwiches.

n Investigate the introduction anduse of potatoes in the UK anddiscover history from Walter Raleighto World War II. The wide range ofpotato varieties also makes aninteresting topic. Find out more onwww.britishpotatoes.co.uk Don’tforget that potatoes go green andpoisonous in the light, so if youleave them out on display, don’tcook them afterwards.

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wildlife watch... birds sing out to defend

their territories n frogspawn appears in ponds n catkins develop

on willow and hazel

n Check the soil temperatureoutdoors is 5ºC or more for a week before you sow.Germinating weeds are a goodindicator that the soil is warming up.If you want to be more scientific,use a soil thermometer. These aremetal cased, to push into the ground.

recipe...Savoury leek pancakes(serves 8)

n 1kg leeks, sliced into short strips

n 2 large eggs

n 500ml milk

n 8 heaped tbsp plain flour

n 50g butter

n 50g cornflour

n 900ml milk

n 400g mature cheddar cheese, grated

n large pinch nutmeg

n large pinch mustard powder

n salt and pepper

Wash leeks, cleaning insides of all grit, chop, andsimmer in boiling water for 10 mins, then drain.Whisk eggs, milk and plain flour into a smoothbatter and fry 16 pancakes. Melt butter in asaucepan, remove from heat, gradually addcornflour and milk. Return pan to heat and slowly bring to boil,stirring constantly. Add half cheese and allseasoning, stir till melted, then fold in leeks. Put 1tbsp of mix into each pancake, roll up and pack ingreased ovenproof dish. Cover with rest of sauceand cheese; bake at 200˚C for 20-30 mins.


n Get creative by making plantlabels for your plot. Refer to theGrowing Schools gardeningfactsheets for ideas.

n Start the main seed-sowingseason. The Plot Planner (see backof calendar) has lists of what to sowwhen, but remember to takeaccount of local conditions. Sowquick-growing hardy vegetables likepeas, broad beans and early carrotsoutdoors this month, to harvest inthe summer term. If the weather isvery bad, or the soil too cold andwet, start them in pots or traysindoors. Slower veg like leeks andbrussels sprouts, plus more tenderveg like french beans, need to bestarted indoors. No need to buyspecial seed trays: instead, recycle

n Sow outdoors peasand other hardyvegetables. Beetroot,broad beans, peas, earlycarrots, salad onions,radish and salad leavesshould all crop by theend of the summer term

n Sow indoors leeks andother slow-growinghardy veg, tomatoes andother tender veg

n Plant out lettuce,broad beans and otherseedlings sown lastmonth, once they are atleast 8cm tall

n Protect all youngseedlings from heavyrain and frost usingplastic cloches, fleece orpolythene tunnels

n Harvest rhubarb

n Plant strawberries

March

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is the month to...

March 16

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wildlife watch...the first butterflies and

bumblebees awake from hibernation n tree buds start to

open n primroses and other early spring flowers appear

used plastic food containers - justmake a few drainage holes in thebottom. However, it’s well worthusing proper seed or multipurposecompost, rather than garden soil, asit is sterile and has the correctstructure and nutrients.

n Mulch any unused beds with bulkyorganic material, to retain moisture,suppress weeds and improve soilstructure. Mulch around fruit treesand bushes too.

n Clear away winter crops and addthe debris to your compost heap.

recipe...Fruit crumble(for 8)

n 600g fresh or frozen fruit (rhubarb,blackberry & apple, blackcurrant &raspberries, damsons or plums)

n 100g granulated sugar

n 250g plain or wholemeal flour

n 100g butter

n 70g caster sugar

Pre-heat oven to 190°C. Put fruit in saucepan,add granulated sugar and a dash of water, heatgently till soft. Turn out fruit into shallowovenproof dish, leave to cool. Sift flour intoa mixing bowl, cut butter into pieces and rubinto flour till mixture is like fine breadcrumbs.Stir in caster sugar, then spread over fruit. Firmdown lightly and bake for 15 mins. Serve withGreek-style yoghurt, vanilla ice-cream, cremefraiche, or custard.


Aprilis the month to...

n Sow outdoors earlyvegetables like broadbeans, early carrots,lettuce and radish forharvesting by the end ofsummer term. Mid-season crops like peaswill mature in theholidays, and late cropslike leeks by autumn

n Sow indoorsaubergines, sweet andchilli peppers, tomatoesand other tender veg.These will all need carein the holidays

n Plant out lettuce andearly potatoes

n Protect all youngplants from the riskof frost with clochesor fleece

n Harvest rhubarb

n Watch out for the signs of pests anddiseases attacking your fruit andvegetable crops and take actionquickly. Visit www.rhs.org.uk andwww.gardenorganic.org.uk for advice.

n Encourage beneficial predatoryinsects. For example, hoverfly larvaeeat aphids, and you can attract theadults with nectar-rich flowers.

n Try using companion plants. Thesecan help reduce pest problems, eitherby deterring pests directly, bydistracting them away from your plants,or by attracting predators that eat thepests. For more information seewww.gardenorganic.org.uk

n Sow non-hardy veg to be grown onin a greenhouse or planted outside

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April 16

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wildlife watch... resident birds are building

nests and laying eggs n the first cuckoos start to call

n moles extend their tunnels and produce molehills

next month. Use a propagator ora warm spot in the classroom toprovide extra heat. Sow large seedslike pumpkins on edge in individualsmall pots. Sprinkle small seeds onthe surface and just cover withcompost. Transfer seedlings intoindividual pots once large enoughto handle.

n Sow quick-growing hardy herbslike parsley and chives. Buyshrubby herbs like thyme and sage- ideal for growing in pots, if youhave no herb garden.

recipe...Chocolate beetroot caken 115g plain flour

n 30g cocoa powder

n 1⁄2 tsp baking powder

n pinch of salt

n 170g caster sugar

n 240ml corn oil

n 1 tsp vanilla essence

n 3 large free-range eggs, beaten

n 9 tbsps cooked beetroot, pureed

n handful white chocolate, broken intochunks

Preheat oven to 190°C. Sift flour, cocoapowder, baking powder and salt, then mixin sugar. Add corn oil, vanilla essence,eggs, pureed beetroot and white chocolateand mix well. Pour into lightly greased andlined 18cm circular or square tray. Bake for

50mins or until skewer comes out clean.


May

action

is the month to...n Sow non-hardy herbs such as basil.

n Weed round your growing crops sothey do not get smothered, or losewater andnutrients.However, leavesome weeds inunused areasto study, and tofeed wildlife.

n Grow yourown fertilizer,by growingcomfrey. Lateron, cut it downand eithercompost it or use it to make liquidfeed. Pack leaves into a plasticcontainer with a lid and a tap, or holeand stopper, at the base. After 2-3weeks, drain off the liquid, and dilute15:1 to feed your plants.

n Water seedlings and young plantswell until they get established.

n Make wigwams of canes and sowrunner beans or climbing frenchbeans to grow up them. These canbe decorative enough to include inflower borders, especially if you

n Sow outdoors morelettuce, radish and saladleaves, plus french andrunner beans

n Sow indoors courgettesto start to crop by the endof term. Other tender vegeg pumpkins will needsummer care

n Plant out seedlingssown in March and April

n Plant indoorsgreenhouse crops likeindoor tomatoes

n Protect tender veg,including early potatoes,from late frosts

n Harvest early salads,gooseberries and earlystrawberries P

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May 16

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wildlife watch...nsect numbers start to

build up fast n migrating birds such as martins, swallows,

swifts and warblers arrive n hedgerows burst into bloom

recipe...Spring vegetable soup (for 8)

n 100g butter

n 6 medium onions, peeled and chopped

n 300g potatoes, peeled and chopped

n 4 pints vegetable or chicken stock

n 500g mixed vegetables (cabbage, kale,leeks, broad beans, carrot, parsnip) roughlychopped

n 200ml milk

n Salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in a pan, add onions andpotatoes, stirring so the veg become coated.Cover and simmer for 10 mins until theonions become transparent. Then add stockand simmer for 5 mins more. Add mixedvegetables and cook for 10 mins until tender.When cool, blend in a liquidizer. Returnmixture to pan, add milk and heat gently tillhot through. Serve immediately, garnishedwith chopped fresh herbs.

choose varieties with differentcoloured flowers and pods.

n Earth-up potato shoots by coveringstems with soil up to lower leaves.This protects shoots from frost andstops tubers going green.

n Tuck straw or woven plasticsheeting under strawberry plants todeter slugs and prevent the fruitrotting on the ground.


June

action

is the month to...

n Sow outdoors morelettuce, radish andsalad leaves, frenchand runner beans, pluscourgettes, pumpkinsand squash

n Plant out youngplants ready from Apriland May sowings

n Harvest salads plusthe first carrots, peasand potatoes. Alsostrawberries and othersoft fruit

n Investigate the history and uses ofherbs. Dyers’ chamomile (pictured)will produce a yellow dye. Gardenchamomile has been used as a rinseto brighten fair hair and also makesa soothing tea. Many herbs havebeen used for treating illness, andothers have interesting myths andlegends attached to them.

n Create a medieval herb bed orbook with wattle and daub walls, ora herb wagon wheel – see theGrowing Schools gardeningfactsheets for details.

n Make edible hanging baskets byusing trailing tomatoes like ‘Tumbler’combined with herbs such as thymeand basil.

n Water developing fruit andvegetables if the weather is dry formore than a week. Soak each areathoroughly, don’t just wet the surface.Give priority to seedlings, leafy vegand quick-growing salads, plusvegetables that will be harvestedsoon.

n Enjoy the bounty ofstrawberries, raspberries,gooseberries and currants. P

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wildlife watch... tadpoles turn into froglets

and toadlets n dragonflies emerge to hunt n fledgling birds try

out their wings

recipe...Summer fruit smoothies (for 8)

n 500g strawberries

n 500g fresh raspberries

n 400ml plain yoghurt

n 460ml milk

n 6 scoops vanilla ice cream (optional)

n sugar or honey to taste

n 8 sprigs mint to garnish

Put ingredients (except mint) in a liquidizer;blend for 10 seconds. Serve with a sprig of mintper helping. Alternatively, freeze it to eat asa sorbet. Tart fruit like blackcurrants andgooseberries can also be used if first stewedlightly with sugar.

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July

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is the month to...

n Sow outdoors wintersalad leaves includingrocket, mizuna and cornsalad to pick next term

n Harvest your earlysummer crops includingcourgettes, french andrunner beans andoverwintering onions.Plus plums, and soft fruit

n Prune gooseberries,trained apples and pears,plums, and red- andwhitecurrants. Cut backstrawberry plants; removestraw and add to thecompost heap

n Decorate your plot. Surplus CDsmake great mobiles and can helpscare birds away too.

n Collect and store your own seed fornext year. Leave some peas andfrench beans unpicked so they canmature and dry on the plant. Allowsome of your early lettuce and radishto flower in summer, then save theseeds. You can even make your ownseed packets- a great way to developskills in the practical use of design,maths and English.

n Plan how you are going to lookafter your fruit and vegetable gardenduring the summer. Plants incontainers or in the greenhouse may P

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wildlife watch... honey bees work hard

to collect pollen and nectar n lizards and grass snakes bask

in the sun n young foxes and hedgehogs venture out

need watering every day, but a visitonce or twice a week should keepoutdoor plants ticking over. Auto-watering systems can help (see theGrowing Schools gardeningfactsheets), but these still needchecking. If you can organize a rota,there should be lots of produce forhelpers to pick. Alternatively, plantsgrown in containers could be takenhome for the holidays.

recipe...Ice bowln Edible summer flowers and herbs (borage,marigolds, nasturtiums, pansies, pinks, roses,violas)

n Drinking water

n Two freezer-safe plastic bowls, one to fitinside the other

n A freezer-safe weight (to stop smaller bowlfloating)

Remove flowerheads, discarding leaves andstalks, and wash. Arrange them in and up thesides of the larger bowl, some facing in andothers out. Place the smaller bowl on top ofthe flowers inside the larger bowl, and weightit down. Slowly pour water in-between thebowls till it reaches the rim of the larger one,taking care not to dislodge flowers. Placebowls in the freezer for at least 24 hours.To remove, run a little warm water over bothbowls to enable the ice bowl to slip out easily.Place on a clean waterproof tray to catchdrips, and use as an ornamental serving bowlfor fruit desserts or ice cream at schoolsummer parties.


August

actionn Harvest tomatoes,potatoes, salads andother summervegetables. Also apples,blackberries, hybridberries (tayberries,loganberries etc)and plums

n Prune trained applesand pears, tidy up plumtrees and cut raspberrycanes down to theground once fruit picked

n Continue children’s interest ingrowing and wildlife by suggestingholiday activities and visits. You maybe able to carry on gardening andwildlife-watching in the schoolgrounds but, if not, there will belocal events organized by othergroups for children to join in.

n Check in local newspapers andmagazines, and at your local library,for news of city farms andcommunity gardens activities,country fairs, animal and flowershows, nature reserves, pond-dipping, bird and butterfly walks,organized country rambles, andother events in your area. Ask yourlocal council or check on theirwebsite for details of theirenvironmental activities.

n Visit gardens for inspiration.Interesting and informative gardensare run by Garden Organic, the RHSand Which? Gardening.(Contacts on back cover.)

n Contact national organisations forinformation about their summer-holiday activities, and for their localbranches and contacts.

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wildlife watch... many trees produce new

shoots called Lammas growth n adult birds hide away to moult

n insects feast on windfall fruit

The following make a goodstarting point and can provide lotsof other links.

n British Trust for Conservation Volunteers(BTCV)%01302 388883 www.btcv.org

n British Waterways%0845 671 5530www.waterscape.com/things-to-do

n Buglife%01733 201210 www.buglife.org.uk

n Butterfly Conservation%01929 400209www.butterfly-conservation.org

n English Heritage %0870 333 1181www.english-heritage.org.uk

n Federation of City Farms andCommunity Gardens (FCFCG)%0117 923 1800 www.farmgarden.org.uk

n National Botanic Garden of Wales%01558 667150www.gardenofwales.org.uk

n National Trust%0870 458 4000www.nationaltrust.org.uk

n National Wildflower Centre%0151 738 1913 www.nwc.org.uk

n Plantlife%01722 342730 www.plantlife.org.uk

n Ramblers’ Association%020 7339 8500 www.ramblers.org.uk

n Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew%020 8332 5655 www.kew.org.uk

n Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh%0131 552 7171 www.rbge.org.uk

n Royal Society for the Protection of Birds %01767 680551 www.rspb.org.uk

n Wildlife Trusts%01636 677711 www.wildlifetrusts.org

n Woodland Trust%01476 581135 www.woodland-trust.org.uk


n Take stock of your garden after thesummer break. Weed and mulcharound plants that are still doing well,and clear away the rest. Plan howbest to use your space for thecoming year.

n Investigate your soil. Its texture,nutrient content and pH (acidity/alkalinity) all affect plant growth. Anunderstanding of the basics will helpyou get the most from your plot.Adding a good supply of bulkyorganic material each autumn willimprove almost any soil problem, soif you don’t have your own compostyet, seek out sources of cheapmushroom compost or farmyardmanure or other locally availablematerials such as spent hops frombreweries.

n Celebrate the harvest! You can groweverything from apples to zucchini in aschool garden. See the Plot Plannerfor a quick guide to timings.

n Explore the history of apples; theremay be some special to your locality.Find out more onwww.keepers-nursery.co.uk andwww.england-in-particular.info

n Sow outdoors springcabbage

n Sow indoors saladleaves for winter use,including rocket,chinese leaves, andwinter lettuce

n Plant out overwinteringonions, strawberries

n Harvest all the summervegetables includingtomatoes and squash,plus salads, french beansand sweetcorn. Alsoapples, pears, plums,blackberries and autumnraspberries

n Prune blackcurrants

September

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wildlife watch... summer migrant birds

assemble to leave n berries ripen on trees and shrubs n

spiderlings parachute to new homes on threads of gossamer

n Sow hardy annual seeds to brightenyour grounds, attract insectsand produce edible flowers. Thecommon marigold, or calendula, will doall three.

n Check out these websites for moreadvice, help and inspiration:www.ltl.org.uk ;www.rhs.org.uk/schoolgardening ;www.growingschools.org.uk

recipe...Baked potatoes alfrescon One potato for each class member

n Salad leaves (lettuce, rocket, spinach)

n Fresh herbs (basil, coriander, flat-leafedparsley), chopped

n Cherry tomatoes, halved

n Green, red and yellow peppers, chopped

n Cottage or grated cheese

Light barbecue, chiminea or bonfire in advanceto ensure a high temperature, with visibly white-hot embers on surface. Wash and scrubpotatoes thoroughly, removing any eyes; prickskins, wrap in kitchen foil and place on embers.Cook for 20-60 mins, depending on size, turningoccasionally. Meanwhile, prepare mixed-herbsalad. Once potatoes ‘give to the touch’ whensqueezed (wear an oven glove), unwrap, cut across on top, pinch sides and place a spoonfulof cottage or grated cheese in opening. Serveimmediately with mixed herb salad.


October

action

is the month to...

n Sow outdoors broadbeans now or in spring.‘Aquadulce Claudia’ isbest for autumn sowing

n Plant garlic clovesand overwintering onionsets. Plus cane fruit, egraspberries,blackberries

n Harvest pumpkinsand other non-hardyvegetables before thefrost comes. Alsoharvest maincropcarrots and potatoes,and pick apples andautumn raspberries

n Build on your pupils’ enthusiasmfor sowing, planting, tending andeating their own healthy produce.A productive garden is a greatcross-curricular resource, providinglearning opportunities and astimulatingenvironmentfor manyeducationalactivities. Seethe GrowingSchoolswebsite forideas.

n Decoratepumpkins in imaginative ways;measure the pumpkins’ weight andgirth; design vehicles to transportthem and use the seeds for craft work.

n Order fruit trees and bushes frommail-order suppliers. They sell bare-rooted plants in autumn which arecheaper than container-grown plantsfrom garden centres, and you getmuch more choice.

n Protect growing crops from cold,and birds, using plastic cloches orhorticultural fleece.

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wildlife watch... birds and mammals forage

widely to fatten up for winter n fungi develop in mysterious

shapes n leaves change colour and fall

n Dig over beds once crops arefinished to remove weeds and cropdebris and loosen soil.

n Prepare to store your winter rootcrops. Store potatoes in a dry,frost-free place, in wooden orcardboard boxes, or thick papersacks. These allow the tubers to‘breathe’ but keep out the light.Store carrots and parsnips injust-damp sand. Otherwise leavethem in the ground, covered with abin liner filled with cardboard orstraw for insulation.

recipe...Pumpkin soup(serves 8)n 450g pumpkin, peeled and sliced

n 1 large onion, chopped

n 2 carrots, diced

n 1 tbsp olive oil

n 425ml vegetable stock

n 500ml evaporated milk

n 1 tsp cinnamon or nutmeg

n pinch of salt and pepper

n fresh Parmesan cheese or single cream

Put veg in ovenproof dish, coat with theolive oil, and roast at 200°C for 40 mins.Leave to cool, then puree in a foodprocessor. Put puree in large pan with stockand evaporated milk, bring slowly to boil.Season with spice, salt and pepper. Servein hollowed-out pumpkin shell, topped withParmesan shavings or a swirl of cream.


November

action

is the month to...n Adapt containers to grow fruit andvegetables if you haven’t got adedicated garden area. Position themoutdoors in a sunnyspot, or onclassroomwindowsills. Allsorts of recycledcontainers can beused, just makesure they haveholes in the bottomfor drainage, andare at least 5cmdeep for seedlings and 20cm to 45cmdeep for mature plants. For more ideassee the Growing Schools gardeningfactsheets atwww.growingschools.org.uk

n Spread manure on empty beds andlet the worms incorporate it overwinter; or sow a crop of green manure,like mustard or phacelia, to dig into theground in early spring.

n Set up a compost heap to recycle allgarden waste including weeds, cropremains and grass clippings. For moredetails see the composting factsheetson www.gardenorganic.org.uk (schoolsarea) or www.rhs.org.uk You can also

n Plant apples andother fruit trees andbushes any time fromnow to February,unless the ground isfrozen or waterlogged

n Harvest leeks andother winter veg suchas kale and parsnips

n Protect survivingsalad leaves withfleece or cloches tocontinue the crop overwinter

n Prune apples andother fruit – see thePlot Planner for a list P

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wildlife watch... ladybirds hibernate in

hollow flower stems n winter migrant birds arrive and may be

seen on bird tables n ivy flowers attract late-flying insects

recipe...Vegetable curry(serves 8)

n 2 tsp cumin seeds n dash of oil or knob of buttern 6 medium onions, finely choppedn 2 tsp ground gingern 2 tsp mild curry powdern 2 tbsp tomato pureen juice of half a lemonn small bunch of coriander, choppedn 4 carrots, slicedn 400g cauliflower floretsn 200g french beansn 4 sweet peppers, slicedn 2 medium tomatoes, choppedn 100g peas

Roast cumin seeds gently in oil or butter tillthey pop. Add half onions, cook till transparent,then add spices, tomato puree, lemon juice,and half coriander. Stir over low heat tillmixture looks dry. Add 2 cups water, carrots,cauliflower and beans, cover and simmer for10 mins. Then add peppers, tomatoes, peasand remaining onion; simmer until tender.Garnish with coriander leaves and swirl ofplain yoghurt or fromage frais. Serve withnaan bread.

look for other materials to recycle, suchas unwanted packaging and paper.

n Collect fallen leaves to make leafmould. Stuff them into black plasticbags, water if dry, and leave in a cool,shady spot for a year or so.

n Put up post and wire supports whereyou intend to plant cane fruit(blackberries, loganberries, raspberriesor tayberries).


December

action

is the month to...

n Plant rhubarb – digin a bucketful ofcompost or well-rottedmanure first

n Harvest leeks andother winter vegincluding brusselssprouts, wintercabbage, maincropcarrots, chard, kaleand parsnips

n Get creative with Christmasdecorations using fruit andvegetables. Dried citrus slices, home-grown chillies, colourful strings ofdried beans and dried ornamentalgourds can give your Christmas treea whole new look.

n Create homes for wildlife – birdboxes, bat boxes, hedgehoghideaways and insect hotels can allbe made from scrap materials. Logpiles in a quiet part of the gardenprovide a refuge for a host ofcreatures. Many birds, mammals andinsects will repay the good turn byeating pests in your garden next year.Most local Wildlife Trusts can provideconstruction details - contactwww.wildlifetrusts.org

n Check your tool kit to see what

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wildlife watch...evergreens provide winter

cheer and shelter n shrews, mice and voles remain active all

winter n flocks of finches and tits search the garden for food

needs cleaning, sharpening,mending or replacing. Appeal toparents, governors and friends, andcheck out local boot fairs, for second-hand tools. The Growing Schoolswebsite can also provide fundingadvice. Painting tool handles inbright colours makes them less likelyto be lost or borrowed.

n Collect regional and local names forfruit and vegetables, or make up yourown. For example, in Chesterfieldsprouts are known as ‘knobby greens’.

recipe...Festive baked apples(serves 8)

n 8 large cooking apples

n 8 tbsp seedless sultanas

n 1 tbsp chopped walnuts

n 1 tbsp of butter

n Juice of half a lemon

n 1 tsp ground cinnamon

n 3 tbsp apple juice

n 8 tbsp demerara sugar

Wash apples, slice off tops to make a lid,remove cores, and prick a few holes insides. Place in high-sided ovenproof dish, adddash of water. Fill centre with sultanas andwalnuts. Melt butter in saucepan, add lemonjuice, cinnamon, apple juice and half sugar.Pour over apples, sprinkle with remainingsugar, and replace apple lids. Bake at 180°C for30-45 mins (or 2-3 mins in a microwave ovenon high setting) till soft. Serve with a spoonfulof plain yoghurt, fromage frais or creme fraiche.


plot plannerVegetables shown in bold can besown, planted and cropped withinone school year. Some vegetablesthat are difficult to grow, such ascauliflower and celery, or have limitedappeal, like swede and turnip, havebeen omitted.

JanuaryVVeeggeettaabblleessn Harvest brussels sprouts, wintercabbage, chard, kale, leeks, parsnips,winter radish, salad leavesFFrruuiittn Plant apples, currants, gooseberries,pears, plumsn Prune apples, pears, autumn raspberries

FebruaryVVeeggeettaabblleessn Sow outdoors beetroot, earlycarrots, salad onions, peas, radish n Sow indoors broad beans, lettuce,salad leavesn Protect beetroot, early carrots, peas,radishn Harvest brussels sprouts, wintercabbage, chard, kale, leeks, salad leavesFFrruuiittn Plant apples, currants, gooseberries,pears, plumsn Prune apples, pears

MarchVVeeggeettaabblleessn Sow outdoors beetroot, broad

radish, salad leavesn Harvest spring cabbage, rhubarbFFrruuiittn Protect early strawberries

MayVVeeggeettaabblleessn Sow outdoors beetroot, wintercabbage, calabrese, maincrop carrots,french beans, kale, leeks, lettuce, saladonions, radish, runner beans, salad leavesn Sow indoors courgettes, pumpkins,squash, sweetcornn Plant out brussels sprouts,cucumbers, french beans, lettuce,maincrop potatoes, pumpkins, runnerbeans, squash, sweetcorn, tomatoesn Plant indoors aubergines, chillies,cucumbers, peppers, tomatoesn Protect courgettes, french beans,early potatoes, pumpkins, runnerbeans, squash, sweetcorn, tomatoesn Harvest beetroot, spring cabbage,lettuce, salad onions, radish, rhubarb,salad leavesFFrruuiittn Protect early strawberriesn Harvest gooseberries, early strawberries

JuneVVeeggeettaabblleessn Sow outdoors beetroot, calabrese,courgette, french beans, lettuce, saladonions, pumpkins, summer radish,runner beans, salad leaves, squashn Plant out brussels sprouts,courgettes, cucumbers, french beans,kale, leeks, pumpkins, runner beans,squash, sweetcorn, tomatoesn Plant indoors cucumbers

courgettes, cucumbers, french beans,lettuce, onions, salad onions, potatoes,radish, runner beans, salad leaves,sweetcorn, tomatoesFFrruuiittn Harvest apples, blackberries, hybridberries n Prune trained apples, trained pears,raspberries

SeptemberVVeeggeettaabblleessn Sow indoors salad leavesn Sow outdoors spring cabbage,winter radishn Plant out overwintering onionsn Harvest aubergines,beetroot, summer cabbage, calabrese,maincrop carrots, chard, chillies,courgettes, cucumbers, french beans,lettuce, onions, salad onions, peppers,maincrop potatoes, pumpkins, radish,runner beans, salad leaves, squash,sweetcorn, tomatoesFFrruuiittn Plant strawberriesn Harvest apples, blackberries, hybridberries, pears, plums, autumn raspberriesn Prune trained apples, blackcurrants

OctoberVVeeggeettaabblleessn Sow outdoors broad beansn Plant out garlic, overwinteringonionsn Harvest aubergines, summercabbage, maincrop carrots, chard,chillies, courgettes, cucumbers, frenchbeans, lettuce, peppers, maincroppotatoes, pumpkins, winter radish,runner beans, salad leaves, squash,

SOW OUTDOORS Cultivate soil toproduce a fine, crumbly seedbed.Avoid sowing into cold, sodden soil,sow indoors instead. If dry, water soilbefore sowing.

SOW INDOORS Sow in pots or traysof multipurpose compost. Place in agreenhouse or on a well-litwindowsill. Some veg need extraheat to germinate – check the seed packet.

Once seedlings are large enough tohandle, transfer into individual pots.Move to final positions once they are7cm-8cm tall with several leaves.

PLANT OUT Hardy veg such as peas, carrots and radish will toleratesome frost, but grow better ifprotected until the weather warmsup. Tender veg, eg courgettes, frenchbeans and potatoes, must beprotected from frost.

PLANT INDOORS Aubergines,chillies, cucumbers, peppers andtomatoes can be grown on in largetubs or greenhouse borders.

PROTECT Rigid translucent plasticcloches or clear polythene tunnels will protect young plants from cold wind and a few degrees of frost. Horticultural fleece can be added to increase protectionovernight.

beans, early carrots, chard, saladonions, parsnips, peas, radish, saladleaves, summer cabbagen Sow indoors aubergine, brusselssprouts, calabrese, chillies, frenchbeans, leeks, lettuce, peppers, tomatoesn Plant out broad beans, lettuce, onionsets, early potatoes, salad leavesn Protect beetroot, early carrots,lettuce, peas, early potatoes, radish,salad leavesn Harvest calabrese, rhubarb, saladleavesFFrruuiittn Plant strawberries

AprilVVeeggeettaabblleessn Sow outdoors beetroot, broadbeans, summer cabbage, calabrese,early carrots, chard, french beans, kale,leeks, lettuce, salad onions, parsnips,peas, radish, salad leaves n Sow indoors brussels sprouts,chillies, courgettes, cucumbers, frenchbeans, leeks, peppers, pumpkins,runner beans, squash, sweetcorn,tomatoesn Plant out lettuce, onion sets, earlyand maincrop potatoesn Protect beetroot, early carrots, peas,french beans, lettuce, early potatoes,

n Harvest beetroot, broad beans, earlycarrots, garlic, lettuce, overwinteringonions, salad onions, peas, earlypotatoes, radish, salad leavesFFrruuiittn Harvest currants, gooseberries,raspberries, strawberries

JulyVVeeggeettaabblleessn Sow outdoors beetroot, springcabbage, chard, winter radish, saladleavesn Harvest beetroot, broad beans,summer cabbage, calabrese, earlycarrots, chard, courgettes, frenchbeans, garlic, lettuce, overwinteringonions, salad onions, peas, earlypotatoes, radish, runner beans, saladleavesFFrruuiittn Harvest plums, black-, red- and whitecurrants,gooseberries, raspberries andstrawberriesn Prune trained apples, gooseberries,trained pears, plums, red- andwhitecurrants

AugustVVeeggeettaabblleessn Harvest aubergines, beetroot,summer cabbage, calabrese, chard,

sweetcorn, tomatoesFFrruuiittn Plant blackberries, hybrid berriesn Harvest apples, pears, autumnraspberriesn Prune blackberries, gooseberries,hybrid berries

NovemberVVeeggeettaabblleessn Plant out garlic, rhubarbn Harvest brussels sprouts, wintercabbage, maincrop carrots, chard, kale,leeks, parsnips, winter radish,salad leaves n Protect salad leavesFFrruuiittn Plant apples, currants, gooseberries,pears, plumsn Prune apples, pears, blackberries,hybrid berries, gooseberries, red- andwhitecurrants

DecemberVVeeggeettaabblleessn Plant rhubarbn Harvest brussels sprouts, wintercabbage, maincrop carrots, chard, kale, leeks, parsnips, winter radishFFrruuiittn Plant apples, currants, gooseberries,pears, plumsn Prune apples, pears, autumn raspberries

Growing Schools is a Department for Children, Schools and Families programme thatencourages schools to use the outdoor environment as an educational resource for pupils of all ages andabilities, across the National Curriculum. It aims to help pupils understand how their food is grown, be aware ofthe countryside and the role of farming, realise the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle, and care for thenatural environment. The Growing Schools website has a wide range of information including:l News and events listingsl Regional information including places to visit and training opportunitiesl Funding and fundraisingl Health and safety in relation to outdoor and out-of-school activitiesl Teaching resources including schemes of work, lesson plans and factsheets l Support organisations and networks

www.growingschools.org.uk

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is working to bring the joy of gardening to asignificant number of UK children through the Campaign for School Gardening, a national campaignencouraging schools to register and benchmark their gardening progress through an interactive website forteachers and students. The website contains clear and simple tips and techniques for teachers on growingand curriculum planning and is complemented by a national CPD programme of practical workshops, and ‘onthe ground’ advice and training for teachers from Campaign Regional Advisors, all of whom are expected tobe in place by 2012. Teachers can arrange free visits for schools to the four RHS gardens. For moreinformation go to:

www.rhs.org.uk/schoolgardening or email [email protected]

Garden Organic (formerly HDRA) is the UK's leading organic growing charity, has been at theforefront of the organic horticulture movement for 50 years and is dedicated to researching and promotingorganic gardening, farming and food. Garden Organic for Schools provides resources to help schools set upand manage organic vegetable gardens. For more information go to

www.gardenorganic.org.uk/schools_organic_network or email [email protected]

Which? Gardening (formerly Gardening Which?) provides independent expert advice to helpgardeners choose the best goods and services. Its subscription-only magazine is packed full of informativefeatures and inspirational photography, backed up by a free advice service. To find out how to subscribe, go to

www.which.co.uk or email [email protected]

Supported by Morrisons Let’s GrowGS CAL 08

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