Last week, another group of our Year 1 Gardening Gang headed out to explore the school garden and polytunnel — getting hands-on and beginning to learn all about what happens in our school growing area. The Garden Gang children were full of curiosity as they explored every corner. In the potting shed, they found the runner bean pods that had been drying since last month — now crisp, brittle, and ready to open. Inside were beautiful beans the children called “Jack's magic beans!” We saved them in envelopes ready to plant again next spring — though Mrs Nelson hopes there won’t be a giant at the top of those beanstalks!
As autumn arrives, the garden is slowing down, but there’s still plenty to check on. The chillies are ready to pick, peppers are ripening, and the birdhouse gourds and luffas are still maturing. The cucumbers are nearly finished, while the last of the tomatoes are being harvested. Across the garden and polytunnel, kale, purple sprouting broccoli, perpetual spinach, lettuce, radish, and spring onions are all growing well.
The Garden Gang children also checked on the pumpkins — they’ll soon be harvested for our autumn library display (and to make some tasty pumpkin hummus!). There was great excitement peeling back the husks on second sowing of sweetcorn to reveal juicy golden cobs.
Another wonderful afternoon of curiosity, learning, and fun in the garden — our Year 1 Gardening Gang are definitely growing their green fingers!
