POD – MULTI-CULTURAL GARDEN GROUP
A gardening club is a great way to bring together a group of people who share a common interest. As we decide to launch a community garden called “Multi-Cultural Garden Clubâ€.
On Tuesday 16th March 2010 we were all excited about going on a trip. We travelled by minibus to our destination, we got to
St George’s Post 16 Gardening Centre and was greeted by Bob Tyler, our teacher for the day. Bob taught us all about different Root Crops for example Potatoes, Onions, Carrot and Beetroots. Bob talked about Brassicas for example Cauliflowers, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Cabbages, Swedes and Turnips. We all got interested in roots and Brassicas and Bob explained where Asparagus, Berries family and Herbs lie in the planning scheme (these are called Permanent), this is when they are planned continuously throughout the year. Sweet Corn, Courgettes, Leeks, Lettuce, Radish, Spinach and Beans family all belong in the other crops.
We then all got divided into family groups and Bob gave us two egg boxes per family and then gave us information about Potatoes. Bob said that you need to know how to spot the eyes and the belly button. The top of the potato is called the ‘Rose’ end, and that’s where most of the ‘eyes ‘are. Often there is a faint half moon shaped ridge beneath each eye to help you find a belly button on the down end where it is attached to the parent plant. Varieties of potato can be quite different, some are easy to spot, and some are more challenging.
Bob gave us some potatoes to each family, we sorted them out from eye to belly button and put them in our egg boxes once we all had finished, he came round and looked through the boxes to see if we had them right, overall we didn’t do that bad seen as we were all novices to gardening.
As we where all good at the Potatoes we were given a larger tray each, we filled each tray up with soil and sprinkled Marigold seeds on the layer of soil, once we sprinkled them we put another layer of soil and made waves, this will help the flowers grow. We can’t wait to see the flowers bloom through the top of the soil, we will see on the next gardening session.
Bob then went onto give sets of 12 pots and asked us to fill each pot up with soil, he told us that we were going to plant some geraniums. Bob asked us if we know how deep the hole has to be, because we didn’t have a clue, he turn and said a thumb deep.
Each was given a tray of geraniums, the technique is very easy he said you squeeze each side of the pot and gently pull the plant out from the stem and drop into the hole you made in the soil and then push the soil over the plants gently.
So overall our time at the gardening centre was an excellent ………
Kyle aged 8yrs St Joseph’s Primary School – Nechells