Grow Your Own Potatoes Project
Did you know that The British Potato Council have launched a Grow Your Own Potatoes project for primary schools in the UK because 60% of children thought that potatoes grew on trees.
I am a teacher and a farmer’s wife and this competition is an ideal way for me to show the children I teach, how potatoes grow and where their food really comes from.
A month ago I registered the school for the national competition and I eagerly awaited the arrival of the champion (we hope!) seed potatoes.
Two weeks ago I received the 3 seed potatoes and I put them in an egg box near the window so that the seed potatoes could start to chit.
“Chits are the sprouting shoots that grow out of the eyes of a potato. Gardeners encourage these chits to grow before the potatoes are planted, so that they have a head start when they are put in the ground.” TopVeg.
More information about Chitting Potatoes can be found at the TopVeg website.
The 3 seed potatoes have been chitting for 2 weeks which is sufficient time for the sprouting shoots to grow.
Today (Thursday 22nd March 2007) I launched the competition in my school. The school has three Year 3 classes and each class was given a container, compost and a seed potato. At 3.15pm today the seed potatoes were planted.
3H 3HS 3P
As well as taking part in the national competition, the Year 3 classes are going to compete against each other to see which class can grow the biggest yield of potatoes.
Watch this space for regular updates on our potato plants.
Grow Your Own Potatoes Competition Homegrown vegetables Potatoes School Activities
Good luck year3 - will watch this spot with interest!
Mike
Comment by Mike — March 23, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the support. It’s an exciting project. I’ll keep you posted as the plants start to grow.
Sara @ Farming Friends
Comment by Sara @ Farming Friends — March 23, 2007 @ 2:23 pm