Helping a school with a Polytunnel bid- fingers x

In March 2022, Primary 4/5 helped me to plant some potatoes. We went to the local garage and acquired some tyres. The children helped to stack the tyres in piles of three and fill the lower 2 tyres with soil. The 3rd tyre would act as an insulator.

We tried 2 different species of potato red duke of york & white Sharpe’s express

Over the coming months the children would water the potatoes in the tyres on a regular basis. They created the ‘earthings’ adding more soil to stop the potatoes being exposed to the light and turning green/poisonous- This would be no good if we wanted to make soup later on. .    

Then the day arrived for the Potatoes to be harvested, we had waited as long as we could. It was close to the end of term, we could wait no longer and we had spotted a white flower or two. Primary2/3 had the privilege of seeing if we had enough potatoes for soup.   

We decided to recycle to soil for another crop at the start one term 2022/23. The children did amazingly well splitting into teams of foragers, soil movers and potato washers! We found potatoes of all shapes and sizes, plus the odd spring onion. We had over 100 of both the red and white potatoes.     

We then made soup! It tasted amazing. Some children who said they didn’t like potatoes OR soup tried it, and loved it!!   

As soon as term 2022/23 started we decided to make some potatoes this year with an aim or potato cakes, mash or chips before Christmas.

We decided to experiment with 2 late season potatoes Nicola & Maris Piper. The children of P5/6 would plant a potato in a plastic pot for indoor growth in the classroom, they made a wooden planter or in/out grown and we reused and replanted the tyres for an outdoor crop.

As we had made mini planters last year for herbs and flowers, we decided we needed to be a lot more accurate in making tall boxes for the potatoes. This involved a few re-cuts and adjustments. Then we were happy. Let’s see what crop we get.

Our next goal is to get a poly tunnel for more vegetables, herbs & fruit. Then who knows what we can make to eat!