One Pot Pledge® Six Week Schools Challenge with Greenhouse Sensation!
Friday 28th May- Friday 6th July
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Our mission: to turn fingers and spaces green.
Schools worldwide are taking part in the One Pot Pledge® Six Week Challenge to sow, grow and harvest a veg plot in just six weeks.
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Six Week Challenge Winners!
'CONGRATULATIONS to St. Bernard's Primary School in Glasgow who are the winners of the Six Week Challenge. We were overjoyed by all their updates, photos and videos that they sent us and hope they enjoy their new Vitopod!'
No green space or green fingers required
A space as small as a windowsill are what schools are using to take part and grow some incredible edibles, and the Gardening Angels will be offering free advice to help them get the most out of their veg plot throughout the challenge.
Prizes to be won
Each participating school has received a free starter pack including stickers, activity sheets and more. They are keeping us up-to-date with their school's progress to be in with the chance to win an award-winning Vitopod Propagator for their school. Each school to complete the challenge will also receive a reward pack!
Gardening Angel School Visits
Our Gardening Angels have been visiting the first ten schools in the North-West to sign up to the challenge. We have already been to visit Brookhouse Primary School!
Discount for all challengers!
All schools taking part are eligible for 30% off Greenhouse Sensation grow kits so they can grow some incredible edibles.
Supporting One Pot Pledge®
By taking part in the Six Week Challenge schools are helping gardening charity Garden Organic to meet their target of encouraging 30,000 new gardeners to grow their own edibles in 2010, while also reducing their school’s carbon footprint, encouraging healthy eating and having a hugely enjoyable final term.
Summer Holiday Challenge
Play schemes, children and parents nationwide are taking part in the One Pot Pledge® Summer Holiday Challenge to sow, grow and harvest a veg plot during the summer holidays.
Visit the Summer Holiday Challenge Page to see how you can take part
Ten Week Challenge
Watch this space to learn about the One Pot Pledge® Ten Week Challenge to be taking part in the new school year...
Read more below to find out more, see the schools' progress in the Six Week Challenge ...
Six Week Challenge Photo Gallery- Week Six
Six Week Challenge Update- Week Six
As we reach the last week of our Six Week Challenge we have received some lovely photos from St Bernard's Primary School in Glasgow and John Buchan School in Germany who have been getting their fingers dirty growing some delicious veg and salads. As you can see below they have gone above and beyond their challenge growing peppers, courgettes, radishes and salad leaves. A huge well done to St Bernard's and John Buchan School!
John Buchan School- Germany
St. Bernard's Primary School- Glasgow
Six Week Challenge Photo Gallery- Week Five
Six Week Challenge- Week Five
A big thanks to John Buchan School all the way in GERMANY who have been taking part in the Six Week Challenge and have been thoroughly enjoying growing their own.
The garden club were also able to provide the school kitchen with a bowl of freshly picked lettuces to accompany school lunch.
Good work guys!
Comments from pupils at Lander Road Primary School
This week we were sent some lovely comments from the pupils at Lander Road Primary School about how much they have enjoyed the Six Week Challenge and why...
'I Like growing them' 'I like planting' 'I like watching the grass grow' 'I like watering the seeds' 'I like watching the seeds grow' 'I like watering the plants' 'I like looking after them' 'I like watering and growing the plants' 'I like growing them'.
Six Week Challenge Photo Gallery- Week Four
Six Week Challenge- Week Four
This week we have yet again been inundated by brilliant pictures and updates from St Bernard's Primary School!
Its been radish harvesting time this week and the pupils have had a great time munching on the veggies they have grown themselves.
We cant wait to see what else they have been growing.
Dont forget to keep us updated on your schools progress in the Six Week Challenge to receive your free starter pack and be in with a chance of winning a Vitopod Propagator. Email us at info@greenhousesensation.co.uk
Six Week Challenge Photo Gallery- Week Three
Six Week Challenge- Week Three
A huge thanks once again to St Bernard's Primary in Glasgow who have been keeping us updated non-stop throughout the challenge.
And a big WELL DONE to them for their fundraiser, raising money for their local Parish. They told us they had a bloomin' great time!
Six Week Challenge Photo Gallery- Week Two
Six Week Challenge- Week Two
Has your school's veg plot been blooming? Check our Six Week Challenge Photo Gallery to see if your school is staring in this weeks pictures.
Don't forget to keep us up-to-date with your schools progress in the Six Week Challenge. Send us your photos, comments and videos to info@greenhousesensation.co.uk to be in with a chance of winning a Vitopod Propagator!
St Bernard's School- Glasgow
St Bernard's school veg and salad plots look blooming! Thanks for the pictures guys.
Six Week Challenge Photo Gallery- Week One
Has your school's veg plot been blooming? Check our Six Week Challenge Photo Gallery to see if your school is staring in this weeks pictures.
Don't forget to keep us up-to-date with your schools progress in the Six Week Challenge. Send us your photos, comments and videos to info@greenhousesensation.co.uk to be in with a chance of winning a Vitopod Propagator!
Six Week Challenge- Week 1 Photos
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St Bernard's Primary, Glasgow
St Bernards Primary School in Glasgow have been getting stuck into the Six Week Challenge. As you can see....
Their rasied beds look like they are set to grow some delicious veggies and salads, we cant wait to see them.
Keep up the good work guys!
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Lander Road Primary School
Well done to Lander Road Primary school in Liverpool who are growing in Windowgrows and have got off to a great start with their Six Week Challenge...
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Six Week Challenge Set Up Event @ Lander Road Primary School
Six Week Challenge Set Up Event @ Lander Road Primary School
Yesterday, Tuesday 7th June, the Greenhouse Sensation Gardening Angels visited Lander Road Primary School in Litherland, Liverpool.
The Gardening Angels helped the Year Two class sow seeds of Radish, Spring Onion, Rocket and Lettuce. The class, who will be growing their salad plots on their windowsills, also learned about how to look after their seeds and what their plants need to grow strong and healthy. They also learned about any pests and bugs they may find in their salad plots and how to keep these pesky bugs at bay.
Good Luck Lander Road! We cant wait to see your delicious salad plots at the end of the challenge.
Giving Teachers and Pupils Greener Fingers Event @ Brookhouse Primary School- Blackburn
Six Week Veg Plot Event
Giving Teachers Green Fingers @ Brookhouse Primary School, Blackburn Wednesday 19th May 2010
The Greenhouse Sensation Gardening Angels visited Brookhouse Primary School in Blackburn this Wednesday 19th May and had a great time with their Gardening Council who taught us a thing or two!
We also had teachers joining in from surrounding schools schools- St Bedes High School, St Stephens Primary School and St Thomas Primary School who were also turning their fingers green.
Quick Growing Guide and Hands-on sowing
Firstly the pupils took part in a hands-on sowing session where they learned everything from sowing seeds, transplanting seeds and accurate watering, to learning about common pests and problems in their school garden.
We planted rocket, lettuce, beans, carrots and broccoli!
Gardening Fundamentals
The pupils were shown how to grow healthy plants and took part in some activities to see exactly how ...
1: Balanced watering and oxygen: the balanced sponge- to explain how to monitor the changing needs of plants pupils dunked a sponge in some water to see how much of air was in the sponge when it is saturated in water (not much!). They were then told how to get the right balance of air and water in their sponge, which is exactly what a plant needs to grow healthily.
2: Nutrients and consequences of an unhealthy diet: how to grow a nutrient deficient plant- to demonstrate that it is essential for plants to have the right balance of food, water and light, the pupils were shown plants which were deprived of any of these elements and what the plants looked like because of this.
3: Soil, what it’s for and why it isn’t always needed: how to grow plants without soil- Pupils were shown other alternatives to soil such as rockwool, pebbles and coir.
4: Light and warmth: pupils were then told to then put their plants in the fridge to see how they coped without the warmth that they need!
Thanks for having us Brookhouse Primary!
What You Need
A Planter and Compost
You will be sowing directly into a planter (rather than in seed pots and then transferring to a larger pot or planter), this is because the seeds selected prefer not to be moved.
Use a long planter no shallower than 13cm, a raised bed if you have one, or take advantage of our Challenge prices on our school holiday-proof planters.
Pots are not suitable for salad leaves because they need a longer space.
You can use any compost.
Seeds
The seed varieties for the Six Week Challenge have been selected because they grow from seed to harvest-readiness within six weeks. You can buy the seeds from a garden centre, seed websites or they are available from us.
The seeds to be grown are
- Spring Onion
- Lollo Rossa Lettuce
- Rocket
- Salad Bowl Lettuce
- Radish - French Breakfast
- Radish - Cherry Belle
If you would like to order the seeds from us, click here
A Sunny spot
South East to South West is ideal and avoid north facing if possible. If you are growing on an indoor windowsill with a single glazed window, make sure that you shade with a net curtain or similar, so that the plants don't get too hot.
Add some pupils and this really is all you need to take part in the Six Week Challenge and help One Pot Pledge on the way to encouraging 30,000 people to grow their own in 2010.
The Starter Pack that you will receive when you have registered will contain everything else you need to get growing.
Key Dates
- Monday 24th May- Pledge Deadline! Email info@greenhousesensation.co.uk with your school name before 5pm on 24th May so that you will receive your Starter Pack and gardening equipment vouchers in time to get growing.
- Friday 28th May- 'Sow it day' Sow your seeds and begin the challenge.
- Friday 9th July- 'Harvest it day' Harvest your crop and take some great pictures and videos!
- Monday 12th July- Send your pictures into Greenhouse Sensation by this date to be in with a chance of winning a fabulous prize!
Your Free Starter Pack
When you sign-up to the Six Week Challenge we will send your school a starter pack which includes
Growing instructions – detailed instructions about how to sow, water and harvest.
• 30 x Stickers – featuring our Incredible Edibles characters
• Activity sheets – featuring our Incredible Edibles characters. Supplied in colour and in black and white for photo copying
• Lesson Inspiration sheets – some ideas from teachers about how they integrated their gardening projects with the National Curriculum
• Gardening Angel contact card – as a reminder of who to call if you need some advice
Gardening equipment vouchers - including a voucher to save 30% on any holiday-proof planter.
What You Can Grow In Just 6 Weeks
We've selected some great salad crops that will be ready to harvest within six weeks of sowing and that children will love.
These salad crops are ideal for nibbling and for children to add to salads and sandwiches to make their own healthy snacks.
By growing and eating the three lettuce and two radish options children recognise that each vegetable has many varieties, encouraging them to not reject all vegetables based on them disliking just one.
Click here to see our 2010 Salad Blog!.
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Veg / Herb
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Variety
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Germination (days)
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Harvest (weeks)
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Salad Leaf
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Rocket Salad
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4-10
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4
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Lettuce
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Salad Bowl
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4-10
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4
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Lettuce
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Lollo Rossa
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4-10
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4
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Spring Onions
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White Lisbon
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10-14
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5
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Radish
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French Breakfast
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5-7
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5
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| Radish |
Cherry Belle |
5-7
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5 |
| Radish (White) |
White Beauty |
5-7
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5 |
Choose a Holiday Proof Planter
Six Week Challenge Holiday Proof Veg Planters - 30% saving
Of course, you can grow in a pot, raised bed or other container, but you might be interested to hear about our holiday-proof planters. Particularly as we are offering all schools taking part in the Six Week Challenge a 30% discount.
You and your pupils will care for your plants as you usually would, we just make it easier for you to keep them watered during school holidays and at weekends.
This holiday-proof watering is thanks to a reservoir that you keep topped-up. SmartMats link the reservoir with the compost and provide the plants with water when and where the plants need it.
The reservoir watering method also helps to teach children about the changing water needs of a plant, thanks to the fact that they can physically use a ruler to calculate the volume of water that is left in the reservoir and can then calculate how much has been taken by the plant from the reservoir.
This space-efficient planter is perfect for salads and herbs as well as larger veg such as cabbages, cauliflower and chard.
Includes clear lids for getting seeds off to a head start.
Fabulous for salad crops, herbs and low growing veg.
L100cm x W55cm
Offer Price: £55.34
To place an order download an order form here and fax back to us on 0161 554 081
Pop one of these on your classroom windowsill for a convenient way to keep a check on how the plants are doing.
Just keep an eye on the water level indicator which tells you when more water needs adding.
Includes a clear lid, which keeps soil warm to speed up seed germination.
Great for salads, herbs and low-growing veg.
Offer Price: £32.05 for 2.
To place an order download an order form here and fax back to us on 0161 554 081
Click here to see our 2010 Windowgrow Blog! .
Also available
Ideal for growing low cropping plants such as...
Tomatoes, Chillies, Cucumbers, Beans and Peas, Peppers, Aubergines
Pots - for tall plants.
These sets of pots are perfect for growing bumper harvests of tall plants. Our Gardening Angels harvested 7.9kgs of tomatoes from one Quadgrow in 2009.
Even the thirstiest of plants such as tomatoes are kept nourished thanks to the 35litre reservoir, so you don't have to worry about holiday-watering.
The optional lids protect against late frosts and a frame is available to keep your plants on the straight and narrow.
Price: £45.02 (exc VAT) for 4pot kit
learn more
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Dont forget to order your seeds for your grow kits!....
Incredible Edible Salad and Vegetable Seed Packs For Schools
Six Week Challenge Seeds Pack (1x Spring Onion, 1x Rocket Salad Leaf, 1x Lollo Rossa Lettuce, 1x Salad Bowl Lettuce 1x French Breakfast Radish, 1x White Beauty Radish, 1x Cherry Bell Radish- 500/800 seeds per packet)
£6.89 (exc VAT)
Buy here
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Get Free Gardening Angels Advice
Once you have signed up to the 'Six Week Challenge' you will be invited to make use of the free Greenhouse Sensations Gardening Angels service.
Whether your school is full of experienced green fingers, or you are just starting out, our friendly Gardening Angels can offer lots of advice and guidance to get you growing.
How to receive free advice
Simply email your question to info@greenhousesensation.co.uk or
Call on 0845 602 3774
Our Gardening Angels always respond within two working hours.
Arrange a Gardening Angel School Visit
The Gardening Angel team are offering school visits to schools that register for the Six Week Challenge.
Our Gardening Angels will use pebbles, sponges, string and words to help you to get your school off to a great start.
They will share lots of veg growing hints and tips, help you to find the best location for your Six Week Challenge veg and answer any questions you might have.
If you would like a Gardening Angel to visit your school to speak with your teachers, teachers and pupil or as a Twilight Cluster Session just let us know when you register by emailing info@greenhousesensation.co.uk
Send Us Your Updates
Keep us up-to-date with your school's progress throughout the six weeks by sending us any photo's, videos and comments on how your veg are growing.
Each photo will get you 10 points and each video 30 points.The school that has the most points and whose crop has made the best progress at the end of the six weeks on ‘Harvesting Day’- 9th of July will receive a fabulous prize of a Vitopod Propagator for their school.
You can do this by emailing info@greenhousesensation.co.uk and your photo's could be live on our site!
Your Reward Pack
To congratulate your school on completing the Six Week Challenge you will receive a fabulous reward pack containing:
- A certificate for each pupil that has taken part in the challenge
- A certificate for your school
- Gardening equipment and seed discount vouchers for your school
Sign Up - Registration Form
Get your Registration Form
Register before 24th May to receive your free Starter Pack of instructions, activity sheets, stickers, free advice service and gardening equipment discount vouchers.
To register
Click here to download a registration form and Fax it back to us on 01695 554 081
Or email info@greenhousesenation.co.uk with school name and we will email you a registration form.
Once you have returned your form we will send you your Starter Pack.
Alternatively for more information on the Six Week Challenge you can call us on 0845 602 7774.
