plants for playschool fete

[Jonah]

Hello all.
Pouring down here and I've just had my erythroniums and alliums delivered They'll have to wait.
As I am on the playchool committee I have often thought about having little plants to sell at the annual fete. Can anyone advise on good plants to use, be it seed grown or cuttings. I thought of fuschias and chives and salvias[trying to keep it simple].
Any thoughts on things I could be starting off now?
Many thanks

[sleepysunday]

Penstemons take very easily - as easily as fuschias

And of course Fox 'n' Cubs set so easily from seed, and are a native, so they will be ethically good.

[Jonah]

Thanks Sleepy,
I've got penstemons and phygelius too, so I'll try those. Problem is remembering what colours I've got where, but I'll work it out.
Cheers.

[Deleted]

There are so many lovely Buddleia's around these days. As I am into wildlife gardening I have been taking cuttings of my established Buddleia's which resulted in me having lots of what I call baby budds that flowered continually all summer visited by lots of beautiful butterflies. As the Buddleia's were mostly knee high it was a real pleasure watching them feeding on the nectar. I expect I will end up with lots of them so will be donating some to the Iver Nature Study Centre to sell on their annual open day.

[4pygmies]

Hi Jonah - a lady after my own heart! I've been running a garden club at my daughter's school for 2 years now and during her playschool time I did as much plant growing with the kids as possible. I even got the mum's clearing up the village hall flower beds (the WI do it now). In my experience it's best to stick to hardy annuals, both to grow and sell and to do with the kids. They are quick and easy and colourful and they self seed. If you want to start some off now it would be the perfect time. Depending when your annual fete is, you could always pot up bulbs etc. Next Spring you could sow some vegetables too as well as the obvious things like sunflowers. I have found that anything in flower sells much quicker too so if you can get the timing right - even better! I used to set up a table periodically in the car park and sell whatever we'd grown. It's really great to start kids off early. Especially as its one of those things most mothers know they SHOULD do (nothing like a bit of peer group pressure). Hope it works out and you make lots of money for the playschool.

[Plocket]

When's the school fete? I ask because Verbena Bonariensis take easily from cuttings (if you have some of course!!!) but you'll want them to take and be healthy before the fete!!! I would guess that herbs might be popular too.

[Jonah]

Hi Plocket
It is usually June or July, I'm thinking ahead for once!
I have Verbena Rigida that has just gone over, so i'll try a few cuttings and grab some seed when they are ready. Cheers.
4Pygmies your ideas sound great, might be a bit too adventurous for me - this year - but I've got another 4 years involvement round there to go, so I'll start small and end up with a thriving market stall ha ha! It is nice now though that they have a small garden area to play with, was all tarmac and mud til this summer, but we got the landscapers in.
Might try some Buds too, Tuppence, thanks.