Jayne Bennett wrote:
My daughter has just asked me to have a plant stall at the local
Nursery School in June, do any of you wonderful gardners have any
ideas what would be most popular to grow.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, hope you can help.

It would be easier to say if you say where you are. The chances are I am
half a world away and what may be popular here will not be with you.

But assuming that fetes are not generally in winter I suppose you are in the
northern hemisphere and you have spring and early summer to start seeds and
strike cuttings.

I would choose plants that a pretty, easy to grow in the district, take
planting out well and you have access to cheaply.

Using for examples stuff that would grow well and be popular *here*:

- if somebody has a bag of pansy seeds they prepare little trays of
seedlings that will look good at the time you want,

- if somebody has some good-looking coleus or salvias in their garden get
them to start tip cuttings in small pots or tubes that will be ready to
plant out in June.

I would start trying to source from friendly locals; potting mix, seed mix,
used trays and pots now. Many people do not re-use containers they buy
plants in so you may find there are hundreds sitting in sheds waiting to be
collected.

If you can score some of the plastic tubes used to grow tube stock these can
be very useful. I like the sort that are about 15 cm (6in) high with a
square section that tapers towards the bottom. Many trees, shrubs,
vegetables and ornamentals can be started in these (one or two seeds each or
one cutting) and left there until planting out. This includes types that we
are advised do not transplant well (eg cucurbits) because you can get the
root ball (well truncated pyramid) out without disturbing it at all if you
are careful and the mix is not too sandy.


David