Growing and Harvesting

Grow your own

Planting, growing and harvesting fruits and vegetables is a lot of fun and very rewarding.

Growing your own food teaches children about the food life cycle, helps develop an understanding of where fresh food comes from and basic nutrition.

Creating your own vegetable or fruit patch outside can also help children learn how to care for the environment and introduces lots of sensory experiences all year round.

Where to begin

Start small and manageable.

You can grow most things in a large planter or container. Raised beds are also an ideal place to create your own mini vegetable patch.

Easy and fast yield producing vegetables include courgettes, carrots and tomatoes.

sow

When to sow and grow

You can sow and grow fruits and vegetables all year round. Many have a quick harvest time which makes the whole process more visible and you can enjoy the end product sooner.

If you don’t have a garden there are many things you can grow indoors.

It’s not just fruits and vegetables that you can grow either. You could grow your own herbs to use at meal times.

Vegetables and fruit to grow at home

You can find an easy to grow selection of fruits and vegetables below:

Courgettes

Growing instructions

Sow: April/May

Plant: June/July

Harvest: July to October

Tomatoes

Growing instructions

Sow: January to March

Plant: May/June

Harvest: July to November

Runner beans

Growing instructions

Plant: Late May / early June

Harvest: When beans are about 15-20cm long.

Instructions: Plant out and use bamboo canes for the plant to grow up.

Potatoes

Growing instructions

Plant: March to May

Harvest: June to October

Carrots

Growing instructions

Sow: April to May

Harvest: June to October

Strawberries

Growing instructions

Plant: March or April

Harvest: June onwards

Instructions: Grow in containers, the ground or hanging baskets. Make sure they have plenty of sunshine.

Blackberries

Growing instructions

Plant: Early Spring

Harvest: August and September

Instructions: Suitable to grow in most locations around the garden

Blueberries

Growing instructions

Plant: January to March

Harvest: When berries have turned blue (normally late summer)

Instructions: Grow in a pot/container or border in a sunny sheltered spot

Gooseberries

Growing instructions

Plant: October to March

Harvest: July to August

Instructions: Plant in pots or a border

Raspberries

Growing instructions

Plant: November to March

Harvest: June onwards

Instructions: Plant in raised beds or pots

Harry and the Giant Pumpkin Digital Book

Please click on the book image to open a digital version.

Harry and the Giant Pumpkin was released in Autumn 2019 as a gift to Childbase children aged 2 and above.

In this book Harry and his friends plant seeds, water and maintain the vegetables with some surprising results.

The pumpkin is harvested and Harry takes to the kitchen to create a delicious dish for everyone to enjoy.

We recommend viewing in landscape mode on your phone.

Fruit Sundae

Once you have harvested your fruits why not make a delicious fruit sundae. Click on the activity sheet image above for a fun activity to try at home.

Cress heads

Growing cress is a simple and fun activity for all ages. Click on the activity sheet image above for instructions.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers are a fun activity for children to enjoy at home. Seeing how tall your sunflower can grow introduces maths skills for all ages. Click on the activity sheet image above.

Harry's colouring sheet

You could draw your own picture of Harry and his friends or colour in one we’ve drawn. Click on the activity sheet image to download and print it.

How well do you know your fruits?
Take our fruity quiz below...

Results

CONGRATULATIONS you answered all of the questions correctly. You must eat a lot of fruit.

Sorry, you didn’t answer all of the questions correctly. Why not have another go?

Next

#1. Can you find the grapes?

Next

#2. Can you find the apple?

#3. Can you find the strawberries?

Next

#4. Can you find the blueberries?

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#5. Can you find the lemon?

Next

#6. Can you find the bananas?

Next

#7. Can you find the raspberries?

Next

#8. Can you find the orange?

Finish