P3s continued to plant their competition tyre. This week’s group planted out the lavender, pansy and viola seedlings the class had been growing from seed in pots in the classroom. Sadly the only verbena seedling to have sprouted had died (lack of water, lesson learned!) – if anyone happens to have some verbena spare, we would love some for the tyre. The tyre is filling up nicely with plants and looking good! The P3s also earthed up the competition potatoes – and discovered the magnifying garden glass!

Our plum trees are looking laden with young fruit but sadly one of them was suffering from pocket plum, a fungus which attacks and spoils the fruit – thankfully spotted by our eagle-eyed classroom assistants while just affecting one tree as it can spread. According to the RHS, the only remedy is to cut all the infected branches off which is why one of the plum trees is looking very scalped.

Finally, a big thank you to the inmates of HMP Edinburgh. We have received these tools (for adult helpers) through a scheme whereby prisoners refurbish old, broken and unwanted garden tools for use at schools and community groups. These tools are collected from garden centres, including from New Hopetoun Gardens – there is a collection bin just as you exit the garden centre. So if you have ever donated old tools in this way, they may have done full circle and are now helping the school! And if you get the chance, please do support this very worthwhile scheme.