Schools compete in gardening challenge

A gardening competition is open to all schools within 20km of the Whanganui city limits, including primary, intermediate and secondary schools and Kura Kaupapa Ma¯ori.

The competition is to offer an introduction to gardening as a life skill for children and young people.

Registrations are open now and close on January 31, 2022.

Register online at www. springvalegardencentre.co.nz/ school-vege-challenge/

In the week starting February 7, Springvale Garden Centre will be in contact to organise a delivery date for the starter kit.

The starter kit for each school is: Yates Seed; Yates Natures Way Organic Citrus, Veggie & Ornamental Spray; Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix; Zealandia Vegetable Punnets; Eastown Timber Planter Boxes; 6x Tui Vegetable Mix 40L; Tui Quash; Ican Organic Vegetable Food.

The competition pack includes resources schools can use to teach their students how to grow vegetables.

In the week commencing April 11, which is about the midpoint of the competition, Whanganui Chronicle and Springvale Garden Centre will visit the gardens and take some photos and offer some tips and advice.

The week starting May 30 is the finish date and judging. Schools will be contacted to organise a judging day/ time during this week. Harvesting of carrots and broccoli will be done with the judges at this

time.

After that will be promotion of the gardens and participating schools plus voting of the People’s Choice Award.

Winners will be announced in June.

Judging takes place across five categories. Four of these are to be judged by a judge from Springvale Garden Centre. One is an anonymous public vote, designed to ensure there will be no advantage or disadvantage regardless of school size. All participants are judged in all categories — the marks accumulated will determine an overall winner.