Who needs plant pots?

30 comments

soil in squash“What are we going to plant in the squash?”

“Squash”

“Where are the seeds?”

“In the squash.”

“In the squash?”

“Yes in the squash. Look.”

planting unusual containers

Penny drops.

I bought 3 squashes last Halloween. I cut into one, with great difficulty. I baked it but it was very dry. So dry that I couldn’t serve it. I began to doubt whether it was a squash. The other two squashes, sat on the side, while I decided what to do.

potting up wellies

Today seemed the perfect day to use them. Not for baking but for growing. I cut off the tops, to expose the seeds. The children added soil on top of the seeds and watered. The idea is that the seeds will grow. We’ll see. We’ll also see if it produces any edible squashes. A proof of concept, I hope.

planting and football

Next up, a pair of old wellies. Using the points of the scissors, I made holes just above the soles. The children enjoyed filling them with soil. Then BL added a couple of verbenas that she has been nurturing in the greenhouse. While the others ran off and played football.

potting up a teapot

I brought out an old teapot from my rustic potting shed. (Second brood of robin chicks are doing well. Very cute with their fluffy black heads. Sometimes they open their mouths, hearing me and thinking a parent has returned)

BL added a stone to block the teapot spout. Just big enough to allow a trickle of water out and not leave it water logged.

hanging up the boots

Then my keen gardener, hung the wellies and the teapot up in our hawthorn tree.

hung up welly

Reminded me of a Christmas stocking, being hung up.

hanging up the teapot

It should do well there. If we’ve got it right, this verbena is a trailing variety. This corner needs a bit of colour.

squashes in raised bed

The squashes are now on a raised bed, next to my very much loved fennel plant. Good luck, little squashes.

eating a nasturtium flower

This little chap cannot resist asking me for a nasturtium flower every time he finds me in the greenhouse. They all love the peppery taste. Some flowers even make it into our salads.

damsel fly

Also in the garden, we found a damsel fly. Dragonflies will be along soon. *happy dance* On our walk home from school we found a cardinal beetle, a big fat larvae and a yellowish fly. BL and TF were so excited about their finds. Be still my beating heart. Mini entomologists in the making. Photos were taken, to help us identify them.

The children enjoyed using unusual containers to plant. I must keep my eye out for some more. Have you had success using a novel recycled container? I’d love to know.

Joining up with the inspirational Fiona over at Coombe Mill. Along with all the other fun #CountryKids.

Joining in with the inventive, frugal community over at #ThriftyThursday on #ThriftyThursday ColdTeaAndSmellyNappies. *waves*

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30 comments

  1. This is brilliant, I love your recycled plant pots. They look brilliant, and I particularly like that the boot and teapot were hung in a tree 🙂 Look forward to seeing if the squash seeds grow…! #CountryKids

    1. I’m hoping to add more to this tree. Definitely got another old teapot somewhere. It should be fun and quirky.

  2. I knew you had a fun crafty post in store. Please do keep me updated on whether or not your squash seeds grow and I’d love to see your trailing flowers from the tea pot. Brilliant ideas. We have so many old odd tea cups from the properties, I bet I could do something fun like this with them. Thank you for the idea and for sharing it on Country Kids

    1. Nothing like the promise of an outdoor craft activity to ensure all the children rush outside. I’m hoping the local wildlife don’t find the squashes, otherwise I have high hopes that something will germinate. I will be posting more, fingers crossed.

  3. Fab ideas recycling for flower pots – but, particularly love, love, love the teapot in the tree! #countrykids

  7. Can’t wait to see if the seeds grow in those pumpkins. Have you ever grown butternuts? so easy and you get a lot, and they store well all through the winter.
    Briony
    x

    1. I grew butternut one year, but I didn’t have much success. I’m better with acorn squash. Wonder if its the soil….or me.

  10. I love this idea! They look great in all of the different holders, the welly one is my fave. I love the pictures too! Thanks for linking up to #ThriftyThursday

    1. Not convinced yet. Suspect they will succumb to mould before the seeds sprout. I’m going to experiment by burying one this weekend, just for comparison. We’ll see.

  14. interesting to see if your squashes grow or not, would never have thought of this idea, heres hoping for you. Wonderful use of old wellies and a tea pot, and great to see them in the tree, somewhere so different. Love the idea of taking photos to identify them later. over from #countrykids

    1. The squash is an idea that I found in Pinterest. I’ve wanted to see if it works for a while, but haven’t had a pumpkin or squash to spare. Hoping to add more to the wellies and tea pot tree. I love the quirky, second-look it will get, once people notice.

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