Question Time: Best veg to grow

Yesterday I received this question from Kelly on facebook: -

hi,we have a veggie plot at school which is usually looked after by the teacher who will soon be off due to being on maternity...i personnally kill most plants i come in contact with ,apart from basil and mint which are my favourite herbs,anyway any tips you have will be very much appreciated as i don't want the patch going to ruin while shes away...obviously the patch is pots with plants in and no animals due to health and safety but i really have no clue as to how to spot what plants need other than sun and water...oh and i tried to comment on your peasent chicken but for some reason i can't,was going to add a healthier version and tips on variation..x

Great question Kelly! Looking after veg is not as scary as it may first seem. If they get a bit of sun and you make sure they don't dry out (this is the biggest danger with pots), you will be surprised at how resilient most plants are.

As to whether some plants need shade or full sun etc then your first port of call should be the seed packet your plants came from. Read this and you will already be an expert on your chosen fauna! Alternatively you could try googling the plant to see what turns up. But remember its a bit of fun - you're not attempting to win 1st prize at an allotment show!

When growing things and trying to get kids interested I would recommend a sunflower growing contest, my kids love this and they run all the way down to 'daddies farm' to see who is winning today. Another favorite for kids is potatoes. Grown in buckets or pots, when it comes to harvest time kids love digging out the potatoes - its like digging for buried treasure!