What to grow for summer fete in early July?

A._Badger

For reasons best known to themselves, our village fete committee have set the date for this year's event in early July.

I'm a bit stumped about what to grow for the plant stall this year and would welcome any suggestions - especially from readers who've found what bargain-hunters at fetes really go for.

I've got more or less the facilities to have a go at anything (though my time is at a premium) - what I lack is inspiration!

Any suggestions, please?

rabidbun

I'd probably buy bush tomatoes, herbs, marigolds and anything about to flower and fill beds with. I am a fairly occasional buyer though, as I tend to just go with a buying list rather than grab all the bargains as I have a small garden.

sirbrainy

Buy plugs of geranium, petunia, verbena - £9.99-£10.99 for 160 or 6-7p each [http://www.jerseyplantsdirect.com/plug-plants], grow them on in individual pots 6p each [[URL="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/250-MODIFORM-ROUND-PLASTIC-PLANT-POTS-9cm-3-5_W0QQitemZ170592707600QQcategoryZ20515QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo=SIC&its=I%2BC&itu=MRU-11700%2BUCI%2BIA%2BUA%2BFICS%2BUFI&otn=15&pmod=120683251237&ps=63&clkid=7378454595063666702]"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/250-MODIFORM-ROUND-PLASTIC-PLANT-POTS-9cm-3-5_W0QQitemZ170592707600QQcategoryZ20515QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo=SIC&its=I%2BC&itu=MRU-11700%2BUCI%2BIA%2BUA%2BFICS%2BUFI&otn=15&pmod=120683251237&ps=63&clkid=7378454595063666702][/URL]. With planting medium, under 20p each.

Sell them for 50p each = 30p profit x 480 = £240 contribution to needy cause.

budgetboo

Geraniums cos even flat dwellers like a pot of these outside. Herbs as even the keenest gardener will always like/find room for another herb. Unusual varieties of mint & basil perhaps as these are always popular and maybe plants that may not have survived last winter like sage.

Only if your Church has the well-to do :- Herbs planted up nicely in window boxes ready to use might command a premium. Patio varieties of veg as interest is growing all the time but newbies like something easy to start, esp those with kids. Hanging baskets filled with strawberries will look wonderful (so a good price!) at this time of year if you have punters with money.

Cucumbers and peppers as peeps own efforts may have failed & July is too late to replant.

Edited to add:- At this time of year I'm often giving aloe vera to friends - it's wonderful for excema sufferers, keen cooks (burns!), and insect bites. If you could pot up some runners the baby plants should go like hotcakes.

lostinrates

If last summers garden centres are anything to go buy Grow your Own to many means really buying something else someone else has grown for an overinflated price...so I agree veg is a good option!

Sally_A

By early July, you are a bit limited with GYO, as by this time I'd expect my tomatoes to be about 3ft high, so the cost of a big pot, stake and compost would not enable you to price them favourably (transport would be a nightmare too).

Chillies and herbs can stay in convenient 4inch pots until then I reckon.

Bearing in mind Superstores sell chilli plants for about £2, and you can buy windowsill herbs for £1 (although they are wimps and no good for planting out). Coriander, sage, thyme, basil, parsley, oregano would make a nice display.

A._Badger

Sally_A wrote: »

By early July, you are a bit limited with GYO, as by this time I'd expect my tomatoes to be about 3ft high, so the cost of a big pot, stake and compost would not enable you to price them favourably (transport would be a nightmare too).

Chillies and herbs can stay in convenient 4inch pots until then I reckon.

Bearing in mind Superstores sell chilli plants for about £2, and you can buy windowsill herbs for £1 (although they are wimps and no good for planting out). Coriander, sage, thyme, basil, parsley, oregano would make a nice display.

Thanks Sally A and everyone else who has offered suggestions.

It is, as you say, the timing that's the problem - hence my question. It's too late for most bedding plants and many vegetables.

I particularly like the suggestion of chillies and herbs and will probably propagate some houseplants as well.

Thanks for your ideas.

jellymid

How about 5" pots of verbena bonariensis - these will be quite tall by then and ready to plant out at the back of borders. They sold well last time I was involved in a fete. Also, have you got any late flowering perennials that you could divide up now, rudbeckias, heleniums, japanese anenomes etc?