Pocket money, seed packets and odd socks

“How much pocket money do I have?” asked my daughter this week.

“Ummm… probably… let’s say… around about… £5?”

This is, as you can see, more of a question than a statement.  The truth is, I really have no idea.

Theoretically they get £1 a week, but I’ve sort of sidestepped the bit where I hand over any cold hard cash.  Before you write me off as stingy (which, I’ll admit, might have something to do with it), this is actually because they always lose it.  I’m not sure where is goes.  Probably the same place as all the odd socks, every shopping list I‘ve ever written and most spare keys.

I’m now thinking it would just be easier if they spent the £1 quite regularly so I don’t have to function as their walking savings booklet.

Sadly, £1 doesn’t get you much these days, except in charity shops (which are our regular hangout) so imagine my joy the other day when I saw these – cheap seeds and on a 3 for 2 offer.

They’re from Wilkos (or Wilkinsons – I’m never sure which is right).  If you don’t know it, that’s probably be because you’re a posh southerner, but for me it is the natural successor to Woolworths and the filler of many a party bag*.

The children were allowed to get three packets of seeds each (my generosity knows no bounds), and although some were the princely sum of £1.28, others were a mere 54p. 

Best of all, I happen to think cheap seeds are a sign of an unfussy, well performing plant.  I learnt this the hard way.

For the last two years I have had the brilliant idea of growing mini cucumbers on the kitchen windowsill.  Both times I was shocked when I got to the till to find the packet of seeds cost £3.99, and even more shocked to find there were only four – yes FOUR – seeds in the packet. Finally, to add insult to injury, both times, only two seeds germinated. (You could of course point out that none of this should have shocked me on the second year, but that would be very unkind of you, so we’ll move swiftly on…)

This year, I bought a packet of Wilkos' Marketmore cucumber seeds – not mini, a slightly less child friendly skin but quite frankly, they had me at “£1.28 for 50 seeds” (and yes, I know I only wrote last week that “buy cheap buy twice” is an adage to live by but I know you wouldn’t be so mean as to bring this up…)

Best of all, we planted 15 and, four days later, do you know how many had germinated?  15!

In fact, we might grow so many that the kids could sell the surplus, double their initial investment, become veg-based entrepreneurs and never need pocket money again. Brilliant.

 

*I'll also admit that our party bags are often filled with seeds, compost and plant pots rather than the more child-centric plastic tat.  As you can imagine, kids just love coming here.

Comments

[Petra Hoyer Millar]

Budding gardeners and plant entrepreneurs in the making!Lovely post, so nice to see children interested in plants and gardening. Have such fond memories of just the same with my parents.

[Helen]

I adore Wilkos - they arrived in Malvern at the beginning of the year and I seem to be in there most weeks. Bought a fig tree the other week for £3. Some of the strongst plants in my garden came from Woolworths so I am glad there is a replacement

[Dawn]

Petra - Sadly, they are also interested in Horrid Henry and Rainbow Fairies, but at least it's a start!

Helen - It's addictive isn't it? And so useful for garden extras too. Best value brushwood screening for covering old sheds comes from there too.

[pet food]

At young age it is better to teach the kids on gardening. This can help them to familiarize with different kinds of plants.

[Lorna Watson]

I agree, I always get a shock when the total comes up whenever I've treated myself to a few packet of seeds. All the more reason to save as much of your own as possible.