The Potty Plotters Ping Pong Plant Pot Present and Game
We first created this about seven years ago and have repeated it every year since for both gardeners and non-gardeners. It works for all ages and abilities, so get those creative juices flowing and have a go!
It’s a simple game to play on Christmas Day, as well as forming a 12-day simple ‘advent style’ calendar.
You will need:
• A large cardboard vegetable/fruit box covered in Christmas paper or pages from old gardening magazines
• 12 clean, empty plastic plant pots of various sizes which all fit together in the box
• A chalk or felt tip pen
• 12 small, wrapped presents such as: packets of seeds, labels, small chocolate ornaments, bar of soap, lottery tickets
• A piece of string or wool about 5ft in length
• 6x ping-pong balls
• A piece of paper and pen (as a score sheet)
• An extra, one-off present, such as a bar of chocolate for the winner of the Christmas Day game
To make the Christmas Day game
• Using the chalk or felt tip pen, individually number each clean plant pot from number 1 to 12 by writing the number on the side of the pots (which need to be big enough to be visible)
• Place all the numbered plant pots into the covered cardboard box so they sit level on the bottom of the box
• Place a small, wrapped present in each of the pots. It doesn’t matter if they stick above the pots!
• Cut the string to length
• Write out the Christmas Day instruction sheet and place in an envelope for the recipient
How to use
Part 1:
Give the box of 12 presents within the plant pots to another person at least 12 days before Christmas.
Instruct them to open one gift each day starting 12 days before Christmas Day and give them a copy of the instructions of how to play the game on Christmas Day (as below).
Part 2:
Instructions of how to play the Christmas Day game
1. Place the box containing now empty, numbered plant pots in an area to avoid accidents or incidents!
2. Place the string lengthways across the floor about 6ft away from the box for the players to stand behind it as a parameter
3. Player one should stand behind the string line and throw the balls one at a time towards the box of pots
4. If a ball lands in a pot, player two should note the number from off each plant pot on the score sheet
5. After all the balls have been thrown by Player one, Player two should take their turn to throw the balls. Repeat until all players have had a go
6. The numbers should be added together for each player
7. The player with the highest number of points wins the game!
8. This can be played in pairs
After playing this game, keep the pots and reuse for spring next year!
READ MORE: Gardening gift books for green-fingered fans: Christmas 2024
Ever noticed how Christmas decorations have changed? In years gone by we never saw Christmas door wreaths (except on pictures on Christmas cards) but today, they are common place on our streets.
There are door wreaths of all shapes and sizes to choose from, but we teach people to make their own edible version and it’s nothing to do with chocolates! Instead, ours are constructed from herbs, vegetables and bits of fruit too. They last for months and are truly the scent of Christmas and beautiful to look at.
We start with a base of a simple spud. Yes! A potato which needs to be big enough to fit into the palm of your hand.
From there, we make a wire looped hanger by skewering a hole through the body of the potato and threading a short piece of strong garden wire from one side of the potato through to the other.
Now the ‘creative’ section of the wreath. We sharpen ends of sprigs of bay, and work round the circumference of the potato pushing each piece about ½ inch into the potato until a full circle of sprigs is formed.
Moving to the inner circle coverage of greenery, we use short stems of freshly picked rosemary from the plots. Not only does this fill the gaps but releases an overwhelming, lingering scent which stays with the wreath for weeks!
As the inner circle of rosemary reduces the visibility of the potato, we complement the wreath by adding single stems of sage building on the of natural Christmasy fragrances, before adding a final flourish of colour of wired, dried slices of oranges and lemons together with clusters of dried bright red cayenne chillies.
Please note: This is an outdoor arrangement as potatoes rot in a warm environment… and stink!
Our eyes are already busy scouring through (more) seed catalogues for next year’s new seed potatoes. In-between times, we’re both busy in our kitchens indulging our families with our home baked luxuries.
More baking using more and more eggs means more and more egg boxes for us to save!
If you are anything like us (heaven forbid) remember to save your cardboard egg boxes so that in January, as the new year’s seed potatoes become available, the egg boxes can be used to sit the seed potatoes in whilst they chit (start to sprout – nothing to do with brussels!)
Every year we buy those boxes of chocolates and every year treasure those plastic boxes (as well as the goodies inside!)
Why not treat the boxes as new planters and instead of throwing them away plant hyacinths in them?
Simply:
• paint the outside of the box or stick photos or pictures on the outside
• make a few holes in its bottom
• half fill with multipurpose compost
• place eight bulbs on top of the compost
• add more compost
• water sparingly
• place the box on top of the lid (now acting as a saucer)
• place on the light windowsill
Ever wondered what to do with your old worn out or rusty tools?
Walk away from the bin and, instead, start thinking of how useful some bits and bobs could be – like those that are welded together to make our giant cockerel who stands proudly on our allotment community orchard.
Regardless of the weather, come along to our Open Day at the Ashbourne Road and District Allotments on August 2 supporting the National Garden Scheme and have a selfie with us and our giant cock? (He’s not exactly a turkey but we aren’t planning on eating him anyway!)
