School Carrot Growing Competition
If you will be teaching a primary topic on 'growing' you may like to get involved with a nationwide competition designed to encourage primary school children to grow, harvest and menu plan with carrots. In partnership with Elsoms Seeds, a UK independent seed company, the British Carrot Growers' Association aim to inspire young people in the UK to increase their knowledge of growing food from seed to plate with a view to promoting healthy eating and creative cooking.
"The idea to run a schools' carrot growing competition arose following the success of our first ever British Carrot Day, which now takes place annually on 3 October. We want to offer children a fun way to get curious about carrots - how to grow them and the many creative ways to eat and cook with them - be it sweet, savoury or simply to snack on. The taste, versatility and nutritional value of carrots are, I believe, the reasons they are one of the nation's favourite vegetables." - Rodger Hobson, Chairman BCGA
Applications to schools are now open and will work on a first come first serve basis, attracting up to 20 schools across the country. The deadline to apply is Thursday 30 April 2026 and each successful applicant will receive their seeds and QR code with further guidance and resources shortly after submission.
The competition requires submission of:
- A carrot diary. Judges will be looking for the most detailed and creative log, with writing and imagery to demonstrate the pupils' understanding of growing their carrots. A written and photographed log at each stage of growing the carrots - points will be awarded for demonstration of the participants understanding and care for carrots.
- A three-course carrot menu. Judges will be looking for the best presented and creative recipes to be cooked by a professional chef and posted on social media.
- A carrot harvest celebration photo. This can be before or after washing carrots and displayed as creatively as you like with both the carrots and pupils. The winning image may be used on the BCGA's next Facebook cover image.
The winning school team will win a digital certificate to download, a £200 National Garden Gift Card, and a fully funded opportunity to visit a farm, depending on location, to meet with a farmer and discover more about growing carrots on a farm scale.
Find out more information about how entries will be judged and how you can access free carrot seeds for the competition.
