After the success of our pumpkin patch last year, The Cornish Place is introducing a brand-new ‘seed to plate’ initiative, where you – our guests – can help grow your own food while staying in our luxury holiday cottages in Cornwall. Starting from Easter 2025, join us for a family-friendly seed planting experience and come back later in the year to enjoy the harvest.

Easter guests will get a sneak peek, but May half-term visitors (24th May to 31st May 2025) will be the first to experience our greenhouse in full swing. Don’t miss out – book your stay now to be a part of it!

What is ‘seed to plate’ at The Cornish Place?

Over the last few years, we’ve been experimenting with growing at The Cornish Place. Our wildflower patch, pumpkin field, and tree-planting initiative for elopement weddings have been a joy, but now we’re taking things one step further.

With the completion of our new greenhouse in May 2025, we’re excited to launch a guest-led growing experience. We’re creating a self-service greenhouse, vegetable, and flower patch where guests can help plant, nurture, and harvest their own produce.

All guests staying from April 2025 will have the chance to take part in seed planting activities. Come back later in the year to harvest and taste what you’ve grown.

Book your May half-term stay now to be one of the first to join our ‘seed to plate’ adventure.

Why growing is great for kids

As parents, we understand how important it is to get kids outdoors and engaged with nature. Growing food isn’t just a fun activity – it’s a brilliant learning experience.

Education: Planting and growing food helps our children to understand where food comes from and how plants grow
Encouraging healthy eating: Children are more likely to try vegetables they’ve grown themselves and become less fussy eaters.
Outdoor fun: A great way to enjoy fresh air and take a break from screens.
Quality time as a family: Planting and growing together is a fantastic bonding activity.

This half-term, swap the iPads for hands-on fun in the greenhouse. Book your stay and let’s grow something amazing together!

What food to grow with kids in the UK

Our new greenhouse is set to be completed by May half-term, and we can’t wait to get growing. From Mediterranean favourites to classic British veg, our aim is to create a self-service growing space where guests can pick their own fresh ingredients straight from the greenhouse and garden beds.

Here’s what you can expect to plant, grow, and harvest with us:

Inside the greenhouse

Our greenhouse will provide the perfect warm and sheltered environment for heat-loving crops that thrive in protected conditions.

Tomatoes – A classic greenhouse crop, tomatoes love warmth and will reward us with a variety of heirloom varieties, not just the standard supermarket red. These are great for kids because they grow quickly, change color as they ripen, and taste incredible fresh from the vine. Depending on the variety, they take 8 to 12 weeks from planting to harvest.

Peppers – Whether sweet bell peppers or smaller, spicier varieties, these thrive in the warmth of a greenhouse. They need around 12 to 16 weeks to mature, but watching them change from green to red, yellow, or even purple is always exciting.

Aubergines – A bit trickier to grow in the UK without a greenhouse, aubergines love consistent warmth. They take 14 to 16 weeks from planting to harvest, but the glossy purple fruits are worth the wait.

Chillies – A perfect crop for those who love a little spice! Chillies are great because they grow compactly and produce fruit for months if well looked after. They take around 10 to 14 weeks to mature.

Basil & Parsley – Soft herbs like basil and parsley flourish in a greenhouse, offering a fresh supply of flavourful leaves throughout the summer. They can be harvested within 4 to 6 weeks of planting, making them a quick and rewarding crop.

Salad Leaves – One of the easiest and fastest things to grow, salad leaves can be ready to pick within 3 to 4 weeks. We’ll be growing a variety of lettuces, rocket, and mixed leaves to ensure guests always have fresh greens on hand.

In the vegetable beds

Our vegetable beds in our (private) kitchen garden will be home to a wider variety of British garden staples. As crops are harvested, we’ll place them in the greenhouse for guests to help themselves.

Peas & Broad Beans – These hardy, early-season crops grow beautifully in the UK. Peas take around 12 weeks to mature, while broad beans can be picked in about 14 weeks. They’re fun to grow because you can watch them climb and pod development is fascinating for kids.

Runner Beans – A summer staple, runner beans love to climb up poles and trellises. They take around 12 weeks to start producing and continue cropping throughout the summer.

Potatoes – One of the easiest crops for beginners, potatoes can be grown in beds or even containers. They take 10 to 20 weeks, depending on the variety, and kids can dig them up like buried treasure.

Carrots – A brilliant crop for kids, as they love pulling them from the soil to see what shape they’ve grown. Carrots take 12 to 16 weeks to mature and grow well in lighter, well-drained soil.

Leeks – Leeks are slow growers, taking 5 to 6 months to reach maturity. However, they’re hardy and can be harvested throughout autumn and winter.

Take the growing experience home

We want to inspire a love for gardening in everyone who visits. To keep the growing fun going after your stay, each child who takes part in seed planting will be able to take a planted seed home – perhaps a sunflower, herbs, or an easy vegetable variety.

What happens to the food?

As this is our first year with the greenhouse, we’re not exactly sure of what to expect. Our hope is that guests can pick fresh produce throughout the summer – and if all goes well, we’d love to host a Harvest Feast in autumn using our homegrown vegetables.

Of course, nature has the final say (and we’re hoping the slugs don’t get there first!), but either way, it will be a fantastic experience for all involved

Join us at our Cornish farm this May half-term to be part of the journey.

The best family-friendly activities in Cornwall this spring

After your green-fingered activities, there are plenty of other activities for families to enjoy near The Cornish Place. Here are the best family-friendly activities in Cornwall near our luxury holiday cottages:

Rockpooling in Falmouth

No trip to Cornwall is complete without a day at the beach, but did you know that April is one of the best times of the year for rockpooling. Head to nearby Castle Beach or Gyllyngvase in Falmouth at low tide and see what you can discover in the rockpools.

Roskilly’s Farm

Cornwall is famous for its delicious ice cream, which tastes so good you can enjoy it no matter the weather. Drive to Roskilly’s on the Lizard Peninsula to enjoy some of the best ice cream, whilst also exploring their working Cornish organic dairy farm.

Trebah Garden

A subtropical paradise with thousands of beautiful plant species to explore, Trebah Garden comes alive with rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias in the spring. Its giant bamboo, koi pool and private beach are also a hit with children.

St Michael’s Mount

Unlock a world of magic and mystery with a trip to St Michael’s Mount. This tidal island with a castle on top has been guarding the Cornish Coast for thousands of years. Visit at low tide to walk along the cobbled causeway, or at high tide to catch the ferry.

Minack Theatre

Watch a family-friendly show at Cornwall’s incredible open-air Minack Theatre. The seats are carved into the cliffs above the stage, where you can enjoy a performance with the Atlantic waves as your background.

The Cornish Seal Sanctuary

Catch the last of the season’s seal pups before they’re released with a visit to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in spring. Here, you can also meet permanent residents including sea lions, penguins, otters, goats and sheep.

Pendennis Castle

One of the best-preserved of King Henry VIII’s Tudor fortresses, Pendennis Castle has been guarding the Carrick Roads since the 16th century. Visit to learn more about tudor history and the castle’s role in WWII. Plus, enjoy panoramic views and learn about historic weaponry.

Day out in St Ives

A family favourite, St Ives offers beautiful beaches, quirky independent shops, world class art galleries and one of the most beautiful train rides in the country. Visit in spring to beat the crowds in one of the UK’s most-loved visitor destinations.

Bissoe Trail

For an active adventure, the Bissoe Trail starts near The Cornish Place – a fascinating route which passes through Cornwall’s old mining landscape. Opt to walk or cycle, either with your own bikes or you can hire them.

Get involved

May half-term is the perfect time to visit The Cornish Place. Enjoy warmer weather, fewer crowds, and the chance to enjoy family-friendly activities both on-site and nearby.

Book your stay today and make this May half-term one to remember.

Join our ‘seed to plate’ experience at The Cornish Place this May Half-Term