With spring right around the corner, students at North Surry High School are working hard to get ready for spring by planting seeds and watching them grow into an adventure in learning.

Aaron Tompkins, Future Farmers of America advisor at North Surry, is in the process of teaching young minds how to plant seeds, how to take care of the young seedlings, how to market the plants and how to know when to sell the plants.

FFA is offering 42 different vegetable and flowering plants. A four pack of vegetable seedlings is $1 and a six pack costs $1.25. Flowering plants are being offered for $2 for a four pack and $2.50 for a six pack.

“This gives the kids hands-on experience and helps them win scholarship money,” Tompkins said. “They also want to compete at regional, state and even at the national level. This money will help pay for that trip next year.”

The teacher said the students pored over seed catalogs to pick out which plants and vegetables they wanted to grow.

“The hardest thing they have had to do so far was to plant the smallest seeds. They found out how hard it is to plant just one or two seeds when you have 500 to 1,000 little seeds in your hand.”

Southern States, Tractor Supply and Rogers Realty and Auction company all helped with donations of seeds, soil and materials or financial contributions.

Cabbage and broccoli plants will be ready to be picked up in the next week or two, Tompkins said. Cauliflower plants will be the next plants which will be ready to go.

Tompkins said customers can pay when they pick up their orders at the greenhouse next to the football field behind the school.

Vegetable plants for sale include: tomatoes: Jubille Yellow, Rutgers Red, Sun Leaper-red, Small Sugary-red, Big Rainbow; Cabbage: Tropic Giant and Red; yellow squash; green pepper: California Wonder; banana peppers; jalapeno peppers; hot red and yellow wax peppers; zucchini squash; cauliflower; broccoli, cucumber; sage, rosemary; basil and mint.

Flowering plants include: Ageratum blue, Snapdragon-dwarf mixed colors, red Impatients; Delphinium-fountains mix; Petunia — lilac; Petunia — rose; Petunia — Coral Reef Mix; Impatients — red and white; Impatients — hybrid mix; Pentas, red, Aquilegia, origami mix; Hibiscus, Disco Belle Red; Shasta Daisy, Snow Lady; Lilum White Lance; Marigold, yellow; Marigold, orange; Geranium -Apple Blossoms; Geranium, red; Forget-me-nots; Bachelor Buttons; Johnny Jump-ups; Zinnia’s in 4-in. pots.

The pick-up dates will be:

n Today from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

n March 11 from 2:45 to 4 p.m.

n March 13 from 2:45 to 4 p.m.

n March 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

n March 18 from 2:45 to 5 p.m.

n March 20 from 2:45 to 5 p.m.

n March 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

n March 27 from noon to 4 p.m.

n March 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

n April 3 from 2:45 to 5 p.m.

n April 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

n April 10 from 2:45 to 5 p.m.

n April 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Arrangements can be made for other pick-up times.

Those interested in purchasing plants from the students should call Aaron Tompkins at 789-5055.

Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or 719-1930.