Tasmanian schools battle to grow the biggest beat in the Let it Grow competition at Agfest

Battle of the beets is reaching a crescendo after students have put in months of hard yakka. Can one school be the biggest veggie grower of them all for back-to-back crowns?

Scottsdale High School students A’Jana Smith and Adara Hall at last year's Let it Grow competition. Picture: Facebook/Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture

Schools haven’t been beating around the bush to sink their hands in the soil to grow the biggest beetroot.

A dozen Tasmanian schools are testing their green thumbs in the ‘Let it Grow’ vegetable growing competition hosted by the Tasmanian Institution of Agriculture.

St Mary’s District School hopes to go back-to-back after growing the biggest radish at last year’s competition.

Teacher Will Innis said the goal of growing the biggest vegetable possible was a great opportunity for students to learn important skills through the whole growing process.

“We hope to go back-to-back and win again this year,” Mr Innis said.

St Mary's District School’s farm operations manager Craig Freiboth and teacher Will Innis. Picture: Facebook/Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture

“This year we prepared our garden bed by creating a healthy worm environment through a Subpod composting system, which we own through last year’s competition.

“We are protecting our plants from pests using netting and students regularly weed to ensure our beetroot are getting maximum access to nutrients.”

The east coast school will face fiercer competition this year with five more schools participating than in 2023.

Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture director Mike Rose said it was a great opportunity to showcase agriculture.

“Students are able to see the fruits of their labour,” he said.

“This is a great way to get students involved and hopefully it will generate interest in a career in agriculture.

“There’s so many wonderful opportunities in the agricultural field in Tasmania.”

The entry with the largest beetroot will win the school a Subpod grow pack worth $500 and a workshop with a TIA soil scientist.

The winner will be announced at AgFest on Thursday.

Originally published as Tasmanian schools battle to grow the biggest beat in the Let it Grow competition at Agfest