| There are many rewards for tackling the back yard | | | | Lisa's favorite seed companies that carry organic |
| pass time of growing tomatoes:working our hands in | | | | tomato seeds: Seeds of Change and Seed Savers. |
| the dirt is a form of meditation,it carries on traditions | | | | * Bucket to mix compost, peat and Hummis in. |
| of our ancestors,and it slows our world down enough | | | | * Seed starter tray. We have chosen one with |
| to enjoy spending some time with family and friends | | | | pop-out cells, a bottom tray that holds water, and a |
| as we raise our tomato plants from infancy to | | | | plastic cover. |
| maturity ... together, as my sister and I will be doing | | | | * Popsicle sticks or something of the sort for labeling. |
| today. | | | | * Heating pad. (optional) |
| Why choose organic. Simple. When your kid is playing | | | | - Hand mix ¼ compost, ¼ Hummis, and |
| soccer in the backyard or jumping around on the | | | | ½ Peat in bucket. |
| trampoline, they can walk over to your beautiful | | | | Peat keeps the dirt mixture moist, keeping it from |
| tomatoes still resting on it's vine and have a snack | | | | clumping together. |
| before going back to their play. This will cause you | | | | Fertilizer is not necessary. It can cause the plant to |
| no concern. You used nothing while growing your | | | | burn. Besides the seeds and dirt have everything |
| tomatoes that will harm your family. | | | | necessary to grow and be healthy. |
| Of course, that is getting ahead of ourselves. | | | | - Fill seed starter tray with mix. Evenly spread |
| The reason we are visiting today about how to grow | | | | covering all the cells to the rim. |
| organic tomatoes is because we are not world class | | | | - Use your finger to make a small hole, approximately |
| gardeners. My sisters green thumb feeds her family; | | | | ¼ inch in every cell to place your seeds in. |
| my green thumb killed a cactus. I imagine you fall | | | | - We place two seeds in each hole. |
| somewhere in between. | | | | - Then gently recover the hole. |
| So, whatever gardening knowledge you bring to the | | | | To wrap things up, fill bottom tray with water, |
| table, join us in this simple process. Together we are | | | | replace seed cell tray, and cover with plastic lid. |
| going to raise some beautiful tomato plants. | | | | Place your trays somewhere warm. Our favorite spot |
| What day you can start planting: | | | | is the kitchen. If you decided to buy the heating pad, |
| To find out what day you can start planting, you will | | | | place your tray on that. |
| need to know the last frost date for your area. The | | | | Check your water level several times over the next |
| best site we have found to give you this information | | | | few hours. The dirt will need to soak up the water. |
| is: | | | | It will take about 6 to 10 days for your seeds to |
| Count back from the last frost date you found and | | | | germinate. |
| count back seven to ten weeks. That will be the | | | | Watch for your seeds to show even the smallest |
| date you can start your seeds. | | | | sign that their starting to pop their heads up. This is |
| To start you will need: | | | | when you must take the plastic lid off. Otherwise, |
| * Compost. Free if from your garden as we are | | | | they will start to dampen off and wilt. You will also |
| going to use today. | | | | start giving your tomato plants less water; walk the |
| * Peat. Cost about $10.50 | | | | fine line of not letting them dry out. |
| * One of the following: Hummis, dirt, top soil, potting | | | | When your plants start to gain their true leaves we |
| soil. Approximate cost $3.00 | | | | will touch base again. Our next step will be to |
| It may take some time to find one of these without | | | | transplant our tomato plants to peat pods. Peat pods |
| some version of 'Miracle Grow". | | | | will give room for the roots to grow. |
| * Organic seeds. Cost varies. Average about $2.69 | | | | Together, we are on our way. |