By Jenn Mercer

During the holidays, many people enjoy getting together for cookie exchanges.

The idea is simple and the logic impeccable.

When you make a batch of cookies, you get a lot of one kind of cookie.

If you want two kinds of cookies, you need to make two batches (mmm… no downsides here). But — if you want a dozen different kinds of cookies, your kitchen is going to be trashed; you’ll have cookies coming out of your ears, and your jeans will have suddenly shrunk two sizes.

As I tried to decide what kinds of tomatoes to grow this year, I realized I had a similar problem. Even the most expensive hybrids usually have 12 seeds to a packet. Why not have a Seedling Exchange?

As with a cookie exchange, laying out a few ground rules in the beginning can avoid a lot of disappointment later.

• Decide if this will be a strict tomato exchange or if other herbs and vegetables will be welcome. Read the rest of this entry »
  
  Related Posts

  • Swapping Seeds - Part 2
  • Tomatomania Hits Southern California
  • The $35 All You Can Eat Heirloom Buffet

By Vanessa Richins

Jorge writes:

“Hi. I am interested in storing seed long term (more than 5 years) Could you point me in the right direction? Thanks!”

Hello Jorge. Tomato seeds can generally be stored up to 10 years and still keep a germination rate of 50%. Victory Seeds says that the typical length that they will keep is 4-7 years.

They have a great picture tutorial on how to save your tomato seeds.

You start by fermenting the seeds for a few days in Read the rest of this entry »

By Vanessa Richins

Much of the garden talk this time of year centers on hopes and dreams for the next coming season.

Some of the most exciting days in a gardener’s life are when the seed catalogs start arriving in the mail.

Here are some of the tomato seed and plant resources you should be checking out, in no particular order.

1) Tomato Growers Supply Company
As their website says, they have “more than 500 varieties of tomatoes and peppers, including huge selections of both hybrid tomato seeds and heirloom tomato seeds, hot chiles, sweet peppers, tomatillos and eggplants.

I have gotten their catalog before - this is one of the most fun to page through since there are just so many tomatoes!

2) Totally Tomatoes

How can you resist a company called Read the rest of this entry »

By Vanessa Richins

Campbell’s Soup Wants to “Help Grow Your Soup.”

Campbell’s Soup is giving back to the nation.

On March 15th, 2009, visit helpgrowyoursoup.com to see how you can get free Campbell’s tomato seeds when you buy any kind of Campbell’s condensed soups.

You’ll be getting more than just seeds, though. As their website says, “Your request will help Campbell’s donate seeds to plant gardens in communities and schools across America.”

They have a partnership with the National FFA Organization, a group that is dedicated to help teach the next generation of farmers, along with singer Jewel. Together they have created the “PALS” program - Partners in Active Learning Support. The program puts Read the rest of this entry »

By Kira Hamman

Believe it or not, it’s already time to think about next year - if you’re a seed-saver, that is.

Saving tomato seeds is not difficult, but it is more complicated than saving seeds from most other garden plants and does require some planning.

Just remember that saving seeds from hybrid varieties is risky – although they will probably produce fruit-bearing plants, those plants are unlikely to be much like their parents. Heirloom varieties, on the other hand, will produce plants just like the ones from which they came.

First of all, Read the rest of this entry »

By Michael Nolan

What if I told you that for $35, you could have all the fresh produce you could want, and tons of free education to boot?

Would you be intrigued? Overwhelmed? Interested?

I thought so, and while the headline is just a bit misleading, it isn’t far off from the truth. Enter the Seed Savers Exchange, an organization founded in 1975 and dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of heirloom plant varieties around the world. With a $35 annual membership, members receive a Read the rest of this entry »