Seeds for children.

Worth1 · January 12, 2009

I've been commissioned to make up seed packets so two little girls can try to grow tomatoes.

I just wonder what some small children could successfully grow with their mothers help.

Should I give them some starting green houses to start with.
I sold this lady some plants last year and from what I have heard they did well.

I guess I could include instructions along with the seeds.
I'm just exited that there is a possibility that these kids will remember this and carry on the tomato torch after I'm long gone.

Sounds silly I know.

Worth

DeanRIowa · January 12, 2009

My 5 and 2 year olds loved Matt's Wild Cherry tomatoes and they would go out daily and pick tomatoes and eat them right from the vine. I was able to sneak a few as well.

Dean

**Lee** · January 12, 2009

My two love Sungold and Black Cherry. Something different, bite sized, and tasty.... all appealing traits to kids.

Lee

clara · January 12, 2009

Hi Worth,

yes, please take the opportunity of creating some new tomato-lovers! I think you should add some infos for growing because the kids need success - than they will remain aficionados. I would choose some cherries ready for small mouthes, and very sweet ones. And perhaps different colors.

When my little grand-daughtor was only 8 or 9 months old, she tried "my" tomatoes for the first time (Whippersnapper) and after that she spat out every bought tom. Last year (at the age of 1,5) she "helped" my daughtor watering the seedlings and later on the plants and when it was time for picking, she said: They're all mine! My daughtor could only try them secretly... Unfortunately the little girl is living far away - it would be a pleasure to have her in my garden! And of course there are already seeds sent to her!

clara

ContainerTed · January 12, 2009

Worth, I don't know if you need seeds, but I've got some Tumbling Tom Red, Tiny Tim, and Red Robin that you could use in hanging baskets or small containers that could be closer to the house. I also have a 4' version of Siberian that made tasty little 2-4 oz'ers. Also there's a "Balconi" hybrid that will give some 6 oz red fruit in containers. Ship me a address and they're on their way.

Ohh, almost forgot. There's also some "Jelly Bean" grape shaped hybrid that are firm, but sweet.

Ted

montanamato · January 12, 2009

I find with my children, the yellow cherries and current types are popular...Each summer my girls adopt a container to take care of. An easy name is nice for them to call it too. Unfortunately my girls usually pick seedlings with russian or eastern european names...
Hawaiin current and Pelican cherry have been good, as has Yellow Tommy Toes and Kootenai...I would get them dwarf types they can pack around in a container and not get out of control...In that case disregard Hawaiin current, it is a spreading monster...
Jeanne

GIZZARDFARM · January 12, 2009

I guess my kids are a little "♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫ryfied" but by the time my daughter was 8 she had a corner of my garden for her own things she liked. she grew tomatoes, corn, marigolds, and watermelons, the only thing i did is till the soil and provide the cages shes been doin it ever since, shes 11 this year. Now my son on the other hand whos 8 this year is a little on the lets say trifflin side waits to eat my stuff and has little interest in the garden. My daughter is my only help in the garden and I really love being there with her. Back to the question that first year she grew cucks, squash, corn,sunflowers, and what i call tommy toe tomatoes.

GIZZARDFARM · January 12, 2009

countryfied I dont know what happened there????

maryinoregon · January 12, 2009

I like the idea of cherries because they will ripen faster. And I don't know that they have to all be super sweet types. Why do all veggies have to be super sweets nowadays? Forgive my grumpiness here.

I would also include a slicer or two, preferably tomatoes with sturdy stems like Cherokee Purple or maybe Akers West Virginia. I was always an expert at breaking things. Still pretty good at it.

A packet with tomatoes in various colors could be fun for kids. Kind of like coloring books for the garden. Red ones, white, yellow, orange, green, bi-color, etc.

In my school days, I always loved history classes and looked for histories and biographies in the library on my own. So I would say yes, include histories if you are so inclined.

oc tony · January 12, 2009

Lot's of good suggestions. I'd take the new information and talk it over again with their mother because she knows her girls likes and dislikes as to what has the best chance of working.

Nightshade · January 13, 2009

What fun, Worth! I have the opportunity to help a 14 year old girl who grew her first garden last year and loved it. Unfortunately, we live in an area where few people garden so she hasn't yet learned about the wonderful world of heirloom and OP veggies, but I'm going to remedy that this spring. nyah-ha-ha....another convert in the making!

I second the small plant idea, if the children you are helping are very little girls. I listed a few of the small pot tomato varieties I'm growing this year in a thread in the container garden section. I'll have red and yellow and pink and gold and orange ones thanks to your "help" in relocating that 20-mini sample pack deal last week.

So what if my grow list is now nudging 50...you won't mind if I send you the water, BT, and fertilzer bills, will you?

Jan

troad · January 13, 2009

Worth,
Lots of great ideas with the cherry tomatoes and container plants the kids can each have as their own. I would suggest you also include the largest growing sunflower that does well in your area. Kids like stuff their size but I'm betting they would also get a kick out of growing something really big too. I get lots of volunteer sunflowers from the bird seed that I put out. Don't have to do anything to keep them growing but a little water.
Len

Worth1 · January 13, 2009

Thank you all for the great Ideas.
though I didn't get them all on the list I think I went overboard with the seeds.
The lady is the part owner of the company my wife works for.
The girls are around 4 and 8 or so.
I only see the lady about once or twice a year.
Here is the list, I would have sent some wild cherry seeds but I planted them all.

Giant Belgium,
Sprite
Black plum,
Sungold,
Glacier,
Black Cherry,

Worth

Nightshade · January 13, 2009

Nice list!

I forgot all about sunflowers! That's a great idea!

If they have enough room, the kids could plant the sunflowers in a circle and make a little hidden spot for themselves. And, oooh, imagine how beautiful it could be interwoven with climbing Morning Glory, too? Or how practical interplanted with corn or dwarf cucumbers?

Now that you've delivered the spring tomato kits, you can start collecting seeds for their "hot weather" gardening kits. Don't forget to add a watering can!

Jan

Moonglow · January 14, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

I'm just excited that there is a possibility that these kids will remember this and carry on the tomato torch after I'm long gone.
Sounds silly I know.

Worth

Worth, what an awesome idea, and not silly at all. I have a 6-year old and I hope he will carry on tomato love as well.

Annapet

January 12, 2009	#1
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Seeds for children. I've been commissioned to make up seed packets so two little girls can try to grow tomatoes. I just wonder what some small children could successfully grow with their mothers help. Should I give them some starting green houses to start with. I sold this lady some plants last year and from what I have heard they did well. I guess I could include instructions along with the seeds. I'm just exited that there is a possibility that these kids will remember this and carry on the tomato torch after I'm long gone. Sounds silly I know. Worth

January 12, 2009	#3
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	My two love Sungold and Black Cherry. Something different, bite sized, and tasty.... all appealing traits to kids. Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

January 12, 2009	#5
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	Worth, I don't know if you need seeds, but I've got some Tumbling Tom Red, Tiny Tim, and Red Robin that you could use in hanging baskets or small containers that could be closer to the house. I also have a 4' version of Siberian that made tasty little 2-4 oz'ers. Also there's a "Balconi" hybrid that will give some 6 oz red fruit in containers. Ship me a address and they're on their way. Ohh, almost forgot. There's also some "Jelly Bean" grape shaped hybrid that are firm, but sweet. Ted __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

January 13, 2009	#12
troad Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Des Moines, WA. Posts: 358	Worth, Lots of great ideas with the cherry tomatoes and container plants the kids can each have as their own. I would suggest you also include the largest growing sunflower that does well in your area. Kids like stuff their size but I'm betting they would also get a kick out of growing something really big too. I get lots of volunteer sunflowers from the bird seed that I put out. Don't have to do anything to keep them growing but a little water. Len __________________ There's a fine line between gardening and madness.

January 12, 2009	#2
DeanRIowa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 5a - NE Iowa Posts: 416	My 5 and 2 year olds loved Matt's Wild Cherry tomatoes and they would go out daily and pick tomatoes and eat them right from the vine. I was able to sneak a few as well. Dean

January 12, 2009	#4
clara Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 1,351	Hi Worth, yes, please take the opportunity of creating some new tomato-lovers! I think you should add some infos for growing because the kids need success - than they will remain aficionados. I would choose some cherries ready for small mouthes, and very sweet ones. And perhaps different colors. When my little grand-daughtor was only 8 or 9 months old, she tried "my" tomatoes for the first time (Whippersnapper) and after that she spat out every bought tom. Last year (at the age of 1,5) she "helped" my daughtor watering the seedlings and later on the plants and when it was time for picking, she said: They're all mine! My daughtor could only try them secretly... Unfortunately the little girl is living far away - it would be a pleasure to have her in my garden! And of course there are already seeds sent to her! clara

January 12, 2009	#6
montanamato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Montana Posts: 1,038	I find with my children, the yellow cherries and current types are popular...Each summer my girls adopt a container to take care of. An easy name is nice for them to call it too. Unfortunately my girls usually pick seedlings with russian or eastern european names... Hawaiin current and Pelican cherry have been good, as has Yellow Tommy Toes and Kootenai...I would get them dwarf types they can pack around in a container and not get out of control...In that case disregard Hawaiin current, it is a spreading monster... Jeanne

January 12, 2009	#7
GIZZARDFARM Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: COMFORT TENNESSEE Posts: 300	I guess my kids are a little "♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫ryfied" but by the time my daughter was 8 she had a corner of my garden for her own things she liked. she grew tomatoes, corn, marigolds, and watermelons, the only thing i did is till the soil and provide the cages shes been doin it ever since, shes 11 this year. Now my son on the other hand whos 8 this year is a little on the lets say trifflin side waits to eat my stuff and has little interest in the garden. My daughter is my only help in the garden and I really love being there with her. Back to the question that first year she grew cucks, squash, corn,sunflowers, and what i call tommy toe tomatoes.

January 12, 2009	#9
maryinoregon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 361	I like the idea of cherries because they will ripen faster. And I don't know that they have to all be super sweet types. Why do all veggies have to be super sweets nowadays? Forgive my grumpiness here. I would also include a slicer or two, preferably tomatoes with sturdy stems like Cherokee Purple or maybe Akers West Virginia. I was always an expert at breaking things. Still pretty good at it. A packet with tomatoes in various colors could be fun for kids. Kind of like coloring books for the garden. Red ones, white, yellow, orange, green, bi-color, etc. In my school days, I always loved history classes and looked for histories and biographies in the library on my own. So I would say yes, include histories if you are so inclined.

January 12, 2009	#10
oc tony Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: oc ca. Posts: 173	Lot's of good suggestions. I'd take the new information and talk it over again with their mother because she knows her girls likes and dislikes as to what has the best chance of working.

January 13, 2009	#11
Nightshade Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: So. California Posts: 178	What fun, Worth! I have the opportunity to help a 14 year old girl who grew her first garden last year and loved it. Unfortunately, we live in an area where few people garden so she hasn't yet learned about the wonderful world of heirloom and OP veggies, but I'm going to remedy that this spring. nyah-ha-ha....another convert in the making! I second the small plant idea, if the children you are helping are very little girls. I listed a few of the small pot tomato varieties I'm growing this year in a thread in the container garden section. I'll have red and yellow and pink and gold and orange ones thanks to your "help" in relocating that 20-mini sample pack deal last week. So what if my grow list is now nudging 50...you won't mind if I send you the water, BT, and fertilzer bills, will you? Jan