Heirloom Tomatoes - Sharing a few Seedlings

gflynn · May 5, 2008

Several years back I started giving away my extra seedlings to friends and co-workers. It started out as just a few but every year I have increased my output. A post from Criag inspired me and I have used his methods.

This year I started 1000 Heirloom (or sort of heirloom, like Black Cherry) seedings for friends and charity. I costs me about $34 to create 250 seedlings and I when I do sell them instead of giving them away I ask a buck a plant.

Many folks are very excited to see them based on their experience in the previous year and its very inspiring to hear how they want the more interesting varieties.

Soon everyone in my area will at least know someone who grows heirlooms,

Greg

Leroy · May 5, 2008

Great idea. Spread the word.

This is my first year with heirlooms. I did give a few away. Almost everyone seemed to like them.

Ruth_10 · May 5, 2008

Yep, the word spreads. Last summer I brought tomatoes in to work. I put up a sheet of paper with the names and a description and left them out for people to take home or eat on the spot. This year I am giving plants to four people at work. It's a start. Plus someone gave me seeds from a tomato that's been in their family for many, many years (more about that later

.

kygreg · May 5, 2008

I have given away about 150 seedling of about 90 varieties so far; and one of them has become an heirloom addict now; hope I get some reports back from them on the outcome of the tomatoes.

elkwc36 · May 6, 2008

I have always gave my extra's away. This year thought I would charge 50 cents for the ones potted up in 4" cowpots. To cover the cost of the pot mainly. I have 30 cents in them alone. And charge 20 cents for the ones in 12 oz plastic cups. Hopefully that is fair and don't scare anyone away. Of course family and close friends are free. JD

Tomstrees · May 6, 2008

I'm almost finished hardening off my plants and by the end of this week / weekend, mine will be planted out and the others will be sent to all reaches on NJ.

Next year, when my town has an annual town garage sale, I'm gonna set up a mater stand. See if we can get em sold !

~ Tom

gflynn · May 7, 2008

Let me add, and this is an old topic but....

Some folks aren't nice to my plants. I have had to learn to let go

Greg

Ruth_10 · May 7, 2008

Quote:

Some folks aren't nice to my plants. I have had to learn to let go

Greg, you hit the nail on the head. I came oh so close to asking one of the people I gave plants to if they were in the ground and how they were doing and then I said to myself, no, don't go there. If they say anything other than "I planted them that very night and they are looking wonderful!" I would be disappointed, worried, upset, you name it.

I will learn to let go. I will learn to let go. I will learn to let go......

gflynn · May 7, 2008

Ruth,

It's in the way you say its ok. It's not just not sayng don't worry about the plants. You have to seem like you mean it :-)

I went to great trouble to harden my plants and some folks have left them in their offices at work for days. I know that as soon as they take them outside they will get sun burn.

It's very hard to let go :-)

Greg

May 5, 2008	#1
gflynn MAGTAG™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 437	Heirloom Tomatoes - Sharing a few Seedlings Several years back I started giving away my extra seedlings to friends and co-workers. It started out as just a few but every year I have increased my output. A post from Criag inspired me and I have used his methods. This year I started 1000 Heirloom (or sort of heirloom, like Black Cherry) seedings for friends and charity. I costs me about $34 to create 250 seedlings and I when I do sell them instead of giving them away I ask a buck a plant. Many folks are very excited to see them based on their experience in the previous year and its very inspiring to hear how they want the more interesting varieties. Soon everyone in my area will at least know someone who grows heirlooms, Greg

May 5, 2008	#3
Ruth_10 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MO z6a near St. Louis Posts: 1,349	Yep, the word spreads. Last summer I brought tomatoes in to work. I put up a sheet of paper with the names and a description and left them out for people to take home or eat on the spot. This year I am giving plants to four people at work. It's a start. Plus someone gave me seeds from a tomato that's been in their family for many, many years (more about that later. __________________ --Ruth Some say the glass half-full. Others say the glass is half-empty. To an engineer, it’s twice as big as it needs to be.

May 6, 2008	#6
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	I'm almost finished hardening off my plants and by the end of this week / weekend, mine will be planted out and the others will be sent to all reaches on NJ. Next year, when my town has an annual town garage sale, I'm gonna set up a mater stand. See if we can get em sold ! ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

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May 5, 2008	#2
Leroy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oklahoma /6 Posts: 78	Great idea. Spread the word. This is my first year with heirlooms. I did give a few away. Almost everyone seemed to like them.

May 5, 2008	#4
kygreg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: kentucky Posts: 1,019	I have given away about 150 seedling of about 90 varieties so far; and one of them has become an heirloom addict now; hope I get some reports back from them on the outcome of the tomatoes.

May 6, 2008	#5
elkwc36 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: SW Kansas Posts: 339	I have always gave my extra's away. This year thought I would charge 50 cents for the ones potted up in 4" cowpots. To cover the cost of the pot mainly. I have 30 cents in them alone. And charge 20 cents for the ones in 12 oz plastic cups. Hopefully that is fair and don't scare anyone away. Of course family and close friends are free. JD

May 7, 2008	#7
gflynn MAGTAG™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 437	Let me add, and this is an old topic but.... Some folks aren't nice to my plants. I have had to learn to let go Greg