Jim

Deb

Everyone else: How did you get seeds from Trudi? Did I miss the boat?

A long time ago I used to do a post or two in the seed exchanges with a list of tomatoes you could choose from, but the problem was that the list kept changing as varieties were exhausted--and then people would send me a SASE with requests for seeds I didn't have anymore. Sigh. So, I gave the list a permanent page of its own at WinterSown.Org. I just redid the list yesterday and currently there are about 120 varieties.

It's called the Your Choice Tomato SASE. You must use the printout from the site--fill it in with your first six choices and your four defaults. If you send a small donation with your list I will give you the six first choices and the four defaults, and with them send back a receipt--WSEO is a registered non-profit.

The majority of tomatoes that are offered on the list come from people who grow their own tomatoes and save their seeds. They send their bulk seeds to me, and then I pack them into smaller amounts and put on a label. The seeds go on the list. When I receive your two-stamp SASE I look at the printout to verify the date (important and you'll see on the list page why that is) and then I fill your SASE. Your seeds get sent back to you with a lovely brochure about how to safely save tomato seeds. So, if it works out for you, and you're so inclined, you have info on how to save your own tomato seeds.

This is a wonderful program that allows people to receive OP tomato seeds and also it is a venue for people who want to share their tomato seeds. There are lots of sizes, shapes and colors, different DTM dates too. If the list seems too overwhelming to you and you don't know what to choose, just send the printout and leave it blank. I will select for you based upon your zip code--when I pick for you I will select different sizes, shapes and colors which are appropriate for your garden. If you live up north I'm not going to send you a tomato that takes 90 days to ripen--it doesn't make sense, and if you live in the deep south I'm going to send you varieties that will handle high heat better than others.

Okay, good luck. Here's the link:

This is a wonderful service (and you must be a fast typist)! I have a business and can't imagine how you fulfill orders (we sell books - unlike seeds, they are big). Offering people an easy way to donate is a great idea.

I printed the form and am looking at the varieties. You may have the largest, most diverse listing of tomatoes in the country.

I grew heirloom tomatoes from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange for years before moving to a new place. I'm looking forward to growing from seed again but conditions are more challenging here (on the Chesapeake Bay - beautiful but very windy!). I'm working on a trellis system to use as a windbreak.

Thanks for taking the time to describe Your Choice Tomato SASE. You provide great information and a wonderful service at WinterSown.org.

Take care,
Pam

I am getting a SASE ready to go...

I am leaving it up to you on what seeds you send me for my zone 5 garden.

It was such cool summer I had hardly any tomatoes fruit and was not able to collect seeds. It did not feel like summer to me since none did well :(

Thanks for all you do!!! You are the reason i started WS'ing and I am so thankful

I have a few sets of pigeon hole drawers--they're actually for organizing screws and nuts and bolts, but they're also just the right size for holding packs of tomato seeds. The system is alphabetical so that's easy enough to organize the packed seeds, but I'm practically blind as a bat, so that's why each variety of seeds has its own graphic. There's a matching label on the front of the pigeon hole drawers--I can't read the names without my glasses but I can recognize the pictures ;-)

You have a supply of mailers and boxes and puffy wrap or peanuts that you must use...people who send for seeds supply an addressed envelope--I supply the liner and the seeds. The liner is that brochure--those are pre folded and filled with "extras", all I need do is add the selected seeds and seal the envelope.

I've been sharing seeds for several years--and after a while I've made every mistake imaginable at least twice, but fortunately I learn from trial and error so I know all the steps to get from A to Z without having to recreate a process each time I do something. I do all my own graphics and printing--I have a big printer and a little pony printer too, one takes toner and one takes ink. I bought a letter folder too so now most of the brochures get a letter fold instead of a hand-done z-fold, it's only a little faster but saves my wrists. I pack the seeds myself but if I had 6k or so, I could buy a packing machine--I don't see that happening. Ever.

Thank you for the compliment on the list, it's as diverse as the people who have shared seeds into it and because of that there is something for everyone. These growers are passionate and come from all around the country, well, around the world.

We're windy here too, I'm just a few miles north of the Atlantic. If you use containers then do them in sets of threes, triangle shaped, and tie the stakes or cages together--the wind can't blow over a tripod. If you're doing in-ground then look into something called "Florida weave" for supporting the canes.

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Hi Karen,

I will take care in filling your SASE. I already have a few in mind that work well in the central US, but I won't spoil a surprise by letting you know now what they could be ;-) I've never been to Chicago but I know it's darn cold in the winter, and I would imagine you're quite humid because of the lake, so I will keep that in mind too. Oh, and there's that darn wind ;-O

T

YOU are AWESOME!

I think you are awsome Trudi....
If I get some good tomatoes this year I will send you some seeds!!!
thanks,
Karen

If possible, try and get the variety name from the market--if you can't it's okay too. Just share the seeds with a description and (if you've got one) a photo too. They'll be shared as Zhazeen's Yellow--or something similar, or they might also go into a blend which is where many anonymous but wonderful tomatoes wind up.

The Blend is shared generously--it's a larger portion than the single variety packs. The Blend is very nice because it takes some of the stress out of growing simply because you don't have the ability to share your XYZ compared to someone else's XYZ. The Blend is entirely about the excitement of learning through observation and the success of watching many different sizes, shapes and colors develop and mature in your own garden. It's for foodies, it's for beginners, and it's for experienced gardener's too who just want to have some fun with what they grow. The Blend is also great for people wanting to save seeds from the best of the best. This way they can each year improve their chance of success by culling out the weaker plants and keeping the most vigorous and tastiest varieties to grow on year to year. Each year repeat the same process of culling the weak and keeping the best and you wind up with a wonderful set of tomatoes that perform well in your regional climate--in your backyard.

This past summer The Blend was sent out to a hospital in Los Angeles doing a community health fari--they're teaching people how to grow a salad garden as a means of healthily and inexpensively supplementing a family's meals. With help from people on this forum The Blend label was translated into Spanish. Now, all blend packs have two labels with the same information--one is Spanish and the other is English.

So, if you have success growing and saving seeds from your tomatoes next year--it's up to you how you want to share them. They could be Zahzeens's Yellow or become a part of The Blend.

I send my envie and stamps today!

thanks!

Anna

You're way ahead of me, I haven't even thought of shopping yet. Better start making a list.

Sometimes I notice a duplication on a list--you are not alone ;-) Usually, I just switch in a default choice.

T