yardgranny6's Blog

4-H anyone?
Jun 18, 2008 | 12:40 PM PST
Tags: 4-H , MicroTomCherryTomato , soil

As a young child I was a Brownie and a Girl Scout. I never did the 4-H club. Today I had the privilege as a Master Gardener to help with two classes of kids at our Extension Service Building. Our extension agent led the groups  as they were taught many things about growing tomatoes. Then they were taught how to grow them in a medium sized opaque storage box much as you would build a Terrarium.

They learned that soil is not 'dirt'! Did you know that? Dirt is what your mom fusses at you about when it gets on your clothes or her freshly mopped or vacummed floors. Soil is for growing. In this case we used a 'soil less' medium. The children were really neat with this process. One class was about 9 yr to 11yr or so, the second class was 12yr through 13, so you can see it could have been a BIG mess. Just think soil + water + kids??

Once they had the soil in their planter boxes. They had the next lesson about tomoto growing. I learned a few things here. Yes even an MG forgets or didn't pay attention in class. Tomatoes are one veggie that is self-pollinating. The trick with this process is that if the wind doesn't blow or the bee doesn't brush on the blossom it does not work. So you have to gently shake your tomato planter box once a day.

The most exciting thing about these tomatoes is first: their name: Micro Tom Cherry tomato and the second: is that they only grow 8 to 10 inches tall. And this planter box is just the right height. They should have fruit in about four weeks. Actually I think just putting their hands in the soil less soil is what they might remember the most.

After the tomato plants were in place the next lesson was on care of tomatoes. And here is the next thing I learned, our agent says it takes him about 2 years working with a new grower before the grower learns just how to grow tomatoes. I couldn't believe that. Of course with the trouble we have with a few in our yards and thinking of actually farming for income I can see the possiblity clearer.

Water, nutrients and sunlight were very important for growing plants. And tomatoes are no exception. So they added water, some slow acting fertilizer and were instructed to place the lid on the planter box ,place it in a sunny spot at home and  add water in a few weeks.

All in all they had a good time and were very well behaved.  So Happy 4-Hing people.

More To Come Later