If the long line you know it’s going to be good!
This morning I stood in line for 30 minutes in hopes of finding a few heirloom tomato plants to add to my collection.
If you have never been to the Seattle Tilth May plant sale, you are totally missing out. Not only is the Seattle Tilth plant sale worth waiting in line for, but there were so many cool heirloom plants to choose from, I felt like a kid in a candy store.
Frugal Tip – Bring your own flat, box or wagon to carry your plants home and save a buck.
I wonder how many people actually attend this 2 day event? If I had to guess I’d say it’s somewhere around 5,000 to 7,000 people. At least. Maybe I’m way off, maybe more. It seemed like every gardener in the city {and beyond} was there.
Anything you could have possibly wanted for your vegetable garden, was there. Herbs, spring crops, warm weather crops, you name it, they had it.
But the amount of tomato plants available was nuts. I think there were over 60 varieties. Sixty! I was looking for one variety in particular today — Japanese Trifele, and it took me a few minutes to find it. But once I did, I felt a sense of relief.
It was seriously one of those keep calm Mavis, hold it together, you will find your stinkin’ plant. Just relax you freak, kind of moments.
It’s times like those that I think I need to be on meds.
I have no idea how a tomato plant can cause a panic attack, but it did.
Maybe my heirloom tomatoes are like some people $19 DVD players at Walmart at 5 am the day after Thanksgiving. I might need a tomato intervention here pretty soon.
I bought 18 heirloom tomato plants! Yee-Haw!
What? You want to know how many I have? Dunno. Lost count.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Peace Out,
~Mavis
Seattle Tilth Plant Sale
Meridian Park
4649 Sunnyside Ave. N, Seattle 98103
Mari says
Hi Mavis.
I grew seed of a variety from King Seeds NZ called Sub Arctic Plenty. OK I am in New Zealand so the varieties may differ.
This one was ‘Bred for the US Greenland military bases to endure extremely cold climates’.
It grows about 3ft high and has the thickest, stockiest, ‘trunk’ I have ever seen on tomato plants. I planted 3 in Feb (mid summer) and even tho we have had 3 frosts, they are still strong and healthy, when the peppers beside them have disintegrated. The fruit still looks good and is ripening slowly. All fruit will ripen at much the same time
I plan to plant some more seed soon, so I can try them under cover thru the winter. Will let you know how they go.
Missy says
We’re trying the Japanese Trifles this year too. They are so beautiful I just couldn’t resist them. I hope they turn out great!
Cecily says
You and Mavis will love them! I’ve been growing Japanese Black Trifeles for years and they are a personal favorite. Beautiful color and prolific with a slightly smoky, true tomato flavor. I’m drooling just thinking about them! Hope they grow for you!
anita underwood says
I love the looks of that tomato type. I would love to have a few seeds to try. I grow all my own tomatoes in containers. I also harvest my own seeds and have done so for the last 8 years. I would love to find someone to trade tomato seeds with. All but a few of my tomatoes are 8th generation / season plants.
Jennifer says
Dear Mavis,
I have just finished reading through your whole blog after hearing about it on The Simple Mom podcast. I love it! It became my new obsession where I had to read every post, even the ones written before 2011 that you told readers to skip. As I read, I created a document of things to share with you. 1) For the dreaded ever-growing kale…you have to try my new favorite recipe that I eat about once a week from Joy the Baker. We eat it over rice instead of kale but it is beyond delicious and makes kale a comfort food in any home… http://joythebaker.com/2012/01/crunchy-kale-and-coconut-bowl/
2) When you have lots of pumpkin leftover this is my favorite cooked pumpkin recipe… http://tammysrecipes.com/pumpkin_dinner_rolls . I have made it several times and last year, a week before having my cute baby boy, I made it with 10 cups of pumpkin, multiplying the recipe by five. So yes, I used 35 tsp of yeast!
3) I live in Redmond, WA and I like costumes and gardening (though I don’t have space for it now) and I love wearing costumes (I worked seasonally at Party City last year just selling costumes over Halloween for fun) and I would love to barter with you anytime or help weed in exchange for produce! We’re getting a ¼ of a cow and a full pig soon if you want meat….hint hint. Heck, I’d love to meet you even for tea sometime!
4) I would love to hear more about you and HH’s concept of teenagers budgeting for themselves with monthly allowances in a blog post sometime. That sounds so cool.
5) You have a new devoted reader in me!
6) This is the longest comment I have written on any blog EVER.
-Jennifer
Mavis says
Hi Jennifer, I’m glad you are here. 🙂
Tanya @ Lovely Greens says
I’d have LOVED to be there too…and in my book, 5am doesn’t seem too early to start queuing for gorgeous heritage plants and seedlings 😉
Erin Wilson says
A farmer friend of mine raises more than 700 varieties of heirloom tomatoes, and has found she’s just scratched the surface. Amazing to think about.
Hope you’re totally rocking the run today, and having a great time 🙂