Tomato Sale Helps Herndon Elementary's Lego Robotics Team

The second annual "Heirloom Tomato Seedling Sale/Fundraiser" will be on Saturday, May 7, from 9 a.m. until noon at 792 Grant Street in Herndon.

This annual sale is designed to raise money for the Herndon "Stingers," the first Lego Robotics League Robotics Team based at Herndon Elementary School. Ample street parking is available around this private home, and there will likely be lemonade and snacks sold.

Beth Riddick is the founder of the sale/fundraiser, which is hosted at her home. "Most of our seedlings are in three and a half inch pots, and we suggest a donation of $3 for a well-formed plant," she said. "Some of the plants are smaller, and folks are usually happy to offer $2, which is fine. Occasionally, I have to pot something up into a 5 or 6 inch pot, and we suggest $5 for those. While we are not certified organic, I use organic methods to grow these seedlings."

In asking about "heirloom" varieties, Riddick had these thoughts. "Of the older, better known varieties, we have Cherokee Purple; this is about the most reliable heirloom you can grow. The plants are sturdy, show disease resistance, and are very productive. This is why you see them at every Farmer's Market. And they are delicious."

"We also have Brandywine this year, as well as two variations: Yellow Brandywine and True Black Brandywine," Riddick said. "Brandywine are 'Potato leafed' vines, which does confer some disease resistance. However, the blossoms are not well-formed, so pollination is inconsistent. Either shaking the plant or gently flicking the flowers from time to time helps pollination and increases yield. This will be the first year I have grown Brandywine, the second year for Cherokee. Both of these date back to the late 1800s."

In getting this project started, Riddick realized early on that "fundraising" takes time and effort. "I didn't want our kids going door to door selling candy; our team is limited to 10 kids and because of the small profit that goes to the organization, you really need a small army of youngsters to make a reasonable amount of money. I didn't want to fundraise in a way that competed with any of our school's other groups. Late one night, it all clicked. I wrote the other parents. Some seemed dubious, but the coaches like the idea. I started growing seedlings."

Based on last year's success, Riddick now has about 1,000 seedlings ready for sale on Saturday, May 7.

Riddick said she knows children love sweet tomatoes, so she's carrying a variety known as Snowberry. "My kids' favorite last year was a fruity, sweet white beefsteak tomato called 'Great White.' We have that this year as well."

"One of our customers from last year asked that we include Asian eggplant, so you see two of them in our sale, as well as peppers and basil plants."

But how did she first start growing tomatoes? Almost a decade ago they lived in Austin, Texas. "I picked up what I thought was an 'Italian Roma' seedling. Actually, the plant was an Italian Rosa, and it yielded a big, light pink fruit that looked like an anemic, unripe red tomato. It tasted as though someone had poured sugar on it. It was a startling, eye-opening experience."

"Then we had to move. I went out to our garden and found a shriveled tomato on the vine. I let it dry, stuck it in a zip lock bag and carried it with me as we moved from place to place. It was in my sewing kit."

"Nine years have gone by, but this year, I cut the dried up plant open and removed 12 seeds. Out of these, I got five seedlings. I do not know if they were self-pollinated and will grow the same sugary-sweet Italian Rosa, but I will find out this year. You only know when you grow."

Payments for the sale can be made by cash or check. For those who can't make the sale, they can email Riddick at grower@robottomatoes.org. If there are seedlings left, they will be sold by appt the following week.

For a complete list of varieties for sale, see www.robottomatoes.org.