With all of the new varieties this year and all of our favorites, our personal Vegetable Garden is the largest that we have ever planted. As of today we have 12 different Tomatoes, 15 Peppers including Chili Peppers, Eggplant, Squash, Beans, Onions, Leeks, Watermelons, Cucumbers, Beets and the list just goes on and on. Dan and I and the grand-kids have had a great time planting this year in pots and in the ground.

We will definitely have a bounty this year. How are your gardens coming along? Drop us a line and let us know.

Did you know that this year we are having a contest for the best garden- may it be for Vegetables or for Flowers. Just send us a picture of your garden and you may be the winner of $100.00 of free seeds for next year. You can send your pictures to custserv@2bseeds.com. The drawing will be August 31st 2010. Good Luck to all of you!!

Dan & Linda Busch
Owners of 2BSeeds

Letting Your Kids Pick

Probably the single most useful – and obvious – tip for getting your kids interested in growing their own food is to allow them to pick things they would like to grow.

For many adult gardeners, much of the enjoyment comes from planning what to do grow, so if you let your children in the process, they would more likely feel they have a real stake in what’s going on. Give them their say and you might be amazed at the ideas they’ll come up with and what it appealing for them and the reasons.
By growing your own food is another good way to stimulate your child’s interest in gardening and cooking. Your children will be amazed by planting their own fruit or vegetable in your own garden, preparing the soil, planting the seeds, watching it germinate, taking care of the plants as it grows and then going to the garden and picking it to eat for dinner. There are many educational and health benefits for the whole family, as well as the satisfaction of seeing the whole garden project through -from beginning to end, especially if the end product tastes really good.

If this is your children’s first attempt at growing their own food, try to aim for rapid results – especially when they are quite young – to keep their interest and excitement a quick reward. Plant some fast-producing crop like snow peas and beans, carrots, radishes.

They’re curious, and like to learn by doing, and as you know they love to play in the dirt.

By working in a garden, your child can experience the satisfaction that comes from caring for something that lives and over time they are observing the cycle of life firsthand.

Gardening also gives your children a chance to learn an important life skill, one that is unfortunately overlooked in most standard school curriculums. Gardening is also a great way to teach environmental knowledge and awareness by exploring nature.

Our children and our grandchildren have been involved with gardening from an early age, and it was exciting to watch their interest and their self-esteem grow as their gardening efforts yielded food for the dinner table. Although there are many crops suitable for your young gardener, here are some of our favorites, which are relatively easy to grow, have short growing seasons and are fun to harvest.

Favorites for Kids

Sunflower
Sunflowers are a must for any child’s garden. Plant just one or two, since they take a lot of room. Sunflowers will sprout in 1 week, and then become a small seedling with in 2 weeks, and should be 2′ tall with in a month, depending on the variety planted. In 8 weeks, the buds will flower revealing hundreds of seed kernels. Make sure to grow ‘eatable’ types of sunflowers, if you are growing for food. They will dry naturally in the late summer sun; you can also hang upside down with a net below to catch the seeds, rich in protein and iron, can be roasted for snacks. Save a few for next summers’ planting.

Radishes
These little gems give quick results for the young gardener. Radishes germinate in 3-10 days, and have a very short growing season of 20-30 days. They can be planted closely, 4-6″ apart. Plant in cool weather for a mild radish, or hot weather for a hotter radish.

Tomatoes or Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes are a must for kids. These may be the most fun crop for a child. Plant in full sun and use seedlings rather than planting from seed. Put in a 2′ stake alongside each seedling; they need to be tied loosely to stakes as they get taller. Add lots of compost. Water at ground level, trying to keep leaves dry. Growing season is 50-75 days.

Nasturtiums
Flowers that are easy to grow and yield results quickly, which will encourage the young gardener. Nasturtiums will bloom in about 50 days after the seeds are planted, with orange, yellow and red flowers. They do prefer sunny, dry locations and do well in poor soil as well. Choose the shorter varieties for garden beds. One great thing about nasturtiums is that they are pest resistant, which ensures a successful planting. The flowers can be edible, and can be used to add color to a fresh garden salad.

Bush Beans
These little green gems are fast, easy, and have a high yield, and because they do not grow tall, they are easy for your kids to pick. Bush beans will germinate in about 4-8 days, and mature in 40-65 days. Plant closely spaced, about 4′ apart. Grow in direct sun; water the soil but try to keep the leaves dry as to prevent disease. Bush beans will not need poles or trellises to grow.

Pumpkin

If you have the room to grow Pumpkins, your kids will love watching them grow. Plant seeds in a small hill; poke three holes in the hill and put one seed in each hole. Seeds will sprout in about 1 week, and after a few days, vine leaves begin to form and creep along the ground. Once you have 3 pumpkins on the vine, it is best to pick off any new blossoms. Pumpkins will take about 80 – 120 days to harvest. They will be ready when it feels hard on the outside and sounds hollow when you tap the skin. Let an adult supervise the cutting, using shears. Seeds can be dried to eat or baked, or save for future planting. The inside can be used for pies, and the pumpkin for the kids to carve.

Children Love Ownership

Let them have their own garden beds. May it be a raised bed or a container or a ground plot, be sure to give each child his or her own separate plot. Keep it small, very small for young kids. Put their plots right in the middle of the action, with the best soil and light. Set them up for success.

It is important to engage them throughout the entire process, from planting the seed to placing on the table. Children learn better when they understand the reason and context of their activity. They will also learn that gardening can be fun, and far more than idle play; they are contributing to the family well-being and especially in these hard economical times that they are helping the family. Besides planting and nurturing their garden beds, try to be sure they alone do the harvesting and preparation of their crop for the table, no matter how modest the offering.
A good lesson is always start from seeds. While it may be a convenient shortcut to buy starters, children will learn more by seeing the growing process as it begins with seeds. The care given to sprouting seeds and nurturing the young seedling are a valuable part of the gardening experience as well as how to nurture any living thing.

Show off their work. When your friends some to visit make sure to point out the children’s beds. Take pictures of their harvest and send it to their grandparents, aunts and uncles. The more attention given to their work is the best motivator for children to stay involved with a project.

A Colorado man is giving away free tomato seeds. Why? Because Dan Busch’s great grandparents once handed out free tomatoes during the Great Depression as a way to provide unemployed families with a way to supplement their own food. Now, as owner of 2BSeeds, Busch is looking to do something similar for this century’s Great Recession, this time with vegetable seeds. As the economy goes down, food gardening goes up.

Press Release, Broomfield, CO (PRWEB) March 10, 2010 — Free tomato seeds. They are one man’s way to make a difference.

It may be a different time, but Dan Busch of 2BSeeds in Broomfield, Colorado, will never forget the stories of the Great Depression in the 1930s that were passed on to him by his great grandparents. His great grandfather was a tomato grower during the Depression and he decided to give away free tomatoes at the farmers market to all whom were unemployed and in need of finding a way to feed their families.

Now 2BSeeds is looking to give back and follow their family’s tradition in a very big way by offering a free package of heirloom red tomato seeds to all who are unemployed or in need of supplementing their food budget.

Vegetable gardens are on the rise and there will be 40% more of them this year than there were just two years ago, states the National Gardening Association, a non-profit gardening education organization. Bruce Butterfield, the group’s research director, says, “As the economy goes down, food gardening goes up.”

Tomatoes are easy to grow and one plant can provide 10-20 lbs of harvest for most families. The quality of fruit picked in the garden when fully ripe far surpasses anything available in the market, even in season. Tomatoes are excellent for canning, freezing, and drying.

Nutritionists have always known tomatoes were good for you, now there is research-based information as to why. Tomatoes are high in vitamin C, potassium, fiber and vitamin A in the form of health promoting beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A. With other vegetable seeds, gardens can be planted to provide an effective, cheap way to produce needed food.

Dan and his wife Linda own and operate 2BSeeds, an Internet business that ships quality vegetable seeds, flower seeds and herb seeds throughout the United States. Dan and Linda are not new to gardening, as they owned and operated a greenhouse in Colorado from 1980 to 2004. Supporting charities and international children’s food programs has always been a custom for their family and their company.

2BSeeds.com offers information for the novice growing his first tomatoes as well as the ambitious gardener who wants to plant a full vegetable garden to feed a whole family. Guidance is provided for all U.S. growing zones. Dan and Linda’s hope is that more families will discover the pleasure of growing their own garden using vegetable seeds. Valued at $2.50, free tomato seeds are just a click away. Submit to the shopping cart, and fill out the shipping information to receive the tomato seeds with 2BSeed’s secure Web site.

A nominal shipping and handling fee is required to receive the free tomato seeds, and this offer remains valid only while supplies last. So be sure to visit our free tomato seeds page or call 1-800-833-5988 to receive your batch of free vegetable seeds.

Growing your own Vegetable Garden

Gardening means different things to different people; for many of us they represent a place of controlling your own health and well-being. Some people enjoy going to their backyard or to their patios to calm their nerves after a day at their place of employment and we all know what that can be like on some days. Some people just like the peaceful environment, listening to the birds sing their songs praising the day.

Eating the foods from numerous plant families and groups can pay large dividends as providing a healthy balance to you or to your family’s diet. There isn’t any reason at all why some or most of your vegetables cannot be grown right in your own home garden, no matter what the size or shape. If you do not have a large yard to produce your vegetables, you can certainly do so with many containers used as a garden right on your patio. Beans of all types, and many other grains can provide a complete protein. Did you know that if you combine black beans and rice that you are getting a complete protein and amino acids? You can grow a broad range of greens, herbs and vegetables that you can eat both raw and cooked, and this will add the essential vitamins, minerals, and other important nutrients.

Even the smallest container garden can be full of things like parsley, chives, green leaf vegetables that can give your body a real health kick. Use another container for Pole beans, and yet another for tomatoes, one for onions, beets, and the list goes on and on. You can grow enough to provide your family with most of the food that they need for the
remainder of the year , as your options to save your vegetables can be to freeze or to can them.

For us eating a fresh salad is about as good as it gets. Now, we can have regularly a salad with dozens or more varieties of freshly picked leaves, which can be from spinach, lettuces, arugula to beets, cauliflower, cucumbers, onions, broccoli and just let your imagination go wild. We like to add peaches to our salads. You can also add carrots and tomatoes rich in vitamin C. You can always add protein from many different sources, like beef, chicken, and fish, or cheese and eggs.
Add some chilies to your salads, as they can add a spicy flavor, the chilies also offer the benefits of capsaicin, which is used for everything from lowering blood pressure to fighting infections.

There can be no better source of vitamins and minerals than from your own fresh vegetables and fruit. Did you know that many of the vitamins in vegetables are associated with color. For an example dark-green leafy vegetables such as collards, kale and spinach are rich in vitamins C and E, and in calcium. Orange and yellow vegetables, like carrots and winter squash , are rich in beta-carotene, which is a precursor of vitamin A. Tomatoes can also be an excellent source of vitamin C.

Lettuce, has a reputation as lacking in nutrition, however can provide a significant amount of vitamins, especially the dark green and red leafy types. Vegetables picked fresh from your own garden will provide vitamins and minerals in their most complete and vital form. Especially if we grow our own vegetables, we know that they are not contaminated with any pesticides or any other harmful ingredients.

Our Family at 2BSeeds Wishes Your Family a Very Happy Holiday Season

Ideas for Spring
:: What do I want to Plant this year?
:: Annual Flower Seeds
:: Starting Seeds Indoors
:: Give Gift Certificates this Holiday Season for Someone Special
:: The Roots of 2B Seeds Company
:: Caring for Seedlings and Germination Temperatures
:: Raised Beds Improve your Garden Performance
:: Naturally Pampered Tote Gift Sets
:: Perennial Flower Seeds
:: 2B Seeds Mail Order Form
:: Vegetable Seeds

Flower Seeds make great Stocking Stuffers! When you give flower or vegetable seeds for Christmas, you’re giving your loved one the promise of spring sunshine and summer days. Our flower seed packets fit perfectly in stockings and are so pretty, you won’t even need to wrap them. Children and grown-ups alike will find this such an exciting present. Even folks with little or no gardening know- how will find joy in the simple experience of planting easy-to-grow flowers such as pansies, nasturtiums, or fiery snapdragons. 2B Seeds wishes you and your family a very happy holiday season!

What do I want to Plant this year?

The question is which Vegetable, Flower or Herb do I want to eat or enjoy? This sounds pretty simple, and yet it’s not. If you are planting a vegetable garden, will you be eating them all now, or will you be freezing or canning?

Starting Seeds Indoors

Start with a seed starting container with good drainage. A disease free, loose planting medium, kept evenly moist. An appropriate amount of light. And last but not least the correct germination temperature. You can purchase these kits, or you can find household things that work just as well. For instance you can use cutoff milk containers or foam cups to start your tomatoes in. Remember to poke holes in the bottom of whatever you use for drainage. If the pot doesn’t drain your plant will not grow.

The Roots of 2B Seeds Company
Our Family

2Bseeds has emerged from four generations of professional and commercial growers. Starting in 1919 in Golden Valley, MN we were pioneers in what has evolved into today’s world of hothouse tomatoes and vegetables for the local market. Over the years we expanded into growing bulbs, fresh cut flowers and bedding plants from private selections and genetics. We strongly believe that the best gardening results start from the best beginnings, and that is what we are making available to you, our customer. Our primary focus is to ensure that you are successful in your plantings with quality seeds.

Caring for Seedlings and Germination Temperatures

For each seed there is a right soil temperature for germination. When the soil is either too cool or too warm fewer seeds will germinate. And will take longer to do so. A long germination will stress the plant at the very beginning of their life, which will mean they will not grow as fast or have great immune systems to warrant off stresses from insect, changes in temperatures, moisture levels. For the best germination and strongest seedlings, seeds need soil that not only starts out at the correct temperature, but stays that way.

Raised Beds Improve your Garden Performance

When you are planning your garden keep this in mind, the width of your bed is determined by your space and comfort and the depth of your mounds of soil is for the benefit of your plants needs. The width depends on the ability to reach its center to weed, prune, cultivate and harvest. For staked and or trellised plants, use a narrower bed. However you choose your widths keep in mind that the raised beds are now reserved for your plants and not to be walked on.

Annual Flower Seeds
Picotee Cosmos Seeds

Attractive picotee flower with white center and magenta red and carmine rose edge. Plant grows up to 36″ tall. Package (100 seeds). 40-55 Days to Flower

Give Gift Certificates this Holiday Season for Someone Special
See How it Works

Give the gift of seeds with gift certificates for our flower seeds, herb seeds, and vegetable seeds! 2B Seeds offers gift certificates in increments of $25, $50, $75, or $100 To redeem your gift certificate once you receive it from us, simply enter the “Customer Code” printed on your certificate into the first page of the shopping cart when you check out, as seen in the example below:

Click here for Gift Certificates

Naturally Pampered Tote Gift Sets

An attractive tote bag filled with personal care products for the gardener, garden tools & garden gloves. This is a wonderful gift which is sure to delight! As Seen on QVC! Naturally Pampered offers environmentally friendly personal care, aromatherapy & home fragrances at affordable pricing for your use every day.

Perennial Flower Seeds
Rocky Mountain Blue Columbine Seeds

Sometimes called Colorado Blue, this variety of columbine is native to the Rocky Mountain area. Grows 2-3″ tall. Hardy to zones 1-10. Package (100 seeds).

Becoming A Member

As a member you will be updated as to the newest introductions before they are made available to the general public, and you will also receive a special member-ship discount based on purchases from the prior year. For an example, if you purchased $100.00 from us then you would then receive an additional 5% off for everything purchased for the current year, if you purchased $150.00 then you would receive 7% discount, if you purchased $200.00 and above then the discount would be 10%.

Vegetable Seeds
Thai Hot Chili Pepper Seeds

70 days to harvest. Heat Index: Hot. Thai Hot Chili Pepper Seeds produce peppers that are great to use in Asian dishes or dry for red pepper flakes. This popular pepper produces loads of small red hot fruit 2″ long x 1/4″ wide. The fruit ripens green changing to fiery red at maturity. Package (30 seeds).

From The Staff at 2B Seeds

2B SEEDS. LLC
email: custserv@2bseeds.com
phone: 1-800-833-5988
web: http://www.2bseeds.com