Few things bring me as much joy as my organic vegetable garden. Right outside my kitchen window, I get an eyeful every time I look outside! It’s been a bigger investment of time than money, but will prove worth it soon.

I planted several varieties of tomatoes this year. Of the five in the ground, three are vines, and two are bushes. I also started 10 heirloom brandywines that are about three inches tall already. Around February I start them indoors in peat pots, and then take them outside to harden off once they show 3-4 sets of healthy leaves. I’ll keep a couple of them, but the rest are going into some inexpensive and beautiful glazed pottery from Big Lots. They’ll make great Mother’s Day gifts.

There are many Moms in my life, and many who, while they would like to try, for one reason or another haven’t gotten around to working on a garden. So many plants will fruit nicely without ever going into the ground. Along with tomatoes, all my Moms will be getting a pepper and basil, all in one pretty pot! Those three are good companion plants and will survive just fine next to a trellis in a sunny location. A brandywine is a vining tomato, and will need to be supported, so a trellis would be a pretty way to do it. (They won’t be large enough to need it when I gift them, though.)

These have all been grown organically. Its so important to realize that the value of our food supply is in danger, and we need to learn how to grow our own for both economical and health reasons. If that weren’t reason enough, the flavor of home grown vegetables is so much more flavorful.

If gifting plants sounds like a good idea for you but you haven’t started any yet, here’s a few tips you can use right now and still be ready in time:

• You can purchase plants already started at most nurseries. If organic is possible, choose those. Get them at least 6 inches tall.Grab a couple of bags of good organic potting soil. Avoid moisture retaining or those containing artificial fertilizer.
• Tomato, pepper, and basil grow well together and the basil will draw beneficial insects while deterring damaging pests.
• Dill, rosemary, and thyme also do well together.
• Get some pretty planters, but be wary of the eighty-eight cent plastic ones from Wal-Mart. Got those last year and they don’t drain real well.
• Plant the tomato deeply, and cover the bottom half of the plant with dirt. Plant the others equally distant from each other, but not as deep.

What Else Should You Remember When Gifting Tomatoes?

For about a dollar a piece, you can get some pretty good spray bottles from the dollar store. Make sure you send each of your plants with a spray bottle of water with one drop of dish soap and one tablespoon of vegetable oil, shaken well. It will keep separating so your recipient Mommy needs to know to always shake it first before spraying. After the direct sun leaves the plant, every couple of days or after rain they should be sprayed to assist the basil with keeping the pests at bay.

Good drainage and proper watering will keep the plants alive and producing for a very long time. Water every couple of days. Watering too frequently will cause the stem to grow fiercely while not producing much foliage or fruit.

Tomatoes, peppers, and basil will need a good fertilizer every couple of months to keep them healthy. Ask your local nursery what types of organic fertilizer you can suggest to your Moms.

Its nice to type up little care cards or use the inside of her Mother’s Day card to show her how she can easily take care of her new plants.

Are you gifting from your garden this year?