In mid-April, students in Wiscasset High School biology classes planted seeds of 17 varieties of tomato plants for the annual Morris Farm Community Plant sale. Two weeks later, on May 1, the seedlings were large enough to transplant into the four-inch pots that will hold them until the sale on May 30.

Several adult volunteers from Morris Farm assisted the students in the project under the guidance of biology teachers Ralph Keyes and Prema Long. Morris Farm Co-President Merry Fossel, who spearheaded the project, explained to the students the importance of washing their hands before handling the plants or the soil in order to prevent the spread of a virus that might affect the tender seedlings.

The students learned about heirloom tomatoes — naturally pollinated tomatoes whose seeds have often been handed down for many generations. Some varieties planted are over 100 years old. As a result of the care the students took in planting and watering, germination rates for the seeds were extremely high. About 500 plants will be available for sale. The array of plants include slicing, paste and cherry tomatoes that are red, yellow, orange, purple, green and a deep red that is called black.

The plant sale will be held on Saturday, May 30 from 9 a.m. until noon at the Morris Farm, 156 Gardiner Road (Route 27) in Wiscasset. The sale will also include hardy Maine-grown perennials and herbs from local gardens.

For more information, visit www.morrisfarm.org, email info@morrisfarm.org or call 207-882-4080.