Springtime in SoCal heralds the incurable gardening delirium known as TOMATOMANIA!
“It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato.”
— American writer and humorist, Lewis Grizzard
Tomatomania! is coming soon! Throughout March and April, lucky SoCal gardeners will get access to over 300 varieties of heirloom and hybrid tomato seedlings. This exciting bounty comes compliments of the largest annual tomato seedling sale in the country, joyfully dubbed Tomatomania! There are currently more than a dozen sales events set to take place in March and April, at locales reaching from Ojai to El Cajon, and from Claremont to Palos Verdes. The full schedule of events and locations can be found on the 2015 Events page at www.tomatomania.com.
What are your favorite ways to eat tomatoes? A la caprese with mozzarella, basil, olive oil and chunky salt? Simple, aromatic marinara with fresh garden herbs? Savory and spicy salsa? Sweet, small and plump directly off the vine? Canned freshness that extends the love throughout the year? Whatever your tomato bliss, Tomatomania! has the tomatoes you really, really want.
As veteran ‘maniacs know, with so many amazing and exotic tomato varieties to choose from, deciding which are right for you and your garden can be a befuddling prospect. Hybrid? Heirloom? DET/IND? VFNT? Understanding tomato terminology can help you decipher the tomato labels, and help narrow down your choices. The labels may include a description of the fruit (color, taste, size, shape and weight range), class (hybrid or heirloom), classification of determinate or indeterminate (stature of the plant), letters referencing pest or disease resistance (VFNT), and days (number of days until fruiting begins – early, mid-season, late-season). For a more detailed explanation of all these terms and more, visit the tomatopaedia.
Now in it’s 22nd year, Tomatomania! represents a well-developed bonanza for the tomato-loving home or community gardener. Although each sales event is different, many will offer up all-things-tomato-growing, from fertilizer to stakes and pots, expert advice and how-to classes to tomato-tastings. Tomatomania! founder Scott Daigre will be onsite at some venues to sign his newly published book on tomatoes from growing to canning. Plus, we can expect a fundraising model launch, a new tomato cage and more. There are also rumors of ketchup. Be sure to check out the events page of Tomatomania.com for complete details about each event.
