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WOW. I was up in Sonoma last weekend and attended the ‘World’s largest traveling heirloom seedling sale’, called Tomatomania.
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We happened to stumble upon this event, and the timing couldn’t have been better as not only am I ready to plant my annual 2 tomato plants, but we were heading over to view the gardens of some very well known garden designers and I was stumped as to what to bring them. Then it hit me – tomatoes! A risky thing, buying a garden designer a plant for their garden, but I figured ‘what the heck’ – who wouldn’t love heirloom tomatoes!? So, I found an employee and asked his advice of what tomatoes to give the most incredible gardeners in the world…and you should’ve seen his eyes light up!
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It took him about 2 seconds to figure out the perfect tomato for the ‘connoisseur’. He rushed us over to snatch up the last of the ‘Orange Fleshed Purple Smudge’, which he said was just about sold out. Apparently people line up before opening time, kind of like the garage sale mentality, and are primed & ready once the doors open to rush in and grab their favorites.
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Earlier in the day, a group of people associated with a local news station were there and snatched up a flat of these tomatoes as well. So I figured I might as well take the last 3 and see what all the fuss is about!
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At one point someone’s little dog ‘Tartufo’ ran over and lifted his leg on some of the tomatoes I was going to buy…. I moved on to another flat of seedlings.
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Luckily there’s a TON of tomatoes to pick from.
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He also showed us other tomatoes that we just ‘can’t live without’…”Paul Robeson’ and’Sungold’. I said I only had room for 2, so he told me I had to buy at least these 3 and to just stick one in a large bucket and grow it on the driveway – ‘who cares what the neighbors think? You can always cram in a tomato bush’!!
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I LIKED this guy!
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And they sell more than just seedlings here – they sell everything you could possibly imagine associated with growing tomatoes.
Scott Daigre and his sister Sally – the whole family gets involved with Tomatomania!
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This is such a fun event, so I’d encourage you to check out their calendar to see if they’re coming your way soon. And if not, then make sure you get on their mailing list for next year!
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Oh, and as a sidenote….there were some massive Cottonwood trees all around this site which were blowing their cotton-y seeds everywhere. It was quite surreal looking, like feathers and snow combined.
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I couldn’t help but watch these kids enjoying their moment of discovery…..
…It was a perfect day!
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Tomatoes! Last year I had sooooo many beautiful heirlooms planted with huge green babies just waiting to ripen for my caprese salads…..and then the RATS got to them! I never had one ripe tomato! Trying just three plants this year after we declared war on the little guys. Crossing my fingers I might get some to enjoy this year.
I over planted heirloom tomatoes, and will be giving away seedlings to gardening neighbors. If you’re in East Oakland, stop by!
You probably know my secret: I don’t really care for tomatoes that much. Sure, I’ll eat them, but…
Still, I always feel like whatever gets people into the garden should be celebrated! And tomatoes seem so high on the list for so many, it’s just exciting to read about this event.
You’re making me sad that I don’t have enough space or sunlight to grow good tomatoes on my balcony. Good thing the farmers markets are so much fun.
-Steven
It does sound like a perfect day. Oh, don’t I wish it was *my* garden you were on your way to… or that a Tomatomania Toronto was opening somewhere near me. What a great idea.