It's that time of year again. Spring is here and with the change of season it is time to start planting my vegetable garden and my garden would not be complete without
. If you've grown
and would like to give it a try, I highly recommend a visit to Tomato Mania this weekend in
.
Tomato Mania is a wonderful festival devoted to the endless variety and joy of growing
tomatoes. The event takes place in
Encino at
Tapia Brothers farm, located at 5251
Hayvenhurst Avenue in
Encino, phone-(818)905-6155 and runs from this Friday, March 26
th through Sunday March 28
th.
If you've never grown
tomatoes because you think it will require too much work, effort and/or space, let me tell you that
tomatoes are surprisingly easy to grow and don't require nearly as much effort, space and attention as you might expect. They can be grown successfully in ground, in pots or containers, they don't require frequent watering and home-grown
tomatoes taste incredible! Far superior to anything you can buy at the market. All things considered, the only requirement needed to grow most varieties of
tomatoes is a sunny location.
Tomato
s come in two plant types, determinate and indeterminate. Determinate plants are typically smaller bush-shaped plants of a manageable size. One popular feature of determinate varieties is that many strains are well-suited for growing in containers and pots. Indeterminate
tomatoes, on the other hand grow on long rambling vines and for that reason, are typically grown in ground.
Many
tomatoes are hybrid varieties. These are
tomatoes that have been commercially bred to perform well in
commercial farms. They are bred to be hardy, disease resistant, productive plants bearing sturdy, consistent, well-formed fruits of very acceptable flavor. Some hybrid varieties are: Big Boy, Beef Steak, Early Girl, Celebrity and Patio. Heirloom
tomatoes on the other hand, are grown from seeds that have been handed down from generation to generation, often from small farms and independent growers from all over the world. Heirloom
tomatoes are known for their wide array of colors, shapes, sizes and wonderfully distinct flavors. Some examples of heirlooms are
Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Mortgage Lifter, Green Zebra and
Moskvich.
Whether you decide to plant determinate or indeterminate, heirloom or hybrid, most all varieties grow pretty much like weeds. Typically, they don't require watering more than 2-3 times per week and they don't typically require
additional feedings, fertilization or
nutrients to produce great
tomatoes. In fact,
tomatoes tend to grow at their best when they are not being overly pampered. The only additional advice I would offer is plant your
tomatoes deep in the ground. A unique feature of
tomato plants is that they are able to root off their stem. With that in mind, plant them deep enough in the soil such that you are leaving just 3-4 inches of top growth above ground. Oh, and cut off any branches that will be below the soil line. This will make for a larger root system and a stronger plant.
By the way, If you can't make it to Tomato Mania this weekend, another great resource for
tomatoes and every other gardening need is
Green Arrow Nursery, located at 8845 North
Sepulveda Blvd., North Hills, phone- (818)894-8301 (located a few blocks north of Roscoe Blvd.). They offer a huge variety of heirloom and hybrid tomato plants as well as an exceptional selection of vegetable and herb plants and fruit trees and bushes. They also sport an
knowledgeable staff who provide expert advice and information (ask for Cindy for vegetables and Mike for fruit trees).
I wish you a wonderful spring season and I encourage you all to celebrate spring the best way I know how. . . Go outside and grow something!
Classic Spanish 2 bed/1.5 bath home offering tremendous square footage for the price! Original detail and character are preserved in pristine condition featuring: wood floors, coved ceilings, rolled archways, classic tile and moldings. Formal entry opens to huge step
-down living room with high, beamed ceiling with wood trusses, wood-burning fireplace, arched picture window.
uge family room addition w/ high, beamed ceilings. Master bedroom featuring walk-in & wardrobe closets. Service porch w/ extra storage opens to covered patio & large, private yard. 
uge family room addition w/ high, beamed ceilings. Master bedroom featuring walk-in & wardrobe closets. Service porch w/ extra storage opens to covered patio & large, private yard. 
