TomatoMania is a California gardener’s dream: more than three hundred tomato varieties, in alphabetical order, for your buying pleasure. What started as a single event in the early 90s at Hortus Nursery in Pasadena, CA, has become a 2-month-long series of gardeners’ play-dates throughout Southern (and Northern) California. Oh, and it now includes PepperMania with more than 100 varieties of peppers!
This year, Gardenerd is partnering with TomatoMania to present the Gardenerd Education Series. We’ve lined up great speakers who are ready to share their tomato-growing expertise. What’s more, Christy will be doing classes and book signings at most locations. Check out the schedule for 2020 and make plans to be there!
TomatoMania Class Schedule
FEB 28—MAR 8 – Rogers Gardens • 2301 San Joaquin Hills Rd., Corona del Mar, CA 92625 • 949.640.5800 rogersgardens.com
- Feb. 28 – 2 p.m. Scott Daigre, Co-Founder of TomatoMania – Walk & Talk
- Feb. 29 – 9 a.m. Christy Wilhelmi – Growing Great Tomatoes – includes book signing for Gardening for Geeks
- Mar. 1 – 10 a.m. Sarah Rosenberger – Farmscape – Dry Farming Tomatoes
- Mar. 2-6 – 2 p.m. Walk & Talk with TomatoMania Staff
- Mar. 7 – 9 a.m. Randy Richie of Malibu Compost – Biodynamic Compost
- Mar. 8 – 10 am. David Rizzo – Garden to Table in March
MAR 7—8 Water Conservation Garden • 12122 Cuyamaca College Dr. West, El Cajon, CA 92019 • 619.660.0614, ext. 10 thegarden.org
- Mar. 7 – 1 p.m. Christy Wilhelmi – Small-Space Gardening Tips – includes book signing for Gardening for Geeks
- Mar. 8 – 11 a.m. Scott Daigre, Co-Founder of TomatoMania – TomatoMania 101 – How to have a Perfect Tomato Season
MAR 7—8 Los Angeles, Fig Earth Supply • 3577 N. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90065 • 323.224.3938 minifarmbox.com/figearthsupply – No classes but great shopping!
MAR 13—15 Tapia Brothers Farm Stand, Encino • 5251 Hayvenhurst Ave, Encino, CA 91436 • 818.905.6155
- Mar. 13 – 1 p.m. Scott Daigre, Co-Founder of TomatoMania – TomatoMania 101 – How To Have a Great Tomato Season
- Mar. 13 – 3 p.m. David King of the Learning Garden – Tomato Uses & Abuses Plus Coastal Growing Tips
- Mar. 14 – 1 p.m. Christy Wilhelmi – Working with Nature for Your Best Garden Yet – includes book signing for Gardening for Geeks
- Mar. 14 – 2 p.m. Yvonne Savio – Successful Transplanting Tips
- Mar. 15 – 11 a.m. Oscar Forte – Benefits of Proper Fertilization
- Mar. 15 – 1 p.m. Dan Allen of Farmscape – Preparing Your Garden
- Mar. 15 – 2 p.m. David King of the Learning Garden – Tomato Uses & Abuses Plus Coastal Growing Tips
MAR 14—15 Mission Hills Nursery • 1525 Fort Stockton Drive, San Diego, CA 92103 • 619.295.2808 missionhillsnursery.com – No classes, but…
- Mar. 6 – 6 p.m. Happy Hour Chat & Welcome Party with Christy Wilhelmi
MAR 20—21 Otto and Sons • 1835 E. Guiberson Road, Fillmore, CA 93015 • 805.524.2123 ottoandsonsnursery.com
- Mar. 20 – 11 a.m. Scott Daigre, Co-Founder of TomatoMania – TomatoMania 101 – How to Have a Great Tomato Season
- Mar. 20 – 1 p.m. Andrea Crawford of Kenter Canyon Farms – Soil Health & Household Composting
- Mar. 21 – 11 a.m. Christy Wilhelmi – Organic Tomato Growing Tips & Tricks – includes book signing for Gardening for Geeks
- Mar. 21 – 1 p.m. Scott Daigre – Growing Tomatoes in Extreme Temperatures
MAR 27—29 Descanso Gardens • 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011 • 818.949.4200 descansogardens.org
- Mar. 27 – 10 a.m. Matthew Geldin – Farmscape – How to Select the Right Tomatoes for You
- Mar. 27 – 12 p.m. Chef’s class
- Mar. 27 – 2 p.m. Scott Daigre – TomatoMania 101: How to have a Successful Tomato Season
- Mar. 28 – 10 a.m. Christy Wilhelmi – Gardenerd – Working with Nature for Your Best Garden Yet – includes book signing for Gardening for Geeks
- Mar. 28 – 12 p.m. Chef’s class
- Mar. 28 – 2 p.m. Yvonne Savio – GardeninginLA – Successful Transplanting Tips
- Mar. 29 – 11 a.m. Oscar Fortes – Dr. Earth – Benefits of Proper Fertilization
- Mar. 29 – 12 p.m. Chef’s class
- Mar. 29 – 1 p.m. Loretta Allison – Soil Prep for Backyard Gardening
MAR 28—29 Underwood Farm Market • 5696 E Los Angeles Ave., Somis, CA 93066 • (805) 389-7305 underwoodfamilyfarms.com – No classes, but great shopping!
APRIL 4 Topa Mountain Winery • 821 W Ojai Ave, Ojai, CA 93023 • 805.640.1190 topamountainwinery.com
- 11 a.m. Scott Daigre – TomatoMania 101: How to Have a Perfect Tomato Season
- 2 p.m. Scott Daigre – Growing Tomatoes in Extreme Temperatures
APR 4—5 Seaside Gardens • 3700 Via Real, Carpinteria, CA 93013 • 805.684.6001 seaside-gardens.com
- Apr. 4 – 1 p.m. Christy Wilhelmi – Small-space Gardening Tricks & Tips – includes book signing for Gardening for Geeks
- April 5 – 1 p.m. Scott Daigre – TomatoMania 101 – How to Have a Perfect Tomato Season
April 4—5 San Diego Botanic Gardens • 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024 • 760-436-3036 SDBGarden.org – No classes, but partnering with their Got Green event…and great tomato shopping.
APR 18—19 Cornerstone Sonoma • 23570 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, CA 95476 • 707.933.3010 cornerstonesonoma.com
- Apr. 18 – 11 a.m. Christy Wilhelmi – Working with Nature for Your Best Garden Yet – includes book signing for Gardening for Geeks
- Apr. 18 – 1 p.m. Brad Gates – Wild Boar Farms Awesome Tomato Varieties
- Apr. 19 – 11 a.m. Scott Daigre – TomatoMania 101 – How to Have a Perfect Tomato Season
- Apr. 19 – 1 p.m. Christy Wilhelmi – On site Soil Class TBA – includes book signing for Gardening for Geeks
MAY 2—3 NEW EVENT TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!
We hope to see you at one or more of these events, gardenerd. Play hookie from everyday life and join us for some tomato fun!
Is the weekend posted for Sonoma your only Northern CA event? The Sacramento area is a gardener’s paradise. Would love to see an event at High Hand Nursery in Loomis.
So far Sonoma is the only NoCal event planned. I will pass that on to TomatoMania for future reference. They’d love to keep growing.
Any classes / workshops near Ventura Ca ?
Nothing in Ventura, Daniel. We’ll be in Ojai, Carpenteria, and Fillmore. That’s the closest we’ll get, I think.