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Go beyond the beefsteak: Tomato-maniac shares 6 varieties you should plant this year
Striped green, purple and gold, Persuasions are Scott Daigre's tomato of the year.
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What you should know
Spring's here, which means if you're a gardener, it's time to plant some tomatoes.
And for many Southern Californians on the hunt for unique varieties, that means a trip to Tomatomania, a popup nursery that shows up across the region. On Friday, they kicked off their largest event of the year at Tapia Bros in Encino.
Gardeners flood Tapia Brothers in Encino to dig through palettes of tomatoes on Friday.
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Tomatomania began in Pasadena 25 years ago and now features more than 180 varieties. The search for the ideal tomato is "like racehorse breeding," said Scott Daigre, the owner of Tomatomania. He sources his starts from nearly a dozen growers, who might grow tomatoes like Brandy Boys, a cross between Brandywine and Better Boy.
LAist asked Daigre for some tomato-growing tips and recommendations for those looking to plant interesting varieties.
Tomato varieties to try
A tomato-maniac's picks
Rebel Starfighter Prime has been one of Scott Daigre's most sought after tomatoes.
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You should absolutely try using the Sungold for sauce.
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Big Mama is a paste tomato you can use instead of Romas.
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A classic medium orange tomato, the Jaune Flamme grows well in SoCal and doesn't disappoint.
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Wonderfully sweet and perfectly acidic, Midnight Snack was recommended by the owner of Tomatomania, Scott Daigre.
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Striped green, purple and gold, Persuasions are sweet and Scott Daigre's tomato of the year.
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- Rebel Starfighter Prime: Shaped like a heart, bizarre purple, rose and gold stripes, and meaty. You'll be surprised by its weight. Interesting and delicious. Daigre struggled to get this for years and was finally able to grow enough for customers to purchase.
- Midnight Snack: One of Daigre's favorite cherry tomatoes, this is a red version of the Indigo Kumquat (my favorite), a wonderfully sweet cherry tomato with blue shoulders. By the way, tomatoes with blue shoulders often ripen later in the season, according to Daigre. So give them time to develop — it's worth the wait.
- Persuasion: Daigre's tomato of the year. A saladette — meant to be cut into four perfectly sized slices in a salad — with a pink base, apricot stripes and blue shoulders. It won't get mushy when you toss it around with your favorite veggies, cheese and dressing.
- Jaune Flamme: A medium orange tomato that's got a good balance of sweetness and acidity. You're missing out if you haven't picked and eaten one, warmed by the sun, right from the vine. Great for salads.
- Big Mama: A paste tomato that's sweet and pleasant enough to eat. Daigre says it offers more flavor than standard Romas.
- Sungold: A tried and true variety that many of you have heard of, but this recommendation stood out because Daigre said people should use it to make sauce. I can confirm, having had too many Sungolds for salads in multiple years, that they make a wonderful sauce. Fruity, tangy and bright. It's like pouring summer out of a jar when you finally eat it during the dark winter months.
Gardeners at Tomatomania in Encino.
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Tomato growing tips
- Make sure your tomatoes get six to eight hours of sun.
- Regular fertilization with a standard tomato fertilizer can help, especially if you're growing in pots.
- Want to know whether to water? Stick your finger in the soil. If it feels wet, don't. If it's dry, water away.
- If you have the option, get the sturdiest cages you can find. I've had tomatoes grow eight feet tall when given the opportunity.
- If you're planting in pots make sure that they're at least 15 gallons so the tomatoes have room to grow.
Find Tomatomania in Encino, Moorpark, Ojai, Santa Monica, Hollywood and more locations in the coming weeks.
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
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