All About Tomato Fest. . .

The South Laguna Community Garden Park will hold the second annual “Laguna Beach Tomato-Fest Seedling Sale and Fundraiser” on Sunday, May 4, from 10AM to 12PM at the Garden Park. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind sale featuring tomatoes of all shapes and sizes that are specifically adapted to our coastal climate. Last year was such a success that we have doubled the number of plants and added eight new varieties! We have once again acquired a selection of unique, disease-resistant seeds from specialized seed companies that include heirlooms and hard-to-find hybrids, most of which are unavailable from nurseries, and some of which fetch $2 a seed! All six-hundred plants have been seeded and cared for by Community Garden members, and all proceeds benefit the Garden Park. Suggested donation is $5 each or $20 for five plants. Last year we sold out early!

31610 Coast Highway at Eagle Rock in South Laguna

Varieties from top left to bottom right:

Japanese Black Trifele: Despite its name, this is a Russian Heirloom with fruits that are a beautiful mahogany,  pear-shaped with green shoulders on potato leaf plants. They have a slightly salty and smoky flavor and are some of the most prolific tomatoes I've grown into the winter. They are very resistant to fusarium and Verticillium. 

Cherokee Rose: This is an exciting addition from "Wild Boar Farms" run by Bradley Gates who created the famous "Brad's Atomic Grape." "Cherokee Rose" is a variation of "Cherokee Purple" that was isolated from the growing fields and has the same impressive disease resistance with a different profile. This unique rouge fruit has a unique almost fuzzy appearance and a ripe stone fruit taste; highly resistant to Verticillium and Fusarium. 

Rebelski: A new hybrid that is bred to have the most desirable characteristics of heirloom French varieties with shiny bright red ribbed fruits and great flavor. 

Disease Resistance:

• Fusarium Crown and Root Rot (High)
• Fusarium Wilt races 1, 2 (High)
• Powdery Mildew (High)
• Resistant to Leaf Molds A-E (High)
• Tobacco Mosaic Virus (High)
• Verticillium Wilt (High)

Galahad: Fantastic flavor and excellent disease resistance make this one a great choice if you like classic red tomatoes. This is an All American Selections winner. Disease Resistance:

• Early Blight (Intermediate)
• Fusarium Wilt races 1–3 (High)
• Gray Leaf Spot (High)
• Late Blight (High)
• Nematodes (High)
• Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (High)
• Verticillium Wilt (High)

Juliet: One of the most reliable and most productive "mini romas" out there. These plants make fruit all summer long and keep producing into the winter, as the tomatoes get smaller and sweeter. We grow hundreds of these every year for the tomato sale. extremely resistant to Fusarium and Verticilium and other fungal diseases. 

Clementine: Plants produce beautiful trusses of tangerine fruits with tropical sweet flavors. This is a favorite amongst gardeners.  

Disease Resistance:

• Fusarium Wilt races 1 (High)
• Verticillium Wilt (High 

Chef's Choice Yellow: An AAS Winner with reliable production and uniform bright yellow beef-steak type fruits with a bright citrus flavor. Resistant to Fusarium wilt, verticillium wilt, tomato mosiac virus, crack, and scab. 

Granadero: The most prolific Roma according to Johnny's seeds. Great flavor and thick walls make this a favorite for salsas and sauces. Low susceptibility to blossom end rot. 

Disease Resistance:

• Fusarium Wilt races 1, 2 (High)
• Nematodes (Intermediate)
• Tomato Mosaic Virus (High)
• Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (Intermediate)
• Verticillium Wilt (High)

Atomic Grape: 

Honey Bee:

Cherokee Green:

Barry's Crazy Cherry:

Crimson Carmello:

Cherokee Purple:

Gin-Fizz: