You say Tomato? Once again, we say Tomatomania! This unique event brings Tomato enthusiasts from all over the east coast to our nursery. For 2009, we'll offer more than 100 varieties of Tomato seedlings, from the familiar hybrid beefsteaks to the rarest heirlooms, plus fertilizers, stakes, ties, containers, and a selection of herbs and vegetables to make this year's garden the best ever. Tomato guru Scott Daigre will be on hand, helping you choose among the many varieties and answering questions about growing Tomatoes for best yield and flavor. Meet author and expert Tomato grower Amy Goldman, who will autograph copies of her newest book, The Heirloom Tomato: From Garden to Table. Attend hands-on container planting workshops with White Flower Farm's own head gardener and nursery manager.
Top sellers you can expect to find again: 'Black Cherry', 'Brandywine', 'Copia', 'Green Zebra', 'Japanese Black Trifele', 'Martino's Roma', 'Matt's Wild Cherry', 'Sungold', 'Sweet 100', 'San Marzano', 'Striped German' (also known as 'Old German'), and 'Zapotec'.
Some varieties that will be making their first appearance at Tomatomania include 'Ramapo' (one of the Jersey hybrids from Rutgers University), French market Tomato 'Dona', and jumbo heirloom 'Giant Syrian'. And there are sure to be some late-breaking surprises!
Take a seat under our tent at the following times for free programs. If you can't join us at Tomatomania this year, shop from over 145 varieties on our Web site and click here to learn more about growing Tomatoes.
Friday, May 15 10:00-11:00 Tips for Growing Great Tomatoes - Scott Daigre and Amy Goldman
Friday, May 15 12:30-1:30 Container Design and Care - Cheryl Karpeichik Our Head Gardener gives you her tips on creating successful annual container collections. Learn how to plant and maintain annual combinations that perform throughout the growing season. Purchase plants and container (or bring your own), and we will provide potting mix and planting assistance.
Friday, May 15 1:00-2:00 Early Tomatoes - Scott Daigre
Saturday, May 16 10:00-11:00 Tips for Growing Great Tomatoes - Scott Daigre
Saturday, May 16 12:30-1:30 How to Plant and Care for Patio Vegetables - Barbara Pierson Our Nursery Manager explains the best practices for planting and producing delicious vegetables in containers. Purchase your plants and container (or bring your own), and we will provide potting mix and planting assistance.
Saturday, May 16 1:00-2:00 Early Tomatoes - Scott Daigre
Our Presenters
About Scott Daigre
Mr. Daigre has a passion for the tastiest Tomatoes, even those with wild shapes and unusual colors. To him, they all have personalities, and he can describe their features off the top of his head. He's the author of "Tomatomania! How to Grow Tomatoes Successfully in Southern California" and also is a garden consultant, instructor, and owner of his own garden design business. Don't miss this opportunity to get advice, share tips, or just meet others who love growing Tomatoes.
Scott Daigre at Tomatomania!
About Amy Goldman
We are thrilled to bring gifted grower, author, and devoted horticultural preservationist Amy Goldman to Tomatomania. She has tested 1,000 heirloom varieties in her own garden and chose 200 of them to feature in her practical, beautiful, and inspiring new book, The Heirloom Tomato: From Garden to Table. Ms. Goldman has made television appearances on Martha Stewart Living and PBS's The Victory Garden, and she has been profiled in The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Good Housekeeping, and Organic Gardening. Every summer she grows hundreds of different varieties of heirloom vegetables at her home in the Hudson Valley, NY. Her previous books include the acclaimed Melons for the Passionate Grower and The Compleat Squash. Amy Goldman is the Chairman of the Board of Seed Savers Exchange, a non-profit organization of gardeners dedicated to saving and sharing heirloom seeds.
Amy Goldman
About Cheryl Karpeichik
Cheryl Karpeichik, head gardener for almost a decade, began her adventures at White Flower Farm in 1988. She holds a degree in horticulture from the University of Connecticut and certificate in landscape design from the Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY. Ms. Karpeichik collaborated with Fergus Garrett of Great Dixter in the design of our 280-foot Lloyd Border.
Cheryl Karpeichik
About Barbara Pierson
Nursery manager since 1998, Ms. Pierson graduated from Cornell University with a degree in floriculture and ornamental horticulture, and developed her passion for plants while working at her parents' nursery. You may have seen (or heard) Barb in the garden videos posted on our Web site. She's also appeared on the Martha Stewart Living TV Show and WTIC's Garden Talk with Len and Lisa.
Experts will be on hand to answer your questions. 
Scott Daigre at Tomatomania! 
