Tomato Tasting Time: Planning a Fun Garden Party

Reader Contribution by Ira Wallace
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A perfectly ripe heirloom tomato is one of the great joys of summer, eagerly anticipated by gardeners all over the Southeast. I really like introducing folks to the many varieties we shepherd here at Southern Exposure.

Every year we host big tastings with 50-100 varieties of tomatoes plus dozens of peppers and melons at the Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello, Va., and the MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR at Seven Springs, Pa.

But a tomato tasting need not be such a large affair. A group of friends can get together in someone’s backyard or garden. Put up some tables, spread out everyone’s heirloom tomatoes and enjoy the taste. If this sounds like fun, here are some tips for organizing your own heirloom tomato party.

1. Pick a date when lots of tomatoes will be at their peak in your location. Here in central Virginia that period starts around August 1 and ends on mid-September. If the organizer is a new gardener or new to the area, ask lots of experienced local gardeners.

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