Tomato growers, it’s time. Time to see who out there can produce the biggest tomato in Lowndes County.
“The third annual Lowndes County Tomato Battle starts with a tomato education growing seminar and plant handout Tuesday, April 26 at the Lowndes County Farm Bureau office at 6 p.m.,” said Extension Service Agent Reid Nevins. Topics for the evening include growing tasty tomatoes, tomato varieties, tomato fertility and best management practices. Anyone interested in entering the contest will pay a $5 entry fee and receive two improved variety tomato plants to take home and plant. Participants then bring their largest tomato to the Extension office between July 1-15 for weigh-in. The largest tomato will earn prizes for the grower. The contest is open to the public.
Several counties will host tomato battles, testing participants’ gardening skills as they learn about new tomato varieties this spring. The battles are friendly competitions to introduce growers to varieties that are more disease-resistant than many grown by their parents and grandparents.
Frank Golden of Columbus took top honors in the 2015 Lowndes County Tomato Battle with a 22.83-ounce speciman of the Believe it Or Not variety.
This year’s contest is sponsored by Lowndes Farm Supply, the Lowndes County Extension Service and Palmer Home Greenhouses.
The Farm Bureau office, where the April 26 seminar takes place, is located at 101 Main St. in Columbus.
For more information about the seminar or contest, contact the Lowndes Extension Office, 662-328-2111.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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