Bastrop County Extension & 4-H: Bexar County Top Tomato Contest

The Bexar County Master Gardener's Association is hosting a Top Tomato Contest! The contest is open to all ages of gardeners and hobbyists.

Bexar County Master Gardeners

Top Tomato Contest

Saturday June 15, 2019
Contest Entry: 9 – 11 am
Judging: 11 am – 12 pm
Winners announced after judging

Located at
Fanick’s Garden Center
1025 Holmgreen Rd.
San Antonio, TX, 78220

First 100 participants will receive a free 4-lb bag of
Espoma’s Organic Tomato Tone!

Tomato Contest Information

Contest Divisions

Cherry/Small Tomatoes (first, second and third place prizes)
Large/Medium Tomatoes (first, second, and third place prizes)
Heaviest Tomato (one prize)
Basket of Plenty – Best Vegetable-and-Friends (one prize)

Prizes:

Cherry/Small and Large/Medium Divisions:
- 3rd Place – $10 Fanick’s Gift Card
- 2nd Place – $25 Fanick’s Gift Card
- 1st Place – $50 Fanick’s Gift Card
Heaviest Tomato – $50 Fanick’s Gift Card
Basket of Plenty – Best Vegetable-and-Friends – $50 Fanick’s Gift Card
Best in Show – $50 Fanick’s Gift Card (Determined from the first place winners of the Cherry/Small Tomato and the Large/Medium Tomato divisions)

Basic Entry Rules:

Entries will be accepted from 9–11 am at Fanick’s Garden Center on Saturday, June 15.
Complete the entry form (one form for each entry) and bring with you on the day of the contest. Entry forms will also be available on the day of the contest.
Judging will begin at 11 am and winners will be announced when judging ends, around 12 pm.
Tomato entries must be home grown on vines planted and maintained by the contestant. Commercial growers are not eligible.
No more than one entry per division (i.e. one Cherry/Small Tomato entry, one Medium/Large Tomato entry, one Heaviest Tomato entry, and one Basket of Plenty – Vegetable-and-Friends entry) per person.
Open to Texas residents of all ages.
Entries not collected by the contestants by 1:00 pm will become the property of Bexar County Master Gardeners.

What Judges Will Be Looking For:

Cherry/Small Tomatoes

Entries must include a minimum of 6 tomatoes.
If possible, 1/2″ stems (calyx) should be left on and be green and fresh.
Uniformity in size, color, shape and maturity of the tomatoes is important. Mature tomato color is dependent on the variety of the tomato.
Tomatoes should be free of blemishes of any type.

Large/Medium Tomatoes

Entries must include a minimum of three tomatoes.
If possible, 1/2″ stems (calyx) should be left on and be green and fresh.
Uniformity in size, color, shape and maturity of the tomatoes is important. Mature tomato color is dependent on the variety of the tomato.
Tomatoes should be free of blemishes of any type.

Heaviest Tomato

Entry is one tomato only. Must be declared on the entry form to be entered in the Heaviest Tomato contest only.
If possible, 1/2″ stems (calyx) should be left on and be green and fresh.
In the event of a tie in weight, the circumference of the entry will determine the winner.
If the weight and circumference are equal then the judges will make the determination by the looks of the tomato.

Basket of Plenty – Best Vegetable-and-Friends

Basket, or other container, cannot exceed 20″ in diameter (or 20″ in width and length).
Arrangement must contain at least 50% vegetables, with the rest an optional mix of herbs, fruit, greenery, and/or flowers from your garden.
Freshness matters. Plan a design that will have your basket contents looking their best. (See our tips section below for ideas on how to keep your entry fresh )
Examples:

Photo Credits:
(1) – https://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/holidays-occasions/easter-centerpiece
(2) – https://vegebouquet.co.nz/products/zero-waste-bouquet
(3) – https://pixabay.com/photos/vegetables-vegetable-basket-harvest-752153/

Note: All supplies including wet floral foam, wooden picks, and flower tubes/picks should be available at craft and hobby stores and floral supply stores. The fruit and vegetables pictured above may not be in season for the June Top Tomato Contest. THESE ARE ONLY EXAMPLES. Many more examples may be found on Pinterest and other sites. Please follow all Contest rules as stated on the BCMG website.

All decisions of the judges, including eligibility at the time of entering, are final.

Salsa Making Demonstrations and Tasting

Salsas and tomatoes go hand-in-hand! Join Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Nutrition staff and volunteers as they demonstrate the art of making your own salsa. Tastings will be provided.

Helpful links

Bexar County Youth Gardens Program Blog – This blog, and it’s archives, provide a excellent resource for the beginning vegetable gardener. Weekly posts share what is currently being done in the garden, including plant selections, planting techniques, fertilization, garden maintenance and harvesting.
Easy Gardening – Disease Control – Texas A&M AgriLife publication on disease control in the home vegetable garden.
Easy Gardening – Harvesting, Handling, and Storing Vegetables – Texas A&M AgriLife publication on harvesting, handling, and storing vegetables from the home garden.
Easy Gardening – Tomatoes – Texas A&M AgriLife publication on growing tomatoes in the home garden.
How to Use Floral Foam – Helpful tips from The Spruce website.
Tomato Problem Solver – Aggie Horticulture website. A Guide to the Identification of Common Problems