Bexar County Master Gardeners

Top Tomato Contest

Saturday, June 10, 2023
Entries accepted: 9 – 11 am
Judging begins: 11 am, with results following.
Complete entry form for each submission.

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

Tomato Contest Information

Contest Divisions

• Cherry/Small Tomatoes
• Large/Medium Tomatoes
• Heaviest Tomato
• Basket of Plenty – Best Vegetable-and-Friends

Basic Entry Rules:

• Entries will be accepted from 9–11 am at Fanick’s Garden Center on Saturday, June 10.
• 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/
(4) – 2019 Entry. Photo: Billy Cox

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.  

Click here to download the BCMG Top Tomato Contest Flier

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

Contest sponsored by Espoma Organic

Bring David Your Gardening Questions!

David Rodriguez,
Texas A&M Extension Service – Horticulturist
and Host of WOAI Lawn and Garden Show

10 – 11 am

David will answer your questions on tomatoes, vegetable gardening, plant id, and more!

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

Additional information on Vegetable Gardening can be found in the
Bexar County Master Gardeners’
Gardening Library

____________________

The Bexar County Master Gardeners
Top Tomato Contest

Sponsored by

Fanick’s Garden Center
fanicks.com

In Cooperation with

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Bexar County
(http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/)