A problem with Mexico in Sacramento

Pete Frichette's Mexico plant may produce a big tomato yet. (Photo courtesy Pete Frichette)

Not all heirloom varieties thrive in the Big Tomato



Pete Frichette has a reputation to defend. Harvesting hundreds of tomatoes off a single plant or trophy-size 2-pound heirlooms, he earned special status in the Big Tomato as a grower extraordinaire. In addition, he generously shares seedlings as well as recommendations and his abundant crop.

Then, along came Mexico. In his Greenhaven garden, this heirloom variety became such a spectacular flop, he reached out to other gardeners to get their opinions.

What went wrong with Mexico? Was it weather? Smoke? Climate? The wrong seed?

His trials and tribulations over Mexico show that any gardener, even longtime experts, can have underperforming plants. Some varieties do better in different regions. Not every tomato was meant to thrive in California.

This year, Frichette planted Mexico for the first time, ordering the seed off its glowing praise in the variety's description by the seed company. Mexico promised both "large fruit and generous numbers. … Expect steady, continuous production of tomatoes that weigh more than 1 pound throughout the growing season."

Debbie Arrington harvested these smallish tomatoes from her Mexico plant. They don't at all match the seed company's description for the variety. (Photo: Debbie Arrington)

"I wish it were true," Frichette said in a letter to the seed company. "We get kind of competitive out here in California. Most home gardeners want to have the first ripe tomato and then the biggest tomato."

Frichette ordered two packets, which produced 24 healthy seedlings. He kept one and gave the others to gardening friends and avid tomato growers, including myself.

"After a couple of months, I inquired as to their success," he said. "Most of them were kinder than I ever imagined, but it came out later that most of them had yanked the plants after waiting to see the first flowers, which never arrived. They never complained or even kidded me.

"I do enjoy a bit of a reputation as a tomato grower and a tomato sharer here in Sacramento, CA," he added. "The local garden editors have written several articles (regarding) my tomato growing and several have contained pictures. I’ve been referred to as the 'Tomato Baron' and Sacramento's 'Tomato King.' All good until the bomb of the Mexico.