Wild Boar Farms breeder will be at Green Acres in Auburn and Sacramento
Brad Gates, right, answer questions from gardeners after his tomato presentation at Green Acres' Sacramento store in February 2023. Other attendees look over the tomato plant selection he brought with him. Kathy Morrison
The man who brought us more colorful (and flavorful) tomatoes is giving local gardeners an opportunity to get his tomato-growing advice at two in-person events.
Brad Gates, who introduced such popular tomato varieties as Berkeley Tie-Dye and Brad’s Atomic Grape, will be the February guest of “Garden Talk” at Green Acres Nursery & Supply in Auburn and Sacramento.
Gates is the owner of Wild Boar Farms, famous for its multicolored varieties with crazy names. Wild Boar produces “the most outrageous tomato varieties available on the planet,” Gates says on his website. “Our focus is in breeding stunning-looking tomato varieties with extreme flavor. ...
"Our tomato varieties are the result of many years of hard work growing tens of thousands of plants, being very picky about seed selection and capitalizing on some amazing gifts from Mother Nature.”
Gates is always working on new varieties to add to Wild Boar’s collection. Seeds are available online at https://www.wildboarfarms.com/. Transplants will be available at Green Acres as well as Talini’s Nursery, The Plant Foundry and Redwood Barn Nursery in early spring.
“Tomatoes have changed more in the last 10 years than they have in their entire existence,” Gates adds. “The bar is being raised and tomato lovers can now reap the rewards. I consider these tomato varieties the ‘Heirlooms of the Future.’ ”
At 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, Gates will preview his new tomato introductions for 2024 as well as offer his tomato growing tips at the Green Acres at Eisley’s, 380 Nevada St. in Auburn.
At 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, Gates will repeat his Garden Talk and share new varieties at Green Acres’ Sacramento store and nursery, 8501 Jackson Road.
Admission to each event is free.
For more details and directions: https://idiggreenacres.com/.
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Garden Checklist for week of May 5
Survey your garden after the May 4 rainstorm. Heavy rain and gusty winds can break the neck of large flowers such as roses. Also:
* Keep an eye on new transplants or seedlings; they could take a pounding from the rain.
* Watch out for powdery mildew. Warmth following moist conditions can cause this fungal disease to “bloom,” too. If you see a leaf that looks like it’s dusted with powdered sugar, snip it off.
* After the storm, start setting out tomato transplants, but wait on the peppers and eggplants (they want warmer nights). Pinch off any flowers on new transplants to make them concentrate on establishing roots instead of setting premature fruit.
* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.
* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.
* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.
* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, radishes and squash.
* Plant onion sets.
* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias. Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.
* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom.
* Don’t wait; plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.
* Harvest cabbage, lettuce, peas and green onions.
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