SO YOU THINK YOU CAN GROW THE TASTIEST TOMS? THE GRAND FINAL! - 11/08/2009

'Tomatoes don't taste like they used to,' or The ones I grow taste much better than the ones you can buy.

Whenever we meet the public at food shows and other events, that’s what we are often told. So once again we are going to put it to the test! For the third year running we are sponsoring a competition, open to everyone, of any age, amateurs versus professionals, gardeners versus growers, to find the tastiest tomato.

The competition will be held during the famous Totally Tomato Show at West Dean Gardens near Chichester on 5th and 6th September 2009.

In the first year, honours were pretty even between gentleman and players, gardeners and growers, but with the title going to a Hampshire back garden crop. In Year 2 entries came from as far afield as Norfolk and Cornwall, Lancashire and the Isle of Wight. The professionals really piled on the pressure and, in a soggy summer, made the most of their facilities and skills to sweep the board. Growers from the Island returned across the Solent with an Olympian hoard of silverware, having been awarded the first three places.

So it's crunch time, the big decider, the final countdown. Tomato growing just doesn't get any tougher.

For the 2009 competition there will be three categories for different sizes of fruit, with the winner of each category receiving an engraved plaque together with an entry voucher to West Dean Gardens. The winners will then be judged against each other to decide on the overall champion and recipient of the Len Summerton Cup.

Competition details and rules are available on the entry forms which can be found on the TGA website, www.britishtomatoes.co.uk or the West Dean Gardens site www.westdean.org.uk or by post by telephoning the TGA on 01243 554859. Entries can only be accepted in person from visitors to the Totally Tomato Show.

Entry form