University Advancement

Public Relations and Strategic Communications

NEWS RELEASE

CSUN-al Gardening Class to Offer Tips on Growing Tomatoes

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Feb. 22, 2007) — Southern California gardeners enjoy a long growing season, especially when it comes to tomatoes. Cal State Northridge’s CSUN-al Gardening series is offering a free course on Saturday, March 10, on finding the right tomatoes for your garden.

Making the presentation will be Scott Daigre, owner of Powerplant Garden Design and Tomatomania! Well-versed in horticulture, Daigre is author of "Tomatomania! How to Grow Tomatoes in Southern California." His garden designs have been featured on the DIY and HGTV networks.

"Scott Daigre will explain his strategy for tomato planting and how to select varieties of tomato best suited for gardens in the San Fernando Valley," said Brenda Kanno, acting manager of CSUN’s Botanic Garden, which hosts the CSUN-al Gardening series. "Mr. Daigre also will discuss his favorite heirloom tomatoes and recent introductions to the tomato world. He is eager to share his tomato knowledge with the people attending the class."

Due to the high demand for the course last year, the class will be offered twice on March 10. The first session is scheduled for 9 to 10:30 a.m., with the second session following from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

While the class is free, registration is required due to limited seating. To register, e-mail botanicgarden@csun.edu or call (818) 677-3496. Do not forget to indicate which session you wish to attend. Directions, parking information and classroom location will be sent with the confirmation of registration.

The Cal State Northridge Botanic Garden is operated by the university’s Department of Biology and serves as a field site for botany, entomology, photography, painting and other classes. In addition to outdoor landscapes and natural botanic environments, the garden also features a greenhouse where rare and unusual plants are grown. The garden is open to the community.

For more information about the Botanic Garden, visit its Web site at www.csun.edu/botanicgarden/.