Tomato superstar Brad Gates to offer his top tips

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/.