Bob Zeni, aka the Chicago Tomato Man, expects to produce nearly 10,000 tomato plants this year, his biggest harvest yet. But Zeni says to get your orders in ASAP — he’s already selling out of certain varieties.
Who is the Chicago Tomato Man?
It was actually Zeni's hatred of grocery store tomatoes that led him to growing the fruit, he told Hey Chicago.
Tired of "tasteless travesties" and "red water balloons," the avid gardener began to grow the plants in his LaGrange basement about 25 years ago. A neighbor suggested he sell his plants instead of giving away extras.
Since his first backyard sale over a decade ago, Zeni said the Chicago Tomato Man business is a “hobby that’s gone berserk.” He now sells more than 120 varieties of tomato plants at pop-ups from Beverly to Evanston.
Tomato plant orders arranged by pop-up pick-up location. (Courtesy of the Chicago Tomato Man)
But What Makes Grocery Store Tomatoes So Bad?
Sugars in a tomato begin to degrade after being picked. A tomato from a grocery store might spend two weeks to a month off the vine before you buy it, Zeni said.
“Once someone tastes a real tomato, an heirloom tomato, fresh off the vine, it's a transformative experience, and I hope everybody gets the opportunity to have that experience,” Zeni said.
Where to Start With Your Tomato Plants
- 🍅 Have limited space or light? Get a tabletop plant — it’s only 12 inches tall. You can make mistakes without losing too much time or money.
- 🍅 Watering too much or too little is a common offense: A tomato plant thrives in soil that stays moist like a sponge.
- 🍅 Give tomato plants fertilizer every two weeks.
