Tomato fans throng Descanso Gardens

Backyard gardeners of all ages with a passion for tomatoes turned out Saturday and Sunday at Descanso Gardens to experience the annual “Tomatomania!” sale of heirloom and hybrid varieties of the plant.

Those who wanted to learn how to get the best harvest this year were also able to take advantage of a free class, “How to grow perfect tomatoes,” offered on Descanso’s expansive Main Lawn.

PHOTOS: Tomatomania at Descanso Gardens

The “Tomatomania!” community of experts, led by Scott Daigre, owner of Powerplant Garden Design in Ojai, was launched at the former Hortus in Pasadena. For the Descanso sale, they delivered about 5,600 plants representing 141 varieties. Such sales are held regularly around the Southland; this weekend they’ll be offering the seedlings at Otto & Sons Nursery in Fillmore.

-- Carol Cormaci, carol.cormaci@latimes.com

Follow on Twitter: @CarolCormaci.