Tomato contestant: Bob Clark of Setauket

Bob Clark of Setauket has tried a different tomato-growing approach this year -- and it appears to be working for him. He writes, “I never realized how much less work, and more fun, you can have with container vegetable gardening. This year I have tried growing everything I could in containers — corn, eggplant, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, and various herbs. We have had great success — you cannot tell the difference from in-ground plantings.” Here's hoping one of Clark's container-grown tomatoes finds its way to the Challenge!

Are you in?

Mark your calendars: This year’s contest will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 23 at Newsday headquarters (235 Pinelawn Rd., Melville). Give your plants plenty of tender loving care all summer long, then bring your biggest, heaviest ripe fruit to the event.

I'll be on hand to weigh your tomatoes personally and crown the 2013 Tomato King or Queen. In the meantime, send a photo of yourself with your tomato plants, along with details about your growing strategy, to jessica.damiano@newsday.com, and you might be featured next.