Mike McGrath, the enormously popular host of the nationally-syndicated radio show, "You Bet Your Garden," an hour of "chemical-free horticultural hijinks" originating from the NPR affiliated WHYY, 90.9 FM, Philadelphia, will be talking tomatoes, 7 p.m. April 9, Community Room, Allentown Public Library, 1210 Hamilton St., Allentown.

The talk, "Swing Into Spring," is free and open to the public.

Gardening guru McGrath says that this is the perfect time to plan your garden and he is eager to answer your questions about organic gardening, especially about tomatoes.

"Tomatoes are the gateway drug to gardening," McGrath says in a recent phone interview. "I always say I would be out of business if supermarkets could produce a tasty tomato. People are after that ideal tomato taste and there is only one way to get it: Grow your own organically."

McGrath, who lives in the Emmaus area, was Editor-in-Chief of Rodale's Organic Gardening magazine for eight years (1991 - '97) and is the author of many books about gardening, most recently "You Bet Your Garden Guide to Growing Great Tomatoes: How to Grow Great Tasting Tomatoes in Any Backyard, Garden, or Container" (Fox Chapel Publishing, Paperback, 96 pp.)

"It's the third edition," McGrath says, explaining the long title. "There's much more information in this edition as well as color photos."

The book will be available for purchase at the library after his talk.

My "Question of the Day," to take off from his radio show, for McGrath was: How does a novice vegetable gardener like me approach the daunting task of starting an organic gardener?

"Start small," he recommends. "And create a raised bed, four feet by eight feet. Two, if you're feeling ambitious. And leave at least two feet between beds. People always underestimate how much room they need to work.

"And go to a nursery and buy plants. Don't start your gardening career by planting seeds in flat earth or even starting them indoors. Starting plants from seeds is an entirely different art than putting plants in your raised bed. There's enough failure in gardening in even the best conditions and you'll only get discouraged."

McGrath says raised beds are a better choice for gardeners because they drain easier than flat earth and the compost and fertilizer you put on the soil finds its way to the plants instead of spreading to your lawn.

Well, actually I had another Question of the Day for McGrath: How did you get into gardening?

"The usual way," says McGrath. "I was writing for Marvel Comics and I was at a party where I saw the most beautiful woman in the world. I wanted to get to know her, naturally, and when I talked to her I found out her ideal man would grow raspberries. When I got home that night I called a friend who knew something about gardening and he said, 'You're in luck. Raspberries grow themselves.'"

Growing raspberries is something McGrath still does for the most beautiful woman in the world -- his now-wife, Kathy -- freezing bags of raspberry puree to substitute in chocolate cake recipes all year long at their home.

And does Kathy help with the gardening?

"She waits for the bounty with open arms."