Celebrity Tomato in Zone 10A — Desert Southwest

Celebrity Tomato is a fantastic choice for Desert Southwest gardens. Its reliable flavor, medium size, and disease resistance make it a winner in our challenging climate. You'll enjoy fresh tomatoes in salads, sandwiches, and sauces from your very own garden.

While the extreme heat and arid conditions of the Desert Southwest present unique obstacles, our long growing season of 339 days gives you two chances to grow warm-season crops. With proper timing and care, you can absolutely succeed with Celebrity Tomato.

Starting Celebrity Tomato indoors is the way to go in our region. Begin your seeds indoors from mid-December through early January. This gives you about 6 weeks to get a head start before transplanting.

Use seed trays or small pots filled with a good seed-starting mix. Keep them warm (around 70-75°F) and provide plenty of light with grow lights. Don't forget to water from the bottom to encourage strong root growth and avoid damping off. This early start takes advantage of our very-early spring character and helps your plants mature before the worst of the summer heat hits.

Transplant your Celebrity Tomato seedlings outdoors from early February through early March. This is when the danger of frost has passed in most areas of the Desert Southwest. Before planting, harden off your seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week.

Space your plants 24-36 inches apart in well-draining soil. Keep an eye on the weather forecast for unexpected cold snaps that can still occur this time of year. Be ready to cover your young plants if needed.

Celebrity Tomato needs consistent moisture to thrive, especially in our arid Desert Southwest climate. While it has good disease resistance, that doesn't mean you can neglect watering! During the spring growing season, water deeply 2-3 times per week, providing about 1-2 inches of water each time.

Use the "finger test" – stick your finger into the soil about 2 inches deep. If it feels dry, it's time to water. In the extreme heat of summer, you'll likely need to water every day, or even twice a day, to keep the soil consistently moist.

Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, which can encourage fungal diseases, although our low humidity helps mitigate this. Signs of underwatering include wilting leaves and blossom end rot (a dark spot on the bottom of the tomato). Overwatering can lead to yellowing leaves and root rot. A layer of mulch around the base of the plant will help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.

Celebrity Tomato is a determinate variety, meaning it grows to a certain size and then stops. However, it can still get fairly large and needs support. Cages or stakes work well for this medium-height plant.

Install your chosen support at planting time to avoid disturbing the roots later. Gently tie the main stem to the stake as it grows, or guide the plant into the cage. This will keep the fruit off the ground and prevent the plant from toppling over in our occasional monsoon winds.

You can expect your first Celebrity Tomato harvest from mid-April through early June. This timing lets you enjoy tomatoes before the worst of the summer heat slows production. The tomatoes are ready to pick when they are medium-large, red, and firm with a slight give when gently squeezed.

Grasp the tomato gently and twist or snip it off the vine, being careful not to damage the plant. Regular harvesting encourages continued production. As late December approaches and the first frost threatens, harvest any remaining green tomatoes and bring them indoors to ripen. They'll ripen on a windowsill or in a paper bag.

Here are the top 3 problems you might encounter with Celebrity Tomato in the Desert Southwest:

Blossom Drop

• What it looks like: Flowers fall off without setting fruit. Small fruit yellows and drops. The plant looks healthy, but produces no tomatoes.
• What causes it: Temperature stress is the main culprit. Tomatoes don't set fruit well when nights stay above 75°F or days exceed 95°F. Low humidity, excess nitrogen, or poor pollination can also contribute.
• How to fix/prevent it: Be patient – fruit set usually resumes when temperatures moderate in the fall. Provide afternoon shade during extreme heat. Keep plants well-watered, but avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen. Try hand-pollination by gently shaking the flower clusters.

Hornworms

• What it looks like: Large sections of leaves stripped overnight. Large (up to 4 inches) green caterpillars with white diagonal stripes. Dark droppings on leaves below.
• What causes it: These are the larvae of hawk moths. The eggs are laid on tomato family plants, and the caterpillars feed voraciously.
• How to fix/prevent it: Handpick them – they're big and easy to spot (though they blend in well!). Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray is effective and organic. If you see white cocoons on a hornworm, leave it alone – those are parasitic wasp eggs that will kill the hornworm and produce more beneficial wasps.

Early Blight

• What it looks like: Brown spots with concentric rings (target or bullseye pattern) on lower leaves first, spreading upward. Leaves yellow and drop.
• What causes it: This fungal disease (Alternaria solani) thrives in warm, humid conditions, although it is less common in our arid conditions. It spreads via soil splash onto lower leaves.
• How to fix/prevent it: Remove and destroy affected leaves (don't compost them!). Mulch around the base of the plant to prevent soil splash. Water at the base, not overhead. Improve air circulation by spacing plants properly and pruning. Copper fungicide can slow the spread. Rotate your crops yearly.

Desert Southwest Specific Challenges: The extreme heat of our summers can cause blossom drop and sunscald on the fruit. Consistent watering is crucial due to our low humidity and water scarcity. The monsoon rainfall can increase the risk of fungal diseases, so good air circulation and watering practices are important.

Companion planting can help your Celebrity Tomato thrive in the Desert Southwest. Basil is a great companion because it repels tomato hornworms and other pests. Carrots improve the soil structure and attract beneficial insects. Parsley also attracts beneficial insects and can improve the flavor of tomatoes. French marigolds deter nematodes and other soil pests.

Avoid planting brassicas (like cabbage and broccoli) near tomatoes, as they can inhibit tomato growth. Fennel is also a poor companion, as it inhibits the growth of many plants. Corn can attract tomato pests and compete for resources.