Celebrity Tomato in Zone 4B — Midwest

Celebrity Tomato is a great choice for Midwest gardens because it delivers reliable, delicious fruit even with our variable weather. The tomatoes are perfect for slicing, sauces, or just popping in your mouth straight from the vine. The satisfaction of growing your own tomatoes in the Midwest's fertile soil is hard to beat.

Our Midwest weather can be unpredictable, with late frosts and summer heat spells. But don't worry, the Celebrity Tomato's relatively short 70-day maturity means you can still get a great harvest within our 138-day growing season if you plan accordingly.

Starting your Celebrity Tomato seeds indoors is the way to go here in the Midwest. You'll want to sow your seeds early to late April, about six weeks before you plan to transplant them outside. This gives them a good head start, especially with our moderate-to-late spring.

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 – a grow light works best. Make sure to water from the bottom to encourage strong root growth and prevent damping off.

Wait until late May through late June to transplant your Celebrity Tomato seedlings outdoors. This is after the danger of frost has passed, which is always a risk here in the Midwest. Before planting them in the ground, harden them off for about a week by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions.

Plant your seedlings 24-36 inches apart in a sunny spot with fertile soil. Our weather can be unpredictable even in late spring, so keep an eye on the forecast and be prepared to cover your plants if a late frost threatens.

Celebrity Tomatoes need consistent moisture, especially during our Midwest summers. You want to aim for about 1-2 inches of water per week, whether it comes from rain or your hose. The "finger test" is your friend: stick your finger about 2 inches into the soil. If it feels dry, it's time to water.

With our moderate-to-humid conditions, it's best to water at the base of the plant to avoid getting the leaves wet, which can lead to fungal diseases. Signs of underwatering include wilting leaves and slow growth. Overwatering can cause yellowing leaves and root rot.

A good layer of mulch around your tomato plants helps retain moisture and suppress weeds, which is especially helpful during our wet-summer months.

Celebrity Tomatoes are a determinate variety, meaning they grow to a certain size and then stop. They're shorter than indeterminate types, so medium-height cages work well. Staking is also an option, but cages usually provide better support as the plant fills out.

Install your cages or stakes at planting time to avoid disturbing the roots later. As the plant grows, gently guide the branches inside the cage for support.

You can expect your first Celebrity Tomatoes to ripen from early August through mid September in our Zone 4B Midwest gardens. These tomatoes take about 70 days to mature. The fruits should be a deep red color and feel firm with just a slight give when gently squeezed.

Harvest by gently twisting the tomato from the vine, being careful not to damage the plant. Regular harvesting encourages continued production.

As late September approaches and our first frost looms, keep an eye on the weather. If frost is predicted, harvest any green tomatoes and bring them indoors to ripen. They'll ripen on a windowsill or in a paper bag.

Here are some common problems you might encounter with Celebrity Tomatoes in the Midwest:

Blossom Drop

• What it looks like: Flowers fall off without setting fruit. Small fruit yellows and drops. The plant looks healthy, but there's no fruit.
• What causes it: Temperature stress is the main culprit. In the Midwest, this is often due to our summer heat spells where nighttime temperatures stay above 75°F. Low humidity, excess nitrogen, or poor pollination can also cause it.
• How to fix/prevent it: Be patient – fruit set will usually resume when temperatures moderate. Provide afternoon shade during extreme heat. Keep plants well-watered. Avoid using fertilizers with excess nitrogen. You can also try hand-pollination, especially if you notice a lack of bees.

Hornworms

• What it looks like: Large sections of leaves stripped overnight. You'll find large (up to 4 inches) green caterpillars with white diagonal stripes. Look for dark droppings on the leaves below.
• What causes it: These are the larvae of hawk moths. The moths lay their eggs on tomato family plants, and the caterpillars feed voraciously.
• How to fix/prevent it: Handpicking is effective (and strangely satisfying!). Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray is an organic option that works well. If you see a hornworm with white cocoons on its back, leave it alone – those are parasitic wasp eggs that will eventually kill the hornworm and produce more beneficial wasps.

Early Blight

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

Midwest Specific Challenges: Our moderate-to-hot summers, moderate-to-humid humidity, and wet-summer rainfall can create favorable conditions for fungal diseases like early blight. Be vigilant about watering at the base of the plant and providing good air circulation to minimize these issues.

Good companions for Celebrity Tomatoes in the Midwest include basil, carrots, parsley, and French marigolds. Basil is thought to improve tomato flavor and repel pests. Carrots loosen the soil, benefiting tomato roots. Parsley attracts beneficial insects. French marigolds repel nematodes and other soil pests.

Avoid planting brassicas (like cabbage and broccoli), fennel, or corn near your tomatoes. Brassicas can stunt tomato growth. Fennel inhibits the growth of many plants. Corn can attract pests that also affect tomatoes.