Celebrity Tomato in Zone 5B — Great Plains

Celebrity Tomato is a great choice for Plains gardeners. You'll get reliable yields of flavorful, medium-sized tomatoes perfect for slicing, salads, and sauces. Its disease resistance is a real plus, especially with our variable rainfall and the occasional humidity spike we see in the summer.

Our extreme temperature swings and the risk of hail can be stressful, but Celebrity's relatively short maturity time means you can get a good harvest even in our 178-day growing season. Starting seeds indoors at the right time gives you a head start.

Start your Celebrity Tomato seeds indoors from mid-March through early April, about six weeks before you plan to transplant them outside. Use seed trays or small pots filled with a good seed-starting mix. Keep the soil consistently moist, and bottom watering helps prevent damping-off.

Place the trays in a warm location, ideally around 70-75°F, and provide plenty of light using grow lights or a sunny south-facing window. Be aware that spring in the Plains can be unpredictable; even with a sunny window, supplemental light ensures strong, healthy seedlings.

Transplant your Celebrity Tomato seedlings outdoors from early May through early June, after the last expected frost. Before transplanting, harden off your seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week. This is important to avoid shocking them with our extreme temperature swings.

Space plants 24-36 inches apart in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. The Plains can still have some blustery days in May, so protect young transplants from wind with temporary shelters or by planting in a sheltered location.

Celebrity Tomatoes need consistent moisture, especially during our hot Plains summers. While the variety has great disease resistance, it's not drought-tolerant and needs regular watering. Aim for about 1-2 inches of water per week, depending on rainfall.

Use the "finger test" to check soil moisture: stick your finger about 2 inches deep into the soil near the base of the plant. If it feels dry, it's time to water. Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, which can encourage disease in our sometimes humid conditions.

In the peak of summer, you might need to water daily, especially if the plants are in containers. Signs of underwatering include wilting leaves and dry, cracked soil. Overwatering can lead to yellowing leaves and root rot. Mulching around the base of the plants with straw or wood chips helps retain moisture and regulate soil temperature, essential in our climate.

Celebrity Tomato is a determinate variety, but it still benefits from support. It tends to be shorter than other determinate varieties. Medium-height cages or sturdy stakes work well to keep the plant upright and prevent the fruit from touching the ground.

Install the support at planting time to avoid disturbing the roots later. As the plant grows, gently guide the stems inside the cage or tie them loosely to the stake. Given the strong winds we often experience on the Plains, a good support system is essential to prevent breakage and keep your plants healthy.

Expect your first Celebrity Tomatoes from mid-July through late August, about 70 days after transplanting. The fruits are ready to harvest when they are a deep red color, firm to the touch, but with a slight give.

Gently twist or cut the tomato from the vine, being careful not to damage the plant. Regular harvesting encourages continued production. As the first frost approaches in mid-October, harvest any remaining green tomatoes and bring them indoors to ripen. They will ripen best if kept in a single layer in a cool, dark place.

Here are the top 3 problems to watch out for with Celebrity Tomatoes in the Great Plains:

Blossom Drop

• What it looks like: Flowers fall off without setting fruit. Small fruit yellows and drops. Plant looks healthy but produces no fruit.
• What causes it: Temperature stress. Peppers and tomatoes don't set fruit well when nights stay above 75°F or days exceed 95°F. Also caused by low humidity, excess nitrogen, or poor pollination. This is common with our extreme temperature swings.
• How to fix/prevent it: Be patient — fruit set resumes when temperatures moderate. Provide afternoon shade during extreme heat. Keep plants well-watered. Avoid excess nitrogen. Try hand-pollination.

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: Larvae of hawk moths. Eggs laid on tomato family plants. Caterpillars feed voraciously and can defoliate plants quickly. They can be difficult to spot, so look closely.
• How to fix/prevent it: Handpick (they don't bite). Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray is effective and organic. If you see white cocoons on a hornworm, leave it — those are parasitic wasp eggs that will kill it 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: Fungal disease (Alternaria solani) that thrives in warm, humid conditions. Spreads via soil splash onto lower leaves. While the Plains have low-to-moderate humidity overall, we get periods of high humidity and heavy rains that promote this disease.
• How to fix/prevent it: Remove and destroy affected leaves (don't compost). Mulch to prevent soil splash. Water at the base, not overhead. Improve air circulation through spacing and pruning. Copper fungicide slows spread. Rotate crops yearly.

Great Plains Specific Challenges: The hot summer heat, variable rainfall, and occasional periods of high humidity can stress Celebrity Tomatoes. Consistent watering, good air circulation, and vigilant monitoring for pests and diseases are key to a successful harvest.

Companion planting can really help your Celebrity Tomatoes thrive. Basil is a great companion because it repels tomato hornworms and other pests. Carrots improve soil aeration and can deter nematodes. Parsley attracts beneficial insects that prey on tomato pests. French marigolds are known to repel nematodes and other soil pests.

Avoid planting brassicas (like cabbage and broccoli) near tomatoes, as they can stunt tomato growth. Fennel inhibits the growth of many plants, including tomatoes. Corn can attract tomato pests and diseases, and its height can shade your tomato plants, which isn't ideal in our region where sunshine is so intense.