Celebrity Tomato in Zone 6A — Midwest

Celebrity Tomato is a great choice for Midwest gardens because it consistently delivers delicious, medium-large fruit perfect for slicing, sauces, and canning. Its excellent disease resistance means even with our sometimes humid summers, you'll likely get a good harvest. Plus, nothing beats the taste of a homegrown tomato ripened in the summer sun!

Our Midwest weather can be unpredictable, with late frosts in spring and occasional summer heat spells. But with Celebrity's relatively short 70-day maturity and our roughly 178-day growing season, you have plenty of time to get a bountiful harvest if you start seeds at the right time.

Starting Celebrity Tomato indoors is the way to go here in the Midwest to get a jump on our growing season. Aim to start your seeds mid-March through early April, about six weeks before you plan to transplant them outdoors. That timing lets you avoid the risk of late frost.

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, either with a grow light or a sunny window. I've found bottom watering helps prevent damping-off. It's easy to do: just set the tray in a shallow container of water and let the soil soak it up from the bottom.

Remember our springs here in the Midwest can be variable, so be prepared to protect your seedlings if we get an unexpected cold snap.

Once the danger of frost has passed, usually early May through early June, it's time to transplant your Celebrity Tomato seedlings outdoors. Before you do, harden them off by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week. This helps them adjust to the sun and wind.

Plant them 24-36 inches apart in fertile soil that drains well. Keep an eye on the weather forecast around transplant time. Those early May days can be warm, but we can still get a late frost, so be ready to cover your plants if needed.

Celebrity Tomatoes need consistent moisture to produce their best, especially here in the Midwest where we can have periods of both heat and humidity. While we get good rainfall, it's not always consistent, so knowing how to water is key. A good rule of thumb is to aim for about 1-2 inches of water per week, including rainfall.

Stick your finger about 2 inches into the soil near the base of the plant. If it feels dry, it's time to water. Water deeply at the base of the plant rather than overhead to help prevent fungal diseases, which can be a problem with our moderate-to-humid conditions.

If the leaves start to wilt even when the soil is moist, you might be overwatering. Yellowing leaves can also be a sign of overwatering. On the other hand, if the leaves are dry and brittle, you're likely underwatering. A layer of mulch around the base of your plants helps retain moisture and suppress weeds. Straw or shredded bark work well in our climate.

Celebrity Tomatoes are considered determinate, but they can still get pretty bushy, so providing support is important. They're not quite as sprawling as indeterminate varieties, so medium-height cages or sturdy stakes work well.

Install your chosen support at planting time to avoid damaging the roots later. As the plant grows, gently guide the branches inside the cage or tie them to the stake with soft twine. This will keep the fruit off the ground and prevent the plant from collapsing under its own weight.

You can expect your first Celebrity Tomato harvest mid-July through late August, about 70 days after transplanting. The fruits will be medium-large and a deep red color. They should feel firm but have a slight give when gently squeezed.

To harvest, simply twist the fruit gently until it separates from the vine. Avoid pulling, which can damage the plant. Keep harvesting regularly to encourage continued production. As we approach mid- October and the threat of frost looms, harvest any remaining green tomatoes and bring them indoors to ripen. They won't taste quite as good as vine-ripened ones, but they'll still be delicious.

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

Blossom Drop

• What it looks like: Flowers fall off the plant without setting fruit. Small fruit turns yellow and drops. The plant itself looks healthy, but no tomatoes develop.
• What causes it: Temperature stress, especially high nighttime temperatures (above 75°F) or very hot days (above 95°F). Also, low humidity, excess nitrogen, or poor pollination. Our summer heat spells can definitely trigger this.
• How to fix/prevent it: Be patient – fruit set usually resumes when temperatures moderate. Provide afternoon shade during extreme heat. Keep plants well-watered but avoid over-fertilizing, especially with nitrogen. Try hand-pollination by gently shaking the flowers.

Hornworms

• What it looks like: Large sections of leaves stripped overnight. You might find large (up to 4 inches long) 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 eggs on tomato plants, and the caterpillars feed voraciously.
• How to fix/prevent it: Handpick them and drop them in soapy water. They're big, so they're easy to spot. Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray is effective and organic. If you see a hornworm with white cocoons on its back, leave it alone – those are parasitic wasp eggs that will kill the hornworm and release beneficial wasps.

Early Blight

• What it looks like: Brown spots with concentric rings (a target or bullseye pattern) appear on the lower leaves first, then spread upward. Leaves yellow and eventually drop off.
• What causes it: A fungal disease (Alternaria solani) that thrives in warm, humid conditions. It spreads via soil splash onto the lower leaves. Our wet-summer rainfall and moderate-to-humid conditions can make this a problem.
• How to fix/prevent it: Remove and destroy affected leaves (don't compost them). Mulch around the base of the plants to prevent soil splash. Water at the base, not overhead. Improve air circulation by spacing plants adequately and pruning. Copper fungicide can slow the spread. Rotate crops yearly.

Midwest Specific Challenges: Our moderate-to-hot heat, moderate-to-humid humidity, and wet-summer rainfall can create ideal conditions for fungal diseases like early blight. Be vigilant about watering at the base of the plants and providing good air circulation. Summer heat spells can cause blossom drop, so provide shade during the hottest part of the day if needed.

Companion planting can help your Celebrity Tomatoes thrive in the Midwest. Basil is a great choice because it repels tomato hornworms and other pests, plus it improves the flavor of the tomatoes. Carrots are also good companions, as they help to loosen the soil and their scent deters some pests. Parsley attracts beneficial insects that prey on tomato pests. French marigolds planted nearby can help repel nematodes and other soil-borne pests.

Avoid planting brassicas (like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower) near your tomatoes, as they can stunt their growth. Fennel inhibits the growth of many plants, including tomatoes. Corn can also be a bad companion because it attracts corn earworms, which can also attack tomatoes.