Celebrity Tomato in Zone 6B — Mountain West

Celebrity Tomato is a fantastic choice for us high-altitude gardeners. Its reliable yields, delicious flavor, and disease resistance make it a winner, even with our intense sun and cool nights. You'll be rewarded with a bounty of tomatoes perfect for slicing, sauces, and everything in between.

Our short growing season and unpredictable weather can be a challenge, but Celebrity's relatively quick 70-day maturity means you can absolutely enjoy homegrown tomatoes. With careful planning and a little protection, you can make the most of our 163-day season and harvest plenty of tomatoes before the first frost hits.

Starting your Celebrity Tomato seeds indoors is key to getting a head start. Aim to sow your seeds late March through mid April, about six weeks before you plan to transplant them outdoors. This timing takes our late spring into account, ensuring seedlings are ready when the weather cooperates.

Use seed trays or small pots filled with a good seed-starting mix. Keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy. Bottom watering is a great way to prevent damping-off. Place the trays in a warm location, ideally around 70-75°F, and provide plenty of light. A grow light works wonders, especially with our intense UV up here, preventing leggy seedlings.

Transplanting your Celebrity Tomato seedlings outdoors should happen early May through early June, once the danger of frost has passed. Before planting, harden off your seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week. This helps them adjust to our intense sun and variable temperatures.

Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil and space your plants 24-36 inches apart. Keep an eye on the weather forecast, as late frosts or even hail can still occur at this time of year. Be ready to cover your plants if necessary to protect them from unexpected cold snaps.

Consistent watering is crucial for Celebrity Tomato, especially given our dry climate. While they have good disease resistance, they are not drought tolerant, so don't let them dry out! You'll need to be diligent about providing enough moisture, especially during the hottest part of the summer.

During the peak growing season, aim to water deeply about 2-3 times per week, providing around 1-2 inches of water each time. Use the finger test to check soil moisture: stick your finger about 2 inches into the soil. If it feels dry, it's time to water. Because of our low humidity, watering at the base of the plant is ideal, but overhead watering is less likely to cause issues than in more humid climates.

Signs of underwatering include wilting leaves and slow growth. Overwatering can lead to yellowing leaves and root rot. Mulching around your plants with straw or wood chips can help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature, which is especially helpful with our cool nights.

Celebrity Tomatoes are considered a determinate variety, but they can still get fairly large. Providing support is essential to keep the fruit off the ground and prevent breakage. Because they are semi-determinate, they are shorter than full indeterminate, so medium-height cages work well.

Install cages or stakes at planting time to avoid disturbing the roots later. As the plant grows, gently guide the stems through the cage or tie them to the stake with soft twine. This will help keep the plant upright and prevent the fruit from weighing down the branches.

You can expect your first Celebrity Tomatoes to ripen mid July through early September, depending on the weather and when you transplanted. These tomatoes are known for ripening well, even off the vine. Look for medium-large, red fruit that is firm with a slight give when gently squeezed.

To harvest, simply twist or cut the tomato from the vine, leaving a small piece of stem attached. Regular harvesting encourages the plant to produce more fruit. As the end of the season approaches and the first frost threatens (around early October), harvest any remaining green tomatoes and bring them indoors to ripen. They'll continue to ripen on a sunny windowsill.

Here are a few problems you might encounter with Celebrity Tomatoes in our region:

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 is a big culprit. Our fluctuating temperatures, especially cool nights, can interfere with pollination. Low humidity, excess nitrogen, or poor pollination can also contribute.
• How to fix/prevent it: Be patient; fruit set usually resumes when temperatures moderate. Provide afternoon shade during extreme heat. Keep plants consistently watered. Avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen. You can also try hand-pollination by gently shaking the plant.

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. They can defoliate your plants quickly if left unchecked.
• How to fix/prevent it: Handpicking is very effective. Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray is an organic option. If you see hornworms with white cocoons on them, leave them be – those are parasitic wasp eggs that will take care of the hornworm.

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: A fungal disease that spreads via soil splash.
• How to fix/prevent it: Remove and destroy affected leaves. Mulch to prevent soil splash. Water at the base of the plant. Improve air circulation by spacing plants properly and pruning. Copper fungicide can slow the spread. Rotate your crops each year.

Mountain West Specific Challenges: Our intense sun can sometimes exacerbate blossom drop, and hail can damage plants, so be prepared to provide shade and protection when needed. The dry air also means you need to be extra vigilant about watering, but it does help reduce the risk of many fungal diseases.

Companion planting can give your Celebrity Tomatoes a boost. Basil is a classic pairing, as it repels pests and is said to improve tomato flavor. Carrots loosen the soil and attract beneficial insects. Parsley also attracts beneficial insects and can help repel tomato hornworms. French marigolds deter nematodes and other soil pests.

Avoid planting tomatoes near brassicas (like cabbage and broccoli), as they can stunt tomato growth. Fennel inhibits the growth of many plants, so keep it far away. Corn can attract tomato pests and diseases.