Celebrity Tomato in Zone 6B — Texas

Celebrity Tomato is a Texas garden favorite for good reason. It's a reliable producer of delicious, medium-large tomatoes perfect for slicing, salads, and sauces. Plus, its disease resistance makes it a winner even when the Texas heat is bearing down.

Our unpredictable weather can be a challenge, but Celebrity Tomato's timing lines up well with our long 230-day growing season. You can get a great harvest before the worst of the summer heat hits, and potentially a smaller fall crop too.

Starting your Celebrity Tomato seeds indoors gives you a head start on our long growing season. You have about a month, from mid February through mid March, to get those seeds going. That's roughly 6 weeks before you'll be ready to transplant them outdoors.

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 wonders, especially with our early, variable spring weather. Don't forget to water from the bottom to encourage strong root growth and prevent damping-off.

Transplant your Celebrity Tomato seedlings outdoors from early April through early May, once the danger of frost has passed. Before you put them in the ground, harden them off by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week. This helps them adjust to the Texas sun and wind.

Plant your seedlings 24-36 inches apart in well-drained soil. Keep an eye on the weather forecast – those late-season cold snaps can still happen, so be ready to cover your plants if needed.

Celebrity Tomatoes need consistent moisture, especially with our hot Texas summers. While it has good disease resistance, you still need to water regularly. The key is finding the right balance.

During the spring, when temperatures are milder, water deeply once or twice a week, providing about 1-2 inches of water each time. As the Texas heat ramps up, increase watering to every other day or even daily, especially if the humidity is low. Stick your finger about 2 inches into the soil – if it feels dry, it's time to water.

Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the leaves, which can encourage fungal diseases, especially with variable humidity. Look out for wilting leaves (underwatering) or yellowing leaves and edema (overwatering). Mulching around your plants with straw or shredded leaves helps retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Celebrity Tomatoes are determinate, meaning they grow to a certain size and then stop, but they still need support. They are semi-determinate, so they will get fairly large, but not as large as an indeterminate variety. A medium-height cage works well.

Install your cages or stakes at planting time to avoid disturbing the roots later. Gently guide the plant's growth through the cage as it grows, or tie stems to the stake with soft twine.

You can expect your first Celebrity Tomatoes from mid June through early August, about 70 days after transplanting. Look for medium-large, red fruit that is firm but has a slight give when gently squeezed.

To harvest, simply twist or cut the tomato from the vine, being careful not to damage the plant. Regular harvesting encourages continued production. As the end of the season approaches (around early November), keep an eye on the forecast. If a freeze is predicted, harvest any remaining green tomatoes and bring them indoors to ripen.

Even with their disease resistance, Celebrity Tomatoes can still face some challenges in Texas. Keep an eye out for these common problems:

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 biggest culprit. Nights above 75°F or days exceeding 95°F can prevent fruit set. 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. Water deeply and consistently. Avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen. Try hand-pollinating the blossoms.

Hornworms

• What it looks like: Large sections of leaves stripped overnight. You'll see 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. They lay their eggs on tomato family plants, and the caterpillars feed voraciously.
• How to fix/prevent it: Handpick them – they're surprisingly easy to spot once you know what to look for. Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray is effective and organic. If you see hornworms with white cocoons on their backs, leave them alone – those are parasitic wasp eggs, and the wasps will kill the hornworm.

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 drop.
• What causes it: 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 affected leaves (don't compost them). Mulch around the plants 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 each year.

Texas Specific Challenges: The extreme heat, variable humidity, and unpredictable rainfall in Texas can all stress your Celebrity Tomato plants. Consistent watering is crucial, but be careful not to overwater in humid conditions. Afternoon shade can help prevent blossom drop during the hottest part of the summer.

Companion planting can help your Celebrity Tomatoes thrive. Basil is a great companion because it repels pests and is said to improve the flavor of the tomatoes. Carrots help loosen the soil and can deter some pests. Parsley attracts beneficial insects that prey on tomato pests. French marigolds repel nematodes and other soil pests.

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