Celebrity Tomato in Zone 7A — Mid-Atlantic

Celebrity Tomato is a winner for Mid-Atlantic gardens. This reliable producer gives you loads of great-tasting, medium-large tomatoes perfect for slicing, salads, and sauces. Plus, it's got excellent disease resistance, which is a real blessing with our humid summers.

Our four seasons here mean you can absolutely grow fantastic tomatoes, but we do have to watch for deer and be mindful of humidity. With a 208-day growing season, you have plenty of time to get a great harvest if you start smart.

Starting your Celebrity Tomato seeds indoors gives you a head start on our moderate spring. Begin in early to late March, about six weeks before you plan to transplant. You'll need seed trays, a good seed-starting mix, and a warm spot, ideally with a heat mat.

Keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy. Bottom watering is your friend here – set the seed trays in a shallow dish of water and let the soil soak it up from the bottom. This helps prevent damping-off disease. Once the seedlings emerge, give them plenty of light, either from a sunny window or a grow light.

Transplant your Celebrity Tomato seedlings outdoors from mid April through mid May, once the danger of frost has passed. Before you put them in the ground, harden them off. This means gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week.

Space the plants 24-36 inches apart in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Keep an eye on the weather forecast — those late-season cold snaps can still happen, so be ready to cover your young plants if needed.

Celebrity Tomato needs consistent moisture, especially with our humid summers. 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. 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 that thrive in our humid climate. Signs of underwatering include wilting leaves and dry soil. Overwatering can cause yellowing leaves and potentially root rot.

Mulching around your tomato plants with straw or shredded leaves helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature, all beneficial in our Mid-Atlantic climate.

Celebrity Tomato is a determinate variety, meaning it grows to a set size, unlike those sprawling indeterminate types. Even though it's shorter, it will still need support. Medium-height tomato cages work really well for this variety.

Install the cages at planting time to avoid disturbing the roots later. As the plant grows, gently guide the stems into the cage to keep the fruit off the ground and improve air circulation.

Expect your first Celebrity Tomato harvest in late June through mid August, about 70 days after transplanting. The tomatoes are ready when they are a deep red color, firm to the touch, but with a slight give when gently squeezed.

To harvest, gently twist the tomato from the vine, leaving the stem attached to the fruit. Keep harvesting regularly to encourage continued production throughout the summer. Celebrity Tomato will produce continuously until frost.

As late October approaches, keep an eye on the forecast. If a frost is predicted, harvest any mature green tomatoes and bring them indoors to ripen. They'll ripen just fine on a windowsill.

Here are some common problems you might encounter with Celebrity Tomato in the Mid-Atlantic:

Blossom Drop

• What it looks like: Flowers fall off without setting fruit. Small fruit yellows and drops. The plant looks healthy, but you get no tomatoes.
• What causes it: Temperature stress is the main culprit. When our summer nights stay above 75°F or daytime temps soar above 95°F, tomatoes struggle to set fruit. Low humidity, excess nitrogen, and poor pollination can also contribute.
• How to fix/prevent it: Be patient! Fruit set usually resumes when temperatures moderate. Provide afternoon shade during heat waves. Keep plants well-watered, but avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen. Gently shake the plants or use a small brush to hand-pollinate.

Hornworms

• What it looks like: Large sections of leaves are stripped overnight. Look for large (up to 4 inches) green caterpillars with white diagonal stripes. You might also see 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 are voracious eaters.
• How to fix/prevent it: Handpicking is surprisingly effective – just pluck them off and drop them in a bucket of soapy water. Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray is a safe and organic option. If you see hornworms covered in white cocoons, leave them alone – those are parasitic wasp eggs that will eventually 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 and then spread upward. The leaves will eventually yellow and drop off.
• What causes it: Early blight is a fungal disease (Alternaria solani) that thrives in our warm, humid conditions. It spreads through 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 plants adequately and pruning if needed. Copper fungicide can help slow the spread. Rotate your tomato crops each year.

Mid-Atlantic Specific Challenges: Our moderate-to-hot heat and humid summers can create ideal conditions for fungal diseases like early blight, so good air circulation and proper watering are essential. The even rainfall usually helps, but during periods of heavy rain, keep an eye out for potential problems.

Companion planting can really benefit your Celebrity Tomato plants. Basil is a classic companion because it repels pests like tomato hornworms and whiteflies. Carrots improve the soil around the tomato plants and can deter nematodes. Parsley attracts beneficial insects that prey on tomato pests. French marigolds are great for deterring nematodes and other soil pests.

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