Celebrity Tomato in Zone 7B — Pacific Northwest

Celebrity Tomato is a fantastic choice for PNW gardens. Its reliable production of flavorful, medium-large tomatoes makes it a winner for slicing, sauces, and everything in between. Plus, its disease resistance helps ensure a bountiful harvest, even with our sometimes-challenging, overcast spring days.

Our mild summers and cool nights here in Zone 7B can be tricky for heat-loving plants, but the Celebrity Tomato's relatively short 70-day maturity means you can absolutely enjoy homegrown tomatoes. With a growing season of around 193 days, careful timing will get you there.

Starting your Celebrity Tomato seeds indoors is key to getting a head start on our growing season. Aim to sow your seeds mid-March through early April, roughly six weeks before you plan to transplant them outside. This gives them plenty of time to develop before our last frost.

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 achieve this; just set the tray in a shallow dish of water and let the soil soak it up. Place the trays in a warm spot, ideally with a heat mat underneath, and provide plenty of light, especially since our spring weather is often overcast.

Transplant your Celebrity Tomato seedlings outdoors in late April through late May, once the danger of frost has passed. Before planting, harden them off by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week. Start with a few hours of shade and increase the sun exposure each day.

Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil, spacing plants 24-36 inches apart. Even in late April, our soil can still be cool, so consider using black plastic mulch to warm the soil and give your tomatoes a boost. Keep an eye on the weather forecast; a late cold snap can still happen.

Consistent watering is crucial for Celebrity Tomato, especially during our dry summer months. While we don't experience the extreme heat of other regions, consistent moisture is still key for good fruit production. The Celebrity Tomato's disease resistance means it can handle a little more moisture than some other varieties.

During the wet springs, you might not need to water much at all, but once the dry summer arrives, check the soil moisture regularly. Stick your finger about 2 inches deep into the soil; if it feels dry, it's time to water. Aim for about 1-2 inches of water per week, depending on rainfall. Water at the base of the plant to avoid splashing soil onto the leaves, which can help prevent disease.

Signs of underwatering include wilting leaves and blossom end rot on the fruit. 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 suppress weeds, a common practice in PNW gardens.

Celebrity Tomato has a determinate growth habit, meaning it grows to a certain size and then stops. However, it still benefits from support to keep the fruit off the ground and improve air circulation. Medium-height cages work well for this semi-determinate variety.

Install the cages or stakes at planting time to avoid disturbing the roots later. As the plant grows, gently guide the stems inside the cage to keep it contained. You may still need to prune suckers (the small shoots that grow in the "V" between the main stem and branches) to improve airflow and encourage fruit production.

You can expect your first Celebrity Tomato harvest from early July through late August. The tomatoes are ready to pick when they are a deep red color, firm to the touch, but with a slight give when gently squeezed.

To harvest, gently twist the fruit until the stem snaps off. Avoid pulling, which can damage the plant. Regular harvesting encourages continued production. As our first frost approaches in late October, harvest any remaining green tomatoes and bring them indoors to ripen.

Place green tomatoes in a paper bag with a ripe banana or apple to speed up the ripening process. Even if they don't get fully red, they'll still develop a decent flavor. Don't let that PNW growing season go to waste!

Even with its good disease resistance, Celebrity Tomato can still encounter a few problems in the PNW. Here are three common ones:

Blossom Drop

• What it looks like: Flowers fall off the plant without setting fruit. Small fruit yellows and drops prematurely.
• What causes it: Temperature swings, especially cool nights and warm days, can stress the plant. Low humidity or poor pollination also contribute.
• How to fix/prevent it: Be patient; fruit set usually resumes when temperatures moderate. Provide afternoon shade during heat spells. Ensure adequate watering. Hand-pollinate by gently shaking the plant or using a small brush to transfer pollen.

Hornworms

• What it looks like: Large sections of leaves are stripped overnight. Look for large green caterpillars with white diagonal stripes and dark droppings on the leaves.
• What causes it: These are the larvae of hawk moths. They love to munch on tomato plants and can defoliate them quickly.
• How to fix/prevent it: Handpick the hornworms (they're easy to spot once you know what to look for). Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray is an effective organic control. If you see white cocoons on a hornworm, leave it alone; these are beneficial parasitic wasp eggs.

Early Blight

• What it looks like: Brown spots with concentric rings (target or bullseye pattern) appear on lower leaves first, spreading upward. Affected leaves yellow and drop.
• What causes it: This fungal disease thrives in warm, humid conditions and spreads via soil splash.
• How to fix/prevent it: Remove and destroy affected leaves. Mulch around the base of 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.

Pacific Northwest Specific Challenges: Our mild summers and dry-summer humidity usually mean less disease pressure than other regions, but late blight can still be a concern. Be vigilant about monitoring your plants and take preventative measures like good air circulation and proper watering. Also, our cool soil in spring can slow growth, so consider using black plastic mulch to warm the soil.

Companion planting can help your Celebrity Tomato thrive in the Pacific Northwest. Basil is a classic companion, as it repels tomato hornworms and other pests, plus it enhances the flavor of the tomatoes. Carrots are also beneficial, as they help to break up the soil and improve drainage.

Parsley attracts beneficial insects that prey on tomato pests. French marigolds repel nematodes and other soil pests. Avoid planting tomatoes near brassicas (like cabbage, broccoli, and kale), as they can stunt tomato growth. Fennel inhibits the growth of many plants, so keep it far away. Corn competes for nutrients and can shade the tomatoes, which isn't ideal in our region where we need to maximize sunlight.