Celebrity Tomato in Zone 8A — Pacific Northwest

Celebrity Tomato is a fantastic choice for Pacific Northwest gardens. Its reliable yields, classic tomato flavor, and disease resistance make it a winner, even with our mild summers and cool nights. You'll enjoy juicy, medium-large tomatoes perfect for slicing, sauces, or canning – a true taste of summer from your own backyard.

We PNW gardeners know our climate can be a bit particular. Cool soil in spring and the threat of late blight are real concerns. But with a little planning and attention to timing, you can absolutely grow delicious Celebrity Tomatoes during our 203-day growing season.

Starting Celebrity Tomato seeds indoors gives you a head start on our relatively short growing season. Sow your seeds indoors from early to late March, about six weeks before you plan to transplant them outside. Use seed trays or small pots filled with a good seed-starting mix.

Keep the soil consistently moist (but not soggy) by watering from the bottom. Place the trays in a warm location, around 70-75°F, and provide plenty of light, either with a grow light or a sunny windowsill. Remember that spring in the PNW can be slow to warm up, so be patient with germination.

Transplant your Celebrity Tomato seedlings outdoors from late April through late May, once the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up a bit. Before transplanting, harden off your seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week. Start with an hour or two of exposure and increase the time each day.

When transplanting, space the plants 24-36 inches apart in a sunny location. Even in our mild PNW summers, tomatoes need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight. Be mindful of our often overcast spring days.

Celebrity Tomatoes need consistent moisture to thrive, especially during our dry summer months. Aim for deep watering a couple of times a week, rather than frequent shallow watering. The finger test is a reliable way to check: if the top 2 inches of soil feel dry, it's time to water.

In the PNW, you'll likely need to provide around 1-2 inches of water per week, depending on rainfall. Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, as this can increase the risk of fungal diseases, though our dry-summer humidity is less of a concern than in other regions. Underwatering can lead to blossom end rot, while overwatering can cause root rot.

A layer of mulch around the base of the plant helps retain moisture and suppress weeds. Straw or wood chips work well in our climate.

Celebrity Tomato is a determinate variety, meaning it grows to a certain size and then stops. However, it is also semi-determinate, growing taller than a full determinate. Providing support is still important. Medium-height cages or sturdy stakes work best.

Install the support at planting time to avoid damaging the roots later. Gently tie the main stem to the stake as the plant grows, or let the plant grow up through the cage. Regular pruning of suckers (the shoots that grow between the main stem and branches) can help improve air circulation and fruit production.

You can expect your first Celebrity Tomato harvest from early July through late August, about 70 days after transplanting. The tomatoes are ready to pick when they are a deep red color, firm to the touch, and have a slight give when gently squeezed.

Grasp the tomato gently and twist or snip it off the vine. Regular harvesting encourages the plant to produce more fruit. As late October approaches and the threat of frost looms, harvest any remaining green tomatoes and allow them to ripen indoors. They may not be quite as flavorful as vine-ripened tomatoes, but they'll still be delicious.

Here are three common problems you might encounter with Celebrity Tomato in the Pacific Northwest:

Blossom Drop

• What it looks like: Flowers fall off the plant without setting fruit. Small fruit yellows and drops. The plant itself looks healthy, but produces little to no tomatoes.
• What causes it: Temperature stress. While our summers are mild, occasional heat waves can cause blossom drop. Low humidity, excess nitrogen, or poor pollination can also contribute.
• How to fix/prevent it: Be patient – fruit set will usually resume once temperatures moderate. Provide afternoon shade during hot spells. Ensure consistent watering, but avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen. Gently shake the plant or use a small brush to hand-pollinate the flowers.

Hornworms

• What it looks like: Large sections of leaves are stripped overnight. You might find large (up to 4 inches long) green caterpillars with white diagonal stripes and dark droppings on the leaves below.
• What causes it: These are the larvae of hawk moths. They lay their eggs on tomato plants, and the caterpillars are voracious eaters that can quickly defoliate a plant.
• How to fix/prevent it: Handpick the hornworms and drop them into a bucket of soapy water. If you prefer, spray with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), an organic and effective insecticide. If you see hornworms covered in white cocoons, leave them be – these are parasitic wasp eggs that will kill the hornworm and produce more 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. Affected leaves yellow and eventually drop off.
• What causes it: This is a fungal disease (Alternaria solani) that thrives in warm, humid conditions. It spreads when soil splashes onto the lower leaves.
• How to fix/prevent it: Remove and destroy any affected leaves (do not compost them). Mulch around the base of the plant to prevent soil splash. Water at the base of the plant, avoiding overhead watering. Improve air circulation by spacing plants adequately and pruning. Copper fungicide can help slow the spread of the disease. Rotate your tomato crops yearly.

Pacific Northwest Specific Challenges: Our mild summers and generally dry-summer conditions can be both a blessing and a curse. While we don't often experience the extreme heat that causes blossom drop in other regions, cool soil in spring can slow growth and make plants more susceptible to disease. Late blight is also a concern in the PNW, so choose disease-resistant varieties like Celebrity and monitor your plants closely.

Companion planting can give your Celebrity Tomatoes a boost in the Pacific Northwest.

Good companions include basil, which is said to improve tomato flavor and deter pests. Carrots can help loosen the soil and attract beneficial insects. Parsley attracts beneficial insects and can also help repel tomato hornworms. French marigolds deter nematodes and other soil pests.

Avoid planting tomatoes near brassicas (like cabbage, broccoli, and kale), as they can inhibit tomato growth. Fennel inhibits the growth of many plants, including tomatoes. Corn can attract tomato pests like corn earworms, which can also damage tomatoes.