Celebrity Tomato in Zone 8B — Desert Southwest

Celebrity Tomato is a fantastic choice for Desert Southwest gardens. Its reliable flavor, medium size, and versatility in cooking make it a winner. Plus, its good disease resistance makes it relatively forgiving for beginners in our challenging climate.

Sure, we face extreme heat and alkaline soil here, but Celebrity Tomato's relatively short time to maturity helps us beat the worst of the summer heat. With a 279-day growing season in our Zone 8B, you'll have plenty of time to get a great harvest in spring, and potentially even a second smaller crop in the fall.

Start your Celebrity Tomato seeds indoors in late January through mid February, about six weeks before you plan to transplant them outside. This gives them a head start before our weather starts to heat up too much. 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. This encourages strong root growth. Provide warmth with a heat mat and plenty of light with grow lights. Spring comes very early here, so starting early indoors is key.

Transplant your Celebrity Tomato seedlings outdoors in mid March through early April, after the last expected frost. Before planting, harden them off by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week. Start with an hour or two of shade, increasing the time and sun exposure each day.

Plant them 24-36 inches apart in well-draining soil amended with compost. Even in March and April, our intense sun can be a shock. Consider using shade cloth for the first few days to help them adjust.

Celebrity Tomatoes need consistent moisture to thrive, especially in our dry desert air. During the spring growing season, water deeply about 2-3 times per week, providing about 1-2 inches of water each time. Use the "finger test" – if the top two inches of soil are dry, it's time to water.

As the extreme heat of summer arrives, increase watering to every other day or even daily, depending on how quickly the soil dries out. Aim for 2-3 inches of water per week. Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, which can encourage fungal diseases, even in our arid climate.

Underwatering will cause wilting and blossom end rot. Overwatering can lead to root rot, indicated by yellowing leaves. Mulch around the base of the plant with straw or wood chips to help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.

Celebrity Tomatoes are determinate, meaning they grow to a certain size and then stop, producing most of their fruit at once. However, they are somewhat semi-determinate, so they can get a bit taller than some other determinate varieties. A medium-height cage or sturdy stake works well for support.

Install the support at planting time to avoid disturbing the roots later. As the plant grows, gently guide the stems into the cage or tie them loosely to the stake with soft twine. This will help prevent the heavy fruit from weighing down the plant and breaking branches.

You can expect your first Celebrity Tomato harvest from mid May through early July, about 70 days after transplanting. The fruits 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, being careful not to damage the plant. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. As our first frost approaches in early December, harvest any remaining green tomatoes and ripen them indoors in a paper bag.

Here are three common problems you might encounter with Celebrity Tomatoes in the Desert Southwest:

Blossom Drop

• What it looks like: Flowers fall off the plant without setting fruit. Small fruit turns yellow and drops. The plant itself looks healthy, but there's no tomato production.
• What causes it: Temperature stress is the main culprit. In our extreme heat, tomatoes struggle to set fruit when nighttime temperatures stay above 75°F or daytime temperatures exceed 95°F. Low humidity, excess nitrogen, and poor pollination can also contribute.
• How to fix/prevent it: Be patient! Fruit set will resume when temperatures moderate. Provide afternoon shade with shade cloth during the hottest periods. Keep plants consistently watered. 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) green caterpillars with white diagonal stripes. Look for dark droppings on the leaves below.
• What causes it: These are the larvae of hawk moths. The moths lay eggs on tomato plants, and the caterpillars feed voraciously.
• How to fix/prevent it: Handpick the hornworms (they're harmless). Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray is effective and organic. If you see white cocoons on a hornworm, leave it alone! Those are parasitic wasp eggs that will 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, spreading upward. The leaves yellow and eventually drop.
• What causes it: This is 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. Mulch around the base of the plant to prevent soil splash. Water at the base of the plant, not overhead. Improve air circulation by spacing plants adequately and pruning. Copper fungicide can slow the spread. Rotate your crops yearly.

Desert Southwest Specific Challenges: Our extreme heat can lead to sunscald on the fruit, so providing afternoon shade is important. The low humidity can stress the plants, making consistent watering crucial. While our monsoon season can provide some much-needed moisture, it can also create conditions for fungal diseases like early blight, so good air circulation and watering practices are key. Alkaline soil is common here. Amend your soil with compost before planting.

Good companions for Celebrity Tomatoes in the Desert Southwest include basil, carrots, parsley, and French marigolds. Basil is said to improve tomato flavor and repel pests. Carrots loosen the soil and don't compete for nutrients. Parsley attracts beneficial insects. French marigolds deter nematodes and other soil pests.

Avoid planting tomatoes near brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower), fennel, or corn. Brassicas can stunt tomato growth. Fennel inhibits the growth of many plants. Corn competes for the same nutrients and can attract pests that also affect tomatoes.