Celebrity Tomato in Zone 8B — Florida

Celebrity Tomato is a fantastic choice for Florida gardeners in Zone 8B. Its reliably delicious, medium-large fruits are perfect for slicing, sandwiches, or sauces. Plus, you'll have the satisfaction of harvesting your own homegrown tomatoes long before the grocery store varieties even start to taste good.

Our Florida gardening calendar is different, and while the summer heat can be challenging, Celebrity Tomato's good disease resistance and relatively early maturity mean you can get a great harvest before the worst of the summer hits. With a 303-day growing season, you can enjoy fresh tomatoes for a good portion of the year if you time it right.

Start your Celebrity Tomato seeds indoors from mid January through early February, 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, and provide warmth with a heat mat if needed.

A bright, sunny window can work, but a grow light will give you stronger, stockier seedlings. Bottom watering is a great way to keep the soil moist without damping off. Remember, our spring is reversed here in Florida, so starting early indoors gives you a head start on the warm season.

Transplant your Celebrity Tomato seedlings outdoors from early to late March, once the danger of frost has passed. Before transplanting, harden off your seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week. This prevents transplant shock.

Choose a sunny spot in your garden and space the plants 24-36 inches apart. Be mindful of late-season cold snaps. Although rare, they can happen, so be ready to cover your young plants if needed.

Celebrity Tomatoes need consistent moisture, especially here in Florida. While we get plenty of summer rain, that doesn't always translate to the right amount of water for your plants. 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 into the soil near the base of the plant. If it feels dry, it's time to water. During the hottest part of the summer, you might need to water more frequently. Focus on watering at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, which can encourage fungal diseases in our humid climate.

Signs of underwatering include wilting leaves and dry, cracked soil. Overwatering can lead to yellowing leaves and root rot. Mulching around your plants with straw or pine needles helps retain moisture and suppress weeds, which is especially helpful in our sandy soil.

Celebrity Tomatoes are determinate, but they still benefit from support. They're semi-determinate, which means they don't get as tall as indeterminate varieties. Medium-height cages work great for this.

Install your 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 the plant upright and the fruit off the ground. This helps prevent pests and diseases.

You can expect your first Celebrity Tomato harvest from early May through late June, about 70 days after transplanting. Look for medium-large, red fruits that are firm but have a slight give when gently squeezed. Their excellent disease resistance means you'll likely have a good supply.

To harvest, gently twist or cut the fruit from the vine, being careful not to damage the plant. Regular harvesting encourages continued production. As we approach mid- December and the threat of frost, harvest any remaining mature green tomatoes and bring them indoors to ripen. They'll ripen nicely on a windowsill.

Here are some common problems you might encounter with Celebrity Tomatoes in Florida:

Blossom Drop

• What it looks like: Flowers fall off without setting fruit. Small fruit yellows and drops. The plant looks healthy but produces no fruit.
• What causes it: Temperature stress is the main culprit. Our hot days and warm nights during the late spring and early summer can prevent fruit set. Also, low humidity and excess nitrogen can contribute.
• How to fix/prevent it: Be patient; fruit set usually resumes when temperatures moderate. Provide afternoon shade with shade cloth during extreme heat. Keep plants well-watered, but avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen. Try hand-pollination by gently shaking the plant.

Hornworms

• What it looks like: Large sections of leaves stripped overnight. Look for large (up to 4 inches) green caterpillars with white diagonal stripes. You'll also see dark droppings on the leaves below.
• What causes it: These are the larvae of hawk moths. The moths lay eggs on tomato family plants, and the caterpillars feed voraciously.
• How to fix/prevent it: Handpick the hornworms (they don't bite). 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 that will kill the hornworm and release beneficial wasps into your garden.

Early Blight

• What it looks like: Brown spots with concentric rings (target or bullseye pattern) appear on the lower leaves first, spreading upward. Leaves yellow and drop.
• What causes it: This is a fungal disease (Alternaria solani) that thrives in our warm, humid conditions. It spreads via soil splash onto lower leaves.
• How to fix/prevent it: Remove and destroy affected leaves (don't compost them). Mulch around the base of the plant to prevent soil splash. Water at the base of the plant, not overhead. Improve air circulation through spacing and pruning. Copper fungicide can slow the spread of the disease. Rotate your crops each year.

Florida Specific Challenges: The hot, humid, and wet-summer weather in Florida creates an ideal environment for fungal diseases, which can be a constant battle. Nematodes in our sandy soil can also be a problem. Choose nematode-resistant varieties whenever possible and amend your soil with plenty of organic matter.

Companion planting can help your Celebrity Tomatoes thrive in Florida. Basil is a great companion because it repels tomato hornworms and whiteflies. Carrots improve soil drainage and aeration, which is helpful in our often-compacted soil. Parsley attracts beneficial insects that prey on tomato pests. French marigolds deter nematodes, a common problem in Florida's sandy soil.

Avoid planting brassicas (like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower) near tomatoes because they can stunt tomato growth. Fennel inhibits the growth of many plants, including tomatoes. Corn can attract tomato pests like the corn earworm, which can also damage your tomatoes.