Celebrity Tomato in Zone 8B — Northern California

Celebrity Tomato is a winner for Northern California gardens. Its reliable yields, great flavor, and disease resistance make it a rewarding choice for our long growing season. You'll be enjoying delicious tomatoes in salads, sauces, and sandwiches before you know it.

While we face challenges like drought and potential fire season, starting your Celebrity Tomatoes at the right time allows you to take advantage of our mild winters and extended growing season. Our 269-day growing season gives you plenty of time to get a great harvest.

Starting your Celebrity Tomato seeds indoors in late January through mid February gives them a head start on our growing season. You'll want to provide a warm, bright location for your seedlings. A simple setup with seed trays, a heat mat, and a grow light works wonders.

Be sure to use a good seed-starting mix and keep it consistently moist. Bottom watering is a great way to avoid damping off. Our early springs mean you'll have sturdy transplants ready to go out as soon as the weather cooperates.

Transplant your Celebrity Tomato seedlings outdoors from mid March through mid April, once the danger of frost has passed. Before planting, it's crucial to harden off your seedlings. Give them about a week of gradual exposure to outdoor conditions.

Space your plants 24-36 inches apart to allow for good air circulation. Keep an eye on the weather forecast – those late-season cold snaps can still happen, even here.

Celebrity Tomatoes need consistent moisture to thrive, especially with our dry summers. During the warmer months, you'll likely need to water deeply several times a week. Stick your finger about two inches into the soil – if it feels dry, it's time to water.

Aim for about 1-2 inches of water per week, depending on the weather and soil drainage. Watering at the base of the plant is best to avoid wetting the foliage, as this helps prevent fungal diseases, especially in our microclimates that can trap moisture. Signs of underwatering include wilting leaves and slow growth, while overwatering can lead to yellowing leaves and root rot.

A good layer of mulch around your plants helps retain moisture and suppress weeds. In our dry climate, consider using straw or wood chips.

Celebrity Tomato is a determinate variety, but it still benefits from support. A medium-height cage works well to keep the plant upright and prevent the fruits from touching the soil. Install the cage at planting time to avoid disturbing the roots later on.

As the plant grows, gently guide the branches within the cage. This will help keep the plant tidy and make harvesting easier. While it's more compact than an indeterminate type, it still produces a good amount of fruit that can weigh down branches.

You can expect your first Celebrity Tomato harvest from late May through mid July, about 70 days after transplanting. Look for medium-large, red fruits that are firm with a slight give when gently squeezed. The excellent disease resistance of this variety means you'll likely have plenty of ripe tomatoes to choose from.

To harvest, gently twist or snip the tomato from the vine, leaving a small piece of stem attached. Regular harvesting encourages continued production. As our first frost approaches in late November, harvest any remaining green tomatoes and bring them indoors to ripen.

They'll ripen best in a single layer, away from direct sunlight.

Here are some common problems you might encounter with Celebrity Tomato in Northern California:

Blossom Drop

• What it looks like: Flowers fall off without setting fruit. Small fruit yellows and drops. Plant looks healthy but produces no fruit.
• What causes it: Temperature stress. Our moderate-to-hot summer days and occasional warm nights can inhibit fruit set. Low humidity, excess nitrogen, or poor pollination can also contribute.
• How to fix/prevent it: Be patient – fruit set usually resumes when temperatures moderate. Provide afternoon shade during extreme heat. Keep plants well-watered. Avoid excess nitrogen fertilizers. You can also try hand-pollination.

Hornworms

• What it looks like: Large sections of leaves stripped overnight. Large (up to 4 inches) green caterpillars with white diagonal stripes. Dark droppings on leaves below.
• What causes it: Larvae of hawk moths. They lay eggs on tomato family plants. The caterpillars feed voraciously and can defoliate plants quickly.
• How to fix/prevent it: Handpick them (they don't bite!). Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray is effective and organic. If you see white cocoons on a hornworm, leave it – those are parasitic wasp eggs that will kill it and produce more beneficial wasps.

Early Blight

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

Northern California Specific Challenges: Our moderate-to-hot heat, low humidity, and dry-summer rainfall create a unique environment for growing Celebrity Tomatoes. While the low humidity can help prevent some fungal diseases, the heat and drought can stress plants and make them more susceptible to problems. Consistent watering, proper mulching, and providing afternoon shade during the hottest periods are key to success.

Good companion plants for Celebrity Tomatoes include basil, carrots, parsley, and French marigolds. Basil is said to improve tomato flavor and repel pests. Carrots help loosen the soil and deter nematodes. Parsley attracts beneficial insects. French marigolds repel nematodes and other harmful pests.

Avoid planting tomatoes near brassicas (like broccoli and cabbage), fennel, or corn. Brassicas can stunt tomato growth, fennel inhibits growth, and corn can attract tomato pests. By choosing the right companion plants, you can create a thriving and productive tomato patch in your Northern California garden.