Celebrity Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Celebrity'
vegetableCelebrity is a 1984 All-America Selections winner and one of the most dependable home-garden tomatoes ever bred. The semi-determinate plants grow to a tidy 3 to 4 feet yet keep setting medium-large 7 to 8 oz red fruit all season until frost, combining heavy early yields with rich, well-balanced flavor. Celebrity carries a broad disease-resistance package (verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt races 1 and 2, nematodes, and tobacco mosaic virus), which makes it one of the most forgiving choices for new growers.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 3 days
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Harvest
~65 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
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Spacing
24-36 in. apart
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Planting Depth
1/4 in. (seed) or deep-planted transplant
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Soil pH
6.0-6.8
Growing Details
Soil Type
Rich, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 10
Grown as an annual — this range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
At transplant, then every 3-4 weeks once fruit sets
Fertilizer
Balanced 5-10-10, low nitrogen after fruit set
🌱 Growing Guide
Start seed indoors about 6 weeks before the last frost and transplant after nights stay above 50F, setting plants deep so roots form along the buried stem. Although semi-determinate plants stay compact, they still benefit from a cage or short stake to hold the heavy trusses upright. Water deeply and evenly and mulch to keep soil moisture steady, which prevents the cracking and blossom-end rot that uneven watering causes. Side-dress with a balanced low-nitrogen fertilizer once the first fruits set.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Mar 4
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
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Projected first harvest
Jul 3
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Basil — Repels thrips and whiteflies and may improve flavor
- French Marigold — Suppresses root-knot nematodes
- Borage — Attracts pollinators and parasitic wasps that prey on hornworms
- Parsley — Draws hoverflies that feed on aphids
❌ Keep away from
BrassicasFennel
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Scout every few days and handpick caterpillars; interplant dill and borage to draw parasitic wasps
Water deeply and evenly, mulch, and keep calcium adequate
Mulch against soil splash, prune lower leaves for airflow, and avoid wetting foliage
🌾 Harvest & storage
First fruits ripen about 65 days from transplant. Pick when the tomato is fully colored but still firm, twisting it gently from the vine, and harvest every few days through the season. Store at room temperature and never refrigerate ripe fruit, since cold dulls the flavor.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Tomatoes are low in calories and a good source of vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin K, and they are the leading dietary source of lycopene, the red antioxidant linked to heart health that the body absorbs better from cooked tomatoes with a little oil.
⚠️ Toxicity & safety
Eat the ripe fruit only. Tomato leaves and stems (and large amounts of very unripe green fruit) contain solanine-type compounds and are not for eating.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.