What is Celebrity Tomato?
The celebrity tomato is a hybrid cultivar that is highly valued for being resistant to most tomato diseases. It is also highly adaptable to hash environments and can grow in a wide range of places including dry, humid and wet regions. The celebrity tomato plant can grow up to 5 feet in height with bright red medium-sized fruits. The plants are generally very thick and grow in clusters.
The hybrid plant Celebrity tomato was first produced in USA by Colen Wyatt who was a vegetable breeder in the late 20th century. The plant was commercially distributed in the late 1980s for PetoSeed Co. which is now a subsidiary of Seminis Vegetable Seeds.
In 1984, the plant was judged by various experts in the fields of horticulture and recognized as a recipient of the All-America Selections award due to its favorable characteristics compared to other tomato cultivars. This tomato cultivar remains a popular choice for gardeners and is often the winner of many merit awards for its distinct features.
Characteristics Of Celebrity Tomato
Celebrity tomato like all other tomatoes is a member of the Solanacea or nightshade family. The tomatoes are large and round, approximately 8 oz in weight and 4 inches across, and they ripen to a beautiful red color. The indeterminate vines continue to produce fruits all season long up until frost, with earlier yields than many other hybrids. The fruit mature after about 65 days from the day of transplanting. Celebrity tomato is considered an easy to grow variety and ideal for first-time gardeners.
The fruit are also resistant to cracking and splitting which occurs when there is an excess of water and sugar movements in the fruit. These tomatoes are full of flavor and they can be eaten of the vine. They are a great addition to fresh salads or party trays, but they can also be used in cooking, as they are delicious sauteed, grilled and stewed. In North America, they are mostly used in making of various salsas, salads, juices and canned foods.
Celebrity tomatoes can last for up to a week when stored properly however it depends on the ripeness of the tomatoes when harvested. Consumption of ripe tomatoes should be done within 1-2 days since this enables maximum absorption of vitamins and minerals present in the fruits.
Celebrity Tomato Seeds
Celebrity tomato seeds are generally found everywhere in United States, from California, Texas, Florida, Minnesota to Oregon etc. Given that this is an F1 hybrid tomato cultivar, it is not advisable to save seeds from the tomato fruit. Most hybrid tomato seeds are sterile and don’t germinate or in the even they germinate, they produce second generation plants (F2) and fruit that may be totally different tomato altogether with all the undesirable qualities not found in the original F1 variety.
Here are some of the North American reliable seed suppliers:
- Park Seed
- Johnny’s Seeds
- Harris Seeds
- Burpee Seeds
How To Grow And Care For Celebrity Tomato
- Choose a suitable location. Tomatoes need a lot of sunlight to grow properly. Therefore, it is essential to choose a spot that gets at least six hours of sunlight daily. Also, the soil should be well-draining, rich in nutrients, and with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0.
- Planting celebrity tomato seeds. You can either purchase seedlings or start your plants from seeds. If you decide to start from seeds, you should begin six to eight weeks before the last frost date in your area. Plant the seeds in seedling trays filled with seed-starting mix and keep them moist. Once the seedlings reach a height of two inches, transplant them to larger containers or plant them directly into the ground.
- Watering celebrity tomato. Tomatoes require consistent watering to thrive. Water your celebrity tomato regularly and deeply, making sure that the soil remains moist but not waterlogged. To avoid waterlogging, ensure that the soil is well-draining.
- Fertilizing celebrity tomato. Celebrity tomatoes require a steady supply of nutrients to grow and produce fruits. You can apply a balanced fertilizer every two to three weeks or use a slow-release fertilizer at the beginning of the growing season.
- Pruning celebrity tomato. Pruning your celebrity tomato helps to promote airflow, reduce disease spread, and increase fruit production. You should start pruning when the plant is young by removing the bottom leaves, and later in the season, prune the top of the plant to encourage fruiting.
- Trellising celebrity tomato. Trellising your celebrity tomato helps to keep the plant upright, making it easier to harvest, and also reduces the risk of diseases. You can use stakes or cages to support the plant and ensure that it grows upright.
- Harvesting celebrity tomato. Celebrity tomatoes mature in about 70 to 75 days from transplanting. When the fruits are ripe, they should be firm and slightly soft to the touch. You can harvest them by gently pulling them off the vine.