By Jason Fransella, Bexar County Master Gardener Intern

March 2024

Are you looking for a tomato that has it all? A tomato that is easy to grow, produces large and tasty fruits, and has excellent disease resistance? A tomato that can thrive in the Texas climate and soil conditions? A tomato that has won awards and accolades for its outstanding performance?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you need to try the Celebrity tomato. This tomato is a Texas Superstar® plant, which means it has been tested and proven to perform well in Texas gardens. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about the Celebrity tomato, from its history and characteristics to its planting and care tips.

A Tomato Like No Other

The story of the Celebrity tomato begins with its originator, Colen Wyatt, a skilled tomato hybridizer from the United States. He created this variety in the late 1980s by crossing several other tomatoes, including the Big Set, New Yorker, and President. He wanted to develop a tomato that had a large size, a good flavor, and a high yield, as well as resistance to common diseases and pests.

He succeeded in his goal, as the Celebrity tomato was recognized with an All-America Selections award in 1984 for its outstanding performance. This award is given to new varieties that have been evaluated by expert judges across North America and have shown superior qualities compared to existing varieties. The Celebrity tomato was named a Texas Superstar® in 2021.

The Celebrity tomato is a hybrid, which means it is the result of crossing two different parent plants. This also means that it is not true to seed, which means that if you save seeds from your Celebrity tomatoes and plant them next year, you will not get the same variety. Instead, you will get a mix of traits from the parent plants, which may or may not be desirable. Therefore, if you want to grow Celebrity tomatoes, you need to buy new seeds or transplants every year.

Caring for Your Celebrity Tomatoes

Celebrity tomatoes are determinate, which means they grow as a bush and stop growing when they reach a certain height. They typically grow 4 to 6 feet tall and need some support to keep them upright and prevent their fruits from touching the ground. You can use cages or stakes to provide support for your plants. The plants are perennials but are grown as annuals in Central Texas due to the cold.

You should plant your Celebrity tomatoes in early spring, after the last frost date, which in Bexar County is the first or second week of March. They can also be planted in mid-summer for fall harvest, but whiteflies and virus can hinder production. You can start them indoors from seeds 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting them outside or buy ready-made transplants from a nursery or garden center. When transplanting, space your plants 18 to 24 inches apart in rows that are 3 to 4 feet apart. You can also plant them in containers that are at least 5 gallons in size and have drainage holes.

To ensure the best production, Celebrity tomatoes require full exposure to sunlight. They prefer well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter and has a pH of 6.0 to 6.8, but they will tolerate almost any well drained soil. You can amend your soil with compost or manure before planting to improve its fertility and texture.

Water your plants regularly and deeply, especially during hot and dry weather. You want to keep the soil moist but not soggy, as overwatering can cause root rot and other problems. A good rule of thumb is to water your plants when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. You can also use mulch around your plants to conserve moisture and prevent weeds.

Add granular fertilizer prior to planting and utilize liquid fertilizer every 1 to 2 weeks to achieve best tomato production. Follow the label directions for the amount and frequency of application. Just remember that Tomatoes are heavy feeders!

Pruning your plants is not necessary, as they are determinate and will stop growing on their own. However, you can remove any diseased or damaged leaves or branches to improve air circulation and prevent infection. Ensure that no leaves are touching the ground to help prevent soil-borne diseases on your plants.

Yield and Quality

Ripe Celebrity tomatoes are round and vibrant red, showcasing their visual appeal. They weigh about 8 ounces and measure about 4 inches across, making them perfect for slicing and eating fresh or using in salads, sandwiches, sauces, and more. They have a firm texture and a juicy flesh that is sweet and tangy at the same time.

Celebrity tomatoes are prolific producers, yielding 20 or more fruits per plant throughout the growing season. They are also resistant to cracking and splitting, which often happens when there is an excess of water and sugar movement in the fruits. This makes them more durable and less prone to spoilage.

One of the best features of Celebrity tomatoes is their disease resistance. They are resistant to Fusarium wilt races 1 and 2, Verticillium wilt, Tobacco mosaic virus, and Root-knot nematode. These are some of the most common and devastating diseases that affect tomatoes, causing wilting, yellowing, stunting, and death of the plants. The root-knot nematode resistance is especially significant, as very few tomatoes have this tolerance today. Root-knot nematodes are microscopic worms that live in the soil and feed on the roots of plants, causing galls or knots that interfere with water and nutrient uptake. This resistance is especially important for gardeners who grow tomatoes in the same spot every year.

Celebrity tomatoes are also resistant to some common pests, such as aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms. However, they may still be attacked by other insects, such as spider mites, leaf miners, and stink bugs. You can use organic or chemical methods to control these pests, depending on your preference and situation. You can also use row covers or netting to protect your plants from birds and animals that may eat your fruits.

A Superstar for Every Garden

Celebrity tomatoes are not only a Texas Superstar® plant, but also a superstar for every garden. They are easy to grow, productive, tasty, and disease-resistant. They are ideal for beginner gardeners who want to enjoy the satisfaction of growing their own tomatoes, as well as for experienced gardeners who want to add a reliable and versatile variety to their collection. Whether you grow them in the ground or in containers, Celebrity tomatoes will reward you with a bountiful harvest of delicious fruits that you can enjoy in many ways.

Additional Resources:

Bexar County Master Gardener website: Tomatoes

Texas Superstar website: ‘Celebrity’ Tomato

‘Celebrity” tomato Printable PDF: ‘Celebrity’ Tomato

AgriLife Today Magazine Article: “Celebrity tomato latest Texas Superstar”