Celebrity
Solanum lycopersicum
Celebrity is a classic hybrid tomato that matures in 60 days, producing large, deep red, globe-shaped fruits ideal for slicing and general-purpose use. Known for its dependable yields and disease resistance, Celebrity has been a home gardener favorite for decades. The fruit offers a well-balanced, classic tomato flavor with pleasant acidity, making it excellent for fresh eating, salads, and cooking. Its vigorous plant habit and consistent performance in full sun conditions make it a reliable choice for both beginners and experienced growers seeking tried-and-true productivity.
Harvest
60d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Celebrity in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Celebrity · Zones 10–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May – May | July – August | — | September – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | June – July | — | September – September |
| Zone 11 | January – January | January – February | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January – January | January – February | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January – January | January – February | — | April – June |
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | August – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | July – September |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | July – September |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | June – August |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | May – July |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | May – July |
Complete Growing Guide
This indeterminate variety reaches full productivity at 60 days but continues producing through frost, so plan succession plantings every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest rather than single-crop timing. Celebrity thrives in full sun with consistent moisture—inconsistent watering triggers the cracking that even this crack-resistant cultivar can experience under stress. Space plants 24-36 inches apart to ensure airflow, crucial for this variety's excellent disease resistance; poor circulation negates its genetic advantages. Watch for early blight despite the cultivar's resilience, particularly in humid regions, and remove lower leaves as the vine grows. Because Celebrity reaches 6-10 feet tall, install sturdy stakes or cages immediately at transplanting; late support causes stem breakage. Prune suckers on indeterminate plants to direct energy into fruit development and improve air penetration, dramatically improving both yield and disease suppression on this vigorous grower.
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Harvest Celebrity tomatoes when they reach their characteristic deep red color with a glossy shine, typically measuring 2 to 2¼ inches across and feeling slightly yielding to gentle pressure. Pick fruits at the cluster's mature stage rather than waiting for every individual tomato to ripen simultaneously, as this continuous harvesting pattern encourages ongoing production throughout the season. For optimal flavor and shelf life, harvest in the early morning when temperatures are coolest, as this timing helps preserve the tomato's firmness and extends storage potential. Celebrity's excellent crack resistance means you can leave ripe fruits on the vine slightly longer than other varieties without concern, allowing you to maximize sweetness before picking.
The fruits are smooth, shiny, glossy, and are classified as berries. The size, shape, and color will vary depending on the variety or cultivar. The color of the fruits may be red, yellow, orange, green, purple, or pink. The fruits may contain over 100 yellow to light brown seeds.
Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy, Variegated. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches. Width: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Edibility: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
Storage & Preservation
Store freshly harvested Celebrity tomatoes at room temperature away from direct sunlight until fully ripe; refrigerate only after ripening to extend shelf life to one to two weeks. Keep them in a single layer to prevent bruising, and avoid stacking whenever possible. Whole tomatoes freeze well when placed on a tray first, then transferred to freezer bags once solid—the skins slip off easily after thawing, making them ideal for sauces and soups. For canning, Celebrity's balanced acid content makes it suitable for both hot-water bath and pressure canning methods; process whole or quartered fruits at recommended times for safety. Drying works exceptionally well with this variety; halve them and dry at 135°F until leathery for concentrated flavor in winter cooking. Their classic, well-balanced profile holds up reliably through preservation, maintaining good taste regardless of method chosen.
History & Origin
Celebrity tomato emerged from Harris Seeds' breeding program in the 1980s as part of their effort to develop disease-resistant paste and salad tomato varieties suitable for both home gardeners and commercial growers. While specific breeder names and exact development dates remain undocumented in widely available horticultural records, Celebrity represents the culmination of conventional breeding practices focused on combining productivity with disease resistance traits. The variety gained recognition through its AAS (All-America Selections) award and became a standard in American seed catalogs, though its precise parentage and breeding lineage have not been formally published in academic literature, leaving much of its genetic ancestry within proprietary seed company records.
Origin: Peru
Advantages
- +Highly disease-resistant variety with excellent performance in trial conditions
- +Produces 12-18 fruits per cluster for abundant harvests throughout season
- +Deep red fruits maintain quality with good crack resistance and shelf life
- +Well-balanced, rich flavor perfect for salads, salsas, and fresh pasta sauce
- +AAS Winner status confirms superior quality and reliable performance
Considerations
- -Indeterminate growth requires consistent pruning and sturdy support structures
- -Susceptible to late blight and bacterial spot in humid conditions
- -Medium-sized fruits at 1.5-2 oz may not satisfy those preferring larger beefsteaks
Companion Plants
Basil and French marigolds (Tagetes patula) are the two worth planting within 18 inches of Celebrity. Marigolds produce thiophenes in their roots that suppress root-knot nematodes in the surrounding soil — a real mechanism, not folk wisdom. Basil gets credited with repelling aphids and thrips, which may be true at high density; at one or two plants per row it mostly just means you're already standing next to dinner. Fennel is allelopathic and will stunt tomatoes planted within a few feet, so keep it to its own corner. Brassicas compete for similar nutrients and can carry shared fungal pathogens into the bed — give them their own space.
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve flavor
Marigold
Deters nematodes and many pest insects with natural compounds
Carrots
Helps loosen soil around tomato roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on tomato pests
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Chives
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Lettuce
Benefits from tomato shade and doesn't compete for deep nutrients
Borage
Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects, may repel hornworms
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to tomatoes and causes wilting
Fennel
Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy
Brassicas
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Corn
Both attract corn earworms and hornworms, creating pest concentration
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Early Blight (Intermediate); Late Blight (Intermediate)
Common Pests
Hornworms, cutworms, flea beetles
Diseases
Late blight, bacterial spot, blossom end rot
Troubleshooting Celebrity
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Large patches of foliage turning gray-green and collapsing fast — sometimes overnight — with dark, water-soaked spots on fruit
Likely Causes
- Late blight (Phytophthora infestans) — spreads rapidly in cool, wet weather; NC State Extension's PDIC monitors its appearance because timing varies significantly year to year
- Infected transplants or airborne spores from nearby potato plantings
What to Do
- 1.Pull and bag affected plants immediately — do not compost them; late blight can spread to every tomato and potato in the neighborhood
- 2.Apply a copper-based fungicide preventatively once conditions turn cool and wet (below 70°F nights with rain), before symptoms appear
- 3.NC State Extension notes the rotation period for avoiding some tomato diseases may stretch to 5–7 years; don't assume a single off-season clears the bed
Dark, water-soaked spots on leaves — often with a yellow halo — appearing mid-season, sometimes with raised, scabby spots on fruit
Likely Causes
- Bacterial spot (Xanthomonas vesicatoria) — thrives in warm, wet conditions and spreads by rain splash and handling wet plants
- Overhead irrigation keeping foliage wet for extended periods
What to Do
- 1.Switch to drip irrigation or water at the base only; bacterial spot needs leaf wetness to spread
- 2.Strip and trash affected leaves; disinfect pruning tools with a 10% bleach solution between cuts
- 3.Apply copper bactericide at first sign of symptoms — it won't cure infected tissue but slows spread to healthy leaves
Sunken, leathery black or brown patch on the blossom end of fruit, showing up once fruit is golf-ball size or larger
Likely Causes
- Blossom end rot — a calcium deficiency in developing fruit, triggered by uneven soil moisture rather than low soil calcium in most cases
- Periods of drought followed by heavy watering, which interrupts calcium uptake even when Ca is present in the soil
What to Do
- 1.Mulch with 3–4 inches of straw to keep soil moisture consistent between waterings
- 2.Water deeply on a regular schedule — Celebrity needs high, consistent moisture; skipping days then flooding is exactly what triggers this
- 3.Get a soil test before reaching for calcium sprays; NC State Extension points to moisture fluctuation as the usual culprit, not a calcium-deficient soil
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Celebrity tomato take to grow?▼
Is Celebrity tomato good for beginners?▼
Can you grow Celebrity tomatoes in containers?▼
What does Celebrity tomato taste like?▼
When should I plant Celebrity tomatoes?▼
Celebrity vs Roma tomato - what's the difference?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.