Description
Grow Like a Pro: Your Complete Guide to Celebrity Plus Tomatoes
There’s something magical about biting into a homegrown tomato—warm from the sun, rich in flavor, and bursting with freshness. If you’re dreaming of that perfect tomato moment, Celebrity Plus is your ticket to success. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting your hands dirty for the first time, this all-star tomato variety makes growing easier, tastier, and more rewarding.
Let’s dive deep into everything you need to know to grow, enjoy, and truly celebrate Celebrity Plus tomatoes—from seed to supper.
🍅 What Is Celebrity Plus Tomato?
Celebrity Plus (Solanum lycopersicum) is a hybrid tomato variety that builds on the wildly popular Celebrity tomato. It’s improved with even stronger disease resistance, greater vigor, and a more consistent harvest.
These tomatoes are medium to large, globe-shaped, and bright red with a classic tomato taste—juicy, sweet, and just a little tangy. They weigh around 7 to 10 ounces each and are incredibly versatile in the kitchen.
But most of all? They’re easy to grow.
🌟 Why Gardeners Love Celebrity Plus
This tomato isn’t just a fan favorite—it’s a gardener’s dream. Here’s why:
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✅ Determinant growth: Grows to 3–4 feet tall and fruits in a concentrated burst. That’s great for canning or preserving!
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✅ Crack-resistant fruits: Smooth, firm, and less prone to splitting.
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✅ High productivity: One plant can give you a serious harvest.
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✅ Tough against disease: Naturally resistant to Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, and Tobacco Mosaic Virus.
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✅ Heat-hardy: Performs well in hot, humid areas (perfect for Southern gardens).
📦 Best Ways to Use Celebrity Plus Tomatoes
This variety isn’t just good-looking—it’s incredibly useful. You can:
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🍔 Slice them for burgers, sandwiches, and salads.
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🍝 Cook them into sauces, stews, and casseroles.
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🫙 Preserve them for winter—great for canning, freezing, or turning into salsa and tomato paste.
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🍅 Juice them for a fresh tomato drink or homemade ketchup.
This tomato fits right into everyday meals and special recipes alike.
🌱 Growing Celebrity Plus: Step-by-Step
1. Start Seeds Indoors
Give your tomatoes a head start!
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🗓️ When: 6–8 weeks before your last expected frost.
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🌡️ Temperature: Keep indoor temps between 70–75°F (21–24°C).
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💡 Lighting: Use a grow light or sunny windowsill for 12–16 hours/day.
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🪴 Pot up: Transplant seedlings into larger pots once they have 2 true leaves.
2. Transplanting Outdoors
Once spring warms up, it’s time to move your plants into the garden.
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🌤️ Sunlight: Choose a spot that gets 6–8 hours of direct sun daily.
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🌱 Soil: Use well-draining soil with compost. Aim for a pH of 6.0–7.0.
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📏 Spacing: Plant 18–24 inches apart. Space rows 3–4 feet apart.
Tip: Don’t rush. Wait until night temperatures stay above 50°F (10°C).
3. Watering Right
Tomatoes love consistent moisture—but not soggy roots.
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💧 Weekly Goal: 1–2 inches of water per week.
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🚫 Don’t overwater: Let the top inch of soil dry between waterings.
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🍂 Mulch it: Add 2–3 inches of straw, leaves, or compost to lock in moisture and reduce weeds.
4. Feed for Flavor
Feed your plants for strong roots and juicy fruit.
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🌿 Before planting: Mix in a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10).
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🍅 After flowering: Switch to a bloom booster like 5-10-10. Reapply every 2–3 weeks.
5. Give Support
Even though Celebrity Plus is compact, the fruits can get heavy.
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🪵 Use cages, stakes, or trellises to keep plants upright and fruits off the soil.
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✂️ Prune suckers (little shoots between branches) to help airflow and direct energy to fruit.
6. Help with Pollination (Optional)
Celebrity Plus tomatoes are self-pollinating, but shaking the plant gently or placing it where air moves can help set more fruit.
🍽️ Harvesting Your Tomatoes
This is the best part! Here’s how to know when they’re ready:
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🔴 Color: Fully red with a light shine.
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✋ Feel: Firm but not hard.
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✂️ Pick: Gently twist or snip the tomato to avoid damaging the stem.
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🧺 Check often: In peak season, you may need to harvest every day or two.
Storage Tip: Keep them at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. Don’t refrigerate unless absolutely necessary—it can dull the flavor.
🛠️ Common Growing Problems (and Fixes!)
Even tough tomatoes have their challenges. Here’s what to watch for:
| Problem | Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Blossom-end rot | Calcium deficiency or inconsistent watering | Keep soil evenly moist and consider adding calcium |
| Cracking | Big swings in water | Water evenly, especially during dry spells |
| Pests | Hornworms, aphids, whiteflies | Use neem oil or insecticidal soap—inspect leaves often |
| Early blight/fungal spots | Humidity, poor airflow | Remove infected leaves and avoid overhead watering |
🌿 Seasonal Tomato Care Checklist
Spring
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✅ Start seeds indoors
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✅ Prep soil with compost
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✅ Harden off seedlings before transplanting
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✅ Protect with row covers if nights are chilly
Summer
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✅ Mulch and water regularly
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✅ Fertilize as fruits develop
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✅ Prune for airflow
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✅ Harvest often!
Fall
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✅ Pick remaining tomatoes before frost
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✅ Ripen green tomatoes indoors
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✅ Pull and compost old plants
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✅ Clean up beds to avoid pests next year
Winter
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✅ Dream, plan, and order seeds!
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✅ Save seeds from your best Celebrity Plus plants
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✅ Start prepping your garden journal for next season
🧑🍳 Creative Ways to Use Celebrity Plus Tomatoes
Here are a few fresh ideas to make the most of your tomato bounty:
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🥖 Bruschetta: Dice tomatoes with garlic, basil, olive oil, and pile onto crusty bread.
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🍲 Roasted Tomato Soup: Roast your tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Blend and simmer for a creamy, comforting dish.
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🌮 Fresh Salsa: Mix tomatoes with onions, jalapeños, cilantro, and lime juice.
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🍝 Classic Marinara: Simmer chopped tomatoes with herbs, garlic, and olive oil for a rich pasta sauce.
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🍹 Tomato Juice or Bloody Marys: Yes, please!
🌻 Design Tips for Gardeners
Let’s have fun with layout and style. Celebrity Plus fits into any garden theme:
🍕 Pizza Garden
Plant tomatoes with:
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Basil
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Oregano
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Garlic chives
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Bell peppers
🐝 Pollinator Patch
Add marigolds, calendula, and nasturtiums nearby. They draw in bees and look beautiful too!
🌿 Container Garden
Use large pots with drainage. Keep one tomato, one pot. Add companion herbs like thyme or parsley for a tasty mix.
🌾 Raised Beds
Build a raised bed for improved drainage and easier access. Stake your tomatoes, mulch heavily, and enjoy cleaner fruit!
💬 Why Choose Celebrity Plus Tomatoes?
We all want a tomato that checks every box—great taste, reliable yields, disease resistance, and low fuss.
Celebrity Plus delivers.
It’s ideal for:
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✅ Busy families
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✅ Beginner gardeners
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✅ Experienced growers who want consistent results
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✅ Anyone who loves a flavorful tomato sandwich
It’s also a smart pick if you’ve had trouble with diseases in the past or if you live in a hot, humid region. This variety can take it and still give you a great crop.
🌞 Ready to Grow Something Special?
If you’re planting one tomato variety this year, make it Celebrity Plus. It rewards your care with mouthwatering, sun-ripened fruit you’ll be proud to share.
Your garden deserves a star. And so do your sandwiches.
🌱 Happy growing!
