Celebrity Tomato- determinate?
I planted a 'Celebrity' tomato that I got from Southern States. It has grown well, is over 5 feet tall and has many beautiful fruits but they just won't ripen. I rechecked the tag and it says that it is inderterminate but then I read in Organic Gardening and online that it is determinate.
1) Does anyone have experience with this variety?
2) What will I do with all those tomatoes if they all ripen at the same time? I don't can. I froze a bunch of roma's last year but I'm not sure these huge slicer tomatoes will work well for that. Maybe the foodbank will need them.
BTW- I also planted a 'Mr.Stripey' which isn't doing much of anything.
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(post #12591, reply #1 of 11)
To confuse you farther, the Totally Tomatoes catalog lists them as semi-determinate. That didn't answer your question, but it sounds like the tomato growers can't quite decide what category to put it in. About freezing it, it would be just fine to do that. Sometimes I cook a whole bunch of them and turn it into tomato puree or sauce and then freeze it. And when I'm in a big hurry I just throw them in a freezer bag and pop them in the freezer whole. Mr. Stripey is listed as an 80-day tomato so just have patience.
Edited 7/16/2009 11:38 pm ET by 1946
(post #12591, reply #3 of 11)
Yes, I often take the quick route and just freeze the tomatoes, peel and all. For cherry tomatoes, I just wash and throw in a freezer bag. For bigger tomatoes I cut them into chunks and then toss in the bag. These work fine in soups or as a layer in lasagna or other casseroles. I've marketed the peel to dh as beneficial "fiber". He's not buying it, but will eat it anyway, which is all that matters.
(post #12591, reply #4 of 11)
Thanks everybody-
It hasn't been very warm here so maybe that's slowing the tomatoes down. In our CSA farm share this week we got a bunch of tomatoes so I'm not hurting for them and I saw a bit of color on one this evening when I was out there picking my first grean beans of the season.
With my Roma tomatoes last year I seeded then diced them for the freezer. They were great in soups and pasta dishes over the winter.
(post #12591, reply #6 of 11)
Our son gave me a dehydrator for my birthday last year and when we had our glut of tomatoes, what we did not use fresh for salads or sandwiches were sliced, dried, then the dried slices were put in zip-seal plastic bags. They would have been great for sauces and salads I'm sure but we ate them from the bag and they disappeared quite quickly.
I think my dryer is a Ronco, hoping I've spelled it right. Very easy to run.
Good luck with them if they all come at once.
Northern Virginia, Zone 7A.
Northern Virginia, Zone 7A.
(post #12591, reply #2 of 11)
I've grown Celebrity tomatoes, but I honestly can't remember which category they're in. My tomatoes are very slow this year compared to other years, probably because it's been so cool and rainy.
Even if you get a glut of tomatoes, you can always quarter them, add a little water (and basil if you like), and cook for a little while, then freeeze in containers. In the dead of winter, they make a great base for sauces and soups, and they retain that fresh taste.
www.vegetablegardener.com
(post #12591, reply #5 of 11)
Celebrity is indeed classed as semi-determinate. 5' is common size when trelliced. It doesn't fruit in one flush like determinates but also doesn't continue to frost like the indeterminate ones. For what it's worth I never really liked the flavor of Celebrity as compaired to indererminate ones. It is also a lighter orangey red.
(post #12591, reply #7 of 11)
I picked the first ripe one today and several others have started to turn. I will see at lunch tomorrow how the flavor is with some bacon and mayo. There are fruits of all sizes on it so I think it will be a more gradual harvest.
Leann
(post #12591, reply #8 of 11)
Lucky you, my mouth is watering. Any ripe tomatoes here are at least a month away. And I admire your self-restraint. My first ripe tomato never makes it past the garden gate, let alone till "tomorrow".
(post #12591, reply #9 of 11)
Ah, the joys of zone 7b. I'm not normally into delayed gratification either I had a bit of a tummyache from the Chinese food I had for lunch so I will enjoy it more tomorrow.
A guy I work with was asking for advice about gardening this spring. He doesn't have an actual garden so I told him about the Earth Box. He planted up a couple of them and they are doing great. Last week his first tomato ripened and he gave it to me. What a nice gesture. It had the best taste and best texture of any tomato I have had in recent memory.
(post #12591, reply #10 of 11)
That guy was a true friend to give up his first ripe tomato!
(post #12591, reply #11 of 11)
I am resurrecting this thread for an update.
On the matter of taste, I will testify that the Celebrity is delicious!
I believe I have defined Semi-determinate. The fruit ripens in waves. Six to eight ripened then nothing for 10-14 days then 6 more turned all at once over the weekend.
Leann