How to Grow Caprice Tomato
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Caprice Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Caprice'
vegetableCaprice is a determinate hybrid tomato variety known for its medium-sized, globe-shaped red fruits and reliable production. It's a popular choice for home gardeners and commercial growers due to its disease resistance and consistent yields. The plants are compact and bushy, making them suitable for containers and small spaces.
When should you plant Caprice Tomato in your zone?
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Example Caprice Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Caprice Tomato
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Caprice Tomato
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Caprice Tomato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-10; grows as annual in cooler zones, can produce through winter in warmer climates
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Get my Caprice Tomato timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny plants with 2-4 true leaves, fragile and pale green; cotyledons followed by characteristic tomato foliage
Maintain warm soil (70-80°F), provide bright light for 12-16 hours daily to prevent legginess, keep soil moist but not soggy, thin crowded seedlings
Vegetative/Growth
3-4 weeksBushy plants 12-24 inches tall with dense green foliage, sturdy stems, no flowers yet; determinate habit means more compact growth
Harden off transplants over 1-2 weeks before planting outdoors, transplant after last frost, install support stakes early to avoid root damage, maintain consistent watering, fertilize with balanced NPK every 2-3 weeks
Flowering
2-3 weeksSmall yellow flowers appear in clusters (trusses) along the main stem and branches; plant continues to grow but more energy goes to reproduction
Maintain consistent moisture to prevent flower drop and blossom end rot, switch to lower nitrogen, higher phosphorus fertilizer (e.g., 5-10-10) to encourage fruiting, remove some lower leaves for air circulation if desired, prune only lightly to preserve flower trusses
Fruiting
4-5 weeksGreen marble-sized fruits develop from spent flowers, gradually enlarge to golf ball then full size (2-3 inches diameter); color transitions from green to pink to deep red
Maintain even watering to prevent cracking and blossom end rot, mulch around base to regulate soil moisture and temperature, avoid overhead watering, continue light fertilizing every 3-4 weeks with diluted solution, prune excessive foliage only if fruits are shaded
Harvest & Maturity
4-8 weeks depending on climateFruits reach full size and develop deep red color; plant continues producing until frost or disease pressure ends productivity
Harvest ripe fruits regularly to encourage continued production, pick slightly underripe tomatoes if frost is imminent and ripen indoors, reduce watering slightly if humidity is very high and disease pressure is high, stake and monitor for late-season pests
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick large caterpillars, use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray, encourage parasitic wasps, monitor regularly
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Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap, use yellow sticky traps, encourage natural predators like ladybugs, improve air circulation
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Strong water spray, insecticidal soap, neem oil, encourage ladybugs and lacewings, reflective mulch
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Increase humidity, spray with water, neem oil, sulfur powder (not in extreme heat), miticide as last resort
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and
(Phytophthora infestans)
Plant resistant varieties like Caprice, remove infected foliage promptly, improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, apply copper fungicide preventatively, clean tools between plants
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Remove lower infected leaves, mulch to prevent soil splash, improve air circulation, apply copper or chlorothalonil fungicide, rotate crops yearly
Uses
Fresh eating and slicing
CulinaryCaprice tomatoes have excellent flavor suitable for eating fresh, slicing for salads, and sandwiches. Their medium size and meaty texture make them versatile for various culinary applications. [source]
Sauce and cooking
CulinaryThe high solids content and balanced acid-sugar ratio make Caprice suitable for making tomato sauce, paste, and cooked dishes. These tomatoes hold their shape well during cooking. [source]
Nutritional and antioxidant benefits
MedicinalTomatoes are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant linked to heart health and cancer prevention. Caprice tomatoes provide all the nutritional benefits of standard red tomatoes when consumed fresh or cooked. [source]
Home gardening and food security
HouseholdCaprice is an excellent choice for home gardeners seeking reliable yields and disease resistance, supporting self-sufficiency in fresh produce. Its determinate habit makes it predictable for harvest planning and preservation. [source]
Pollinator support
WildlifeTomato flowers attract bees and other pollinators to the garden, supporting broader ecosystem health. Growing tomatoes encourages beneficial insect populations. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Pick fruits when fully red and slightly soft to gentle pressure, ideally in early morning; Caprice is a determinate variety, so it produces most fruits over a concentrated 4-6 week period rather than continuously; twist gently or use pruning shears to avoid damaging vines; fruits ripen on the vine best but can be picked at breaker stage (first blush of color) and ripened indoors in a warm location (68-77°F) away from direct sun; continue harvesting to encourage the plant to set more fruit; at end of season, harvest all fruit including green ones—they will ripen indoors over 1-3 weeks
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Caprice is a hybrid variety bred to have exceptional disease resistance, particularly to Fusarium and Verticillium wilts, making it reliable for gardeners in challenging growing regions.
- 🌱 The name 'Caprice' reflects the variety's balanced nature—it offers dependable production without the temperamental behavior of some heirloom varieties.
- 🌱 Tomatoes are botanically fruits (berries) but culinarily vegetables, a distinction famously settled by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1893 to determine import tariffs.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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