How to Grow Cavalier

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Cavalier

Solanum lycopersicum 'Cavalier'

vegetable

Cavalier is a determinate (bush-type) tomato variety known for its disease resistance and reliable production of medium-sized red fruits. It was developed for commercial production but is also popular in home gardens due to its resistance to late blight and other common tomato diseases. The plants are compact and manageable, making them ideal for containers or small garden spaces.

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Example Cavalier timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Cavalier
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Cavalier
Around Jun 26

≈ 70 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Cavalier dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, minimum 6-8 hours daily (8+ hours preferred for best production)

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Water: Consistent watering of 1-2 inches per week, deeply and evenly. Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Mulch to retain moisture and regulate temperature. Water at soil level to reduce disease pressure.

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Spacing: 24-36 inches

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Days to maturity: 70-80 days from transplant

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Planting depth: 0.25 inches for seeds; transplants should be buried deeply with lower leaves removed, as tomatoes can root along the buried stem

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Compost Aged manure Balanced fertilizer (5-10-10) Calcium source (crushed eggshells or gypsum) to prevent blossom end rot

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 4-10, but can be grown annually in cooler zones with proper care

2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b

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Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny plants with 2 cotyledon leaves followed by true leaves. Fragile and light green.

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide bright light (14-16 hours daily under grow lights) to prevent leggy growth. Maintain temperature around 70°F.

Vegetative Growth

4-6 weeks

Rapid stem and leaf development with increasingly robust foliage. Plant becomes bushy and compact (determinate habit).

Gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions if starting indoors. Harden off over 7-10 days. Transplant when 6-8 inches tall with true leaves. Begin light fertilizing. Remove lower leaves as plant grows to improve air circulation.

Flowering

3-4 weeks

Yellow flowers appear in clusters along the main stem and branches. Plant reaches full mature height and width for determinate variety.

Maintain consistent watering to prevent flower drop or cracking. Apply balanced fertilizer or switch to lower nitrogen (5-10-10) to favor fruiting. Support plants with stakes or cages. Watch for disease.

Fruiting

4-6 weeks

Fruits develop from pollinated flowers, starting green and gradually turning red. Medium-sized, round fruits cluster on the plant.

Continue consistent watering. Prune some foliage to improve air circulation and light penetration, but don't over-prune. Monitor for pests and diseases. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizer which promotes foliage over fruit.

Harvest

3-4 weeks or until frost

Fruits reach full red color and slight give when gently squeezed. Plant may slow production as season ends.

Pick fruits when fully colored for best flavor. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. In fall, pick remaining green tomatoes and ripen indoors. Water moderately; disease pressure increases as season wanes.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Carrot Marigold Onion Parsley Borage Nasturtium

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) Fennel Kohlrabi Potatoes

Common Pests

Hand-pick large larvae. Use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray for small caterpillars. Encourage beneficial wasps.
Spray neem oil or insecticidal soap. Use yellow sticky traps. Remove heavily infested leaves.
Increase humidity and air circulation. Spray with water to dislodge. Use neem oil or miticide if severe.
Remove lower infected leaves. Mulch to prevent soil splash. Apply copper fungicide or chlorothalonil. Space plants for airflow. Water at soil level only.
Cavalier has good resistance; still use preventive fungicide sprays in humid conditions. Remove infected foliage immediately. Ensure excellent air circulation.
Remove infected leaves. Mulch soil. Spray chlorothalonil or copper fungicide weekly. Avoid overhead watering.

Uses

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Fresh Eating & Cooking

Culinary

Cavalier tomatoes are versatile medium-sized fruits excellent for slicing fresh, adding to salads, or using in cooked dishes. Their determinate ripening pattern makes them ideal for processing multiple fruits at once for canning, sauce, or paste. [source]

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Canning & Preservation

Culinary

The concentrated harvest typical of determinate varieties makes Cavalier excellent for canning whole tomatoes, salsa, sauce, or paste. Their disease resistance means higher quality fruit suitable for long-term storage. [source]

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Lycopene & Antioxidants

Medicinal

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant associated with reduced risk of heart disease and certain cancers. Cooking tomatoes increases bioavailability of lycopene, making cooked tomato products particularly beneficial. [source]

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Space-Saving & Container Growing

Household

Cavalier's determinate, compact growth habit makes it ideal for small gardens, container gardening on patios, or raised beds where space is limited. A single plant in a large pot can produce substantial yields. [source]

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Pollinator Attraction

Wildlife

Tomato flowers attract native bees and other pollinators. Growing Cavalier in a garden with diverse plantings supports local pollinator populations and increases garden biodiversity. [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 they reach full red color for best flavor and sweetness. Cavalier fruits mature in clusters, often ripening together. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production throughout the season. Twist gently or use pruners to avoid damaging the stem. For green tomatoes at season's end, harvest before frost and ripen indoors at room temperature away from direct sunlight.

Fun Facts

🌱 Cavalier was specifically bred for disease resistance, particularly to late blight (Phytophthora infestans), which caused the Irish potato famine; this makes it a reliable choice for gardeners in humid climates.
🌱 Determinate tomatoes like Cavalier were developed to mature all their fruit within a concentrated timeframe, making them perfect for commercial harvesting and home canning—all fruits ripen together rather than staggered throughout the season.
🌱 Tomatoes are botanically berries (a ripened ovary with seeds) but legally classified as vegetables in the US following an 1893 Supreme Court decision that determined their culinary usage rather than botanical classification.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Full Sun Mulch Transplant True Leaves

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