How to Grow Percival Tomato
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Percival Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Percival'
vegetablePercival is a determinate cherry tomato variety known for its early maturity and prolific yields of small, sweet red fruits. This compact, bushy plant is ideal for containers and small garden spaces, producing clusters of 15-20 fruits per truss. It's an excellent choice for gardeners seeking quick harvests and continuous production throughout the season.
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Example Percival Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Percival 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 Percival Tomato
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Percival Tomato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-9; best performance in zones 5-8 with warm growing season
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Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny plants with cotyledons and first true leaves emerging; pale green, delicate appearance
Provide 14-16 hours of bright light daily indoors. Keep soil moist but not soggy. Maintain 65-75°F temperature. Thin to strongest seedling if overcrowded.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksCompact, bushy plant with multiple branches and dark green foliage; no flowers yet
Harden off for 7-10 days before transplanting outdoors. Plant deeply to encourage strong root system. Water consistently. Provide support cage or stake early. Side-dress with balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.
Flowering
2-3 weeksYellow star-shaped flowers appear in clusters; plant becomes increasingly branched and bushier
Ensure consistent watering during flowering to prevent blossom end rot. Continue light feeding with balanced or lower-nitrogen fertilizer. Monitor for pests and disease. Allow air circulation to prevent fungal issues.
Fruiting & Development
2-3 weeksGreen marble-sized fruits develop rapidly in clusters; plant becomes heavy with developing fruit
Maintain even watering schedule to prevent cracking and splitting. Support branches with fruit as they become heavy. Prune lower foliage for air circulation. Continue monitoring for pests.
Harvest & Peak Production
6-8 weeks or until frostAbundant red, ripe cherry tomatoes ready for picking; plant continues producing new flowers and fruit clusters
Pick ripe fruits regularly to encourage more production. Water and fertilize consistently to sustain yields. Continue pruning diseased foliage. Extended harvest period can last until first frost.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick daily, encourage parasitic wasps, use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray if needed
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Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; increase humidity; remove heavily infested leaves
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Yellow sticky traps, neem oil spray, reflective mulch, spray undersides of leaves
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Remove infected lower foliage, improve air circulation, stake/prune for airflow, avoid overhead watering
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Remove infected leaves, avoid wetting foliage, mulch to prevent soil splash, rotate crops
Uses
Fresh Eating & Snacking
CulinaryPercival cherry tomatoes are sweet, flavorful fruits perfect for eating fresh off the vine, adding to salads, or halving for garnishes. Their prolific production makes them ideal for snacking throughout the growing season. [source]
Sauces & Preservation
CulinaryThe concentrated sweetness of Percival tomatoes makes them excellent for making fresh sauces, salsas, and passata. High yields enable canning, freezing, and sun-drying for year-round use. [source]
Container Gardening
HouseholdAs a determinate, compact variety, Percival thrives in containers on patios, balconies, and small spaces, making it perfect for urban gardeners and those with limited garden area. [source]
Lycopene & Heart Health
MedicinalTomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk. Red tomatoes like Percival contain higher lycopene levels when fully ripe. [source]
Ornamental Appeal
CraftWith its bushy, compact habit and profusion of bright red fruits on visible clusters, Percival is attractive enough for decorative gardening and can be grown as an ornamental specimen plant. [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 tomatoes when they reach full red color and yield slightly to gentle pressure. Morning harvest is best when fruits are still cool. Twist gently or use pruners to avoid damaging the plant. Green tomatoes will ripen indoors at room temperature if picked at mature green stage. For longest harvest season, continue picking regularly to encourage production.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Percival is named after the knight from Arthurian legend, reflecting its royal reliability in the garden. It's a popular variety in European gardening, particularly favored in the UK and Scandinavia.
- 🌱 Cherry tomatoes like Percival concentrate sugars into smaller fruits, making them typically 2-3 times sweeter than full-sized slicing tomatoes on a gram-for-gram basis.
- 🌱 Determinate varieties like Percival were bred specifically for canning and mechanical harvesting, but home gardeners love them for their compact size and all-at-once productivity, allowing for succession plantings every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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