How to Grow Campari
Solanum lycopersicum 'Campari'
Campari tomatoes deliver intense, tart flavor perfect for sauces and salads. Gardeners prize this vigorous hybrid for its disease resistance and reliable performance in warm climates where heat-loving varieties thrive.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Campari: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Campari is not usually started indoors.
Do not start indoors before the last frost; instead, wait until soil is warm and all danger of frost has passed before moving seedlings directly into the garden.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8. As a warm-season crop, start seeds indoors only after the last frost date has passed or when nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 50°F. Sow seeds about 1/4 inch deep; they typically germinate within 7 to 14 days.
Space plants 24 to 30 inches apart in full sun. Provide sturdy cages or trellises as this variety can reach significant heights. Maintain consistent moisture by watering deeply at the base, and apply mulch to retain soil temperature while feeding regularly during the fruiting stage.
Watch for aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, and thrips; inspect leaves often and use insecticidal soap if needed. Prevent late blight, bacterial canker, and powdery mildew by ensuring good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest ripe fruit 70 to 80 days after transplanting.
When to Plant Campari
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May | — | October – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | September |
| Zone 3 | April | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 11 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January | — | April – June |
Companion Plants for Campari
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve flavor
Helps break up soil for tomato roots, doesn't compete for nutrients
Repels aphids and may help prevent early blight disease
Provides ground cover and doesn't compete with tomato root system
Deters nematodes and whiteflies with natural compounds
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Repels various insects and may enhance tomato flavor
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on tomato pests
✗ Keep away from
Releases juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Both attract similar pests like corn earworm and compete for nutrients
Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
