Solanum lycopersicum‘Roma’
The quintessential plum tree tomato , ‘ Roma ’ is prized for its tart , fertile taste and dense - surround , meaty flesh .
As scummy - moisture paste Lycopersicon esculentum , their flavor intensifies with heat , making them a top choice for cook . The dull , gel - less grain holds up splendidly on the grillwork , sun - dry , or roasted .
Along with the fantastic discernment , texture , and depleted wet , they have few ejaculate – all of which make them extremely pop with the canning crowd .
‘San Marzano’
They aretheperfect tomatoes for create piquant ketchups , salsas , sauce , pastes , puree , and relish .
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And with their rich flavor and drip - free texture , Roma tomatoes are also ideal for eating overbold . They ’re luscious chopped up on bruschetta or in salsa , and slice for sandwiches and salads .
‘San Marzano’
Or simply cast out them with brisk basil and olive oil .
Plus , the fruit freeze well for a tasty plus to sauce , soups , and stews throughout the year .
Romas arise on vigorous plants with a grueling fruit and thrive in sunny erect bed , containers , and vegetable patch .
tight - growing and prosperous to educate , you wo n’t require to miss out on adding these tasty and versatile plants to your own garden .
Here ’s what I ’ll cover :
What You’ll Learn
What Are Roma Tomatoes?
Although distinctly Italian sounding , ‘ Roma ’ is actually an American cross .
We can give thanks theUSDA ’s Agricultural Research Servicefor produce the first ‘ Roma ’ tomato hybrid in 1955 .
But it does have Italian parentage , being a hybridization of thefamous and flavorful ‘ San Marzano ’ – an open - pollinated heirloom cultivar native to the volcanic stain in the region around Mount Vesuvius – and ‘ Pan America . ’
You may see ‘ Roma ’ referred to as Italian or Italian plum tomato , and the name is commonly used as a generic terminal figure to describe a paste tomato .
An former variety , ‘ Roma VF , ’ was spawn in 1963 for its opposition to both verticillium and fusarium wilt .
As a result , most cultivar – including those now classified as heirlooms – have the same resistance , thanks to this early fostering .
The brilliant red , rose , or xanthous fruit are oblong , with an orchis or pear shape , and typically measure two to four column inch long .
Plants can bedeterminate or indeterminateand produce ample clusters of yield that may need cages , stakes , or trellises to provide support for heavily ladened branch .
When eat fresh , these tomatoes have complex flavour that are both sweet and lemony .
But the fullest nip issue with cooking , where they intensify and escalate – they ’re perfect on the grill , roast , or slow fix .
Starting from Seed
All tomatoes need a long maturate time of year . Seeds are best started indoors six to eight weeks before the last hoar date for your neighborhood .
If you ’re new to seed propagation , our templet has all the inside information you need onhow to develop Lycopersicon esculentum from source in six loose footstep .
Once seedlings farm to about six inches improbable , you’re able to begin to indurate them off in preparation for embed outdoors .
Or if you choose , waitress until your local garden center is stocked with seedlings to choose from .
How to Plant Roma Tomatoes
Romas are naturally robust and square plants , but there are a few thing that will help assure a bumper harvesting !
When to Plant
Before you set out your graft , you ’ll want to make certain that you are well past your last Robert Lee Frost engagement . Cold conditions can badly damage or even kill your plant .
Harden off seedlings bit by bit , and only transplantation outdoors when night temperatures no longer drop below 50 ° F .
Use a cloche or plant life cover if cold , sozzled , or wordy conditions set in .
Where to Plant
select the right planting situation is decisive for optimal growth and mellow yield .
These sturdy plants thrive in warm climates and want mickle of light , so be trusted to select a location that receives at least six , preferably eight hours of direct sun each sidereal day .
Roma tomatoes necessitate well - drained loamy grease with a pH level between 6.2 and 6.5 , so check your soil ’s pH and repair as postulate .
If your grunge is too acidic ( downcast in pH ) , see adding lime to reduce the acidity . You may wish to mix in some constituent topic such as compost or well - aged manure to promote natality .
Be aware that these plant life grow quite improbable , so contain that into your garden intent .
get understory veggies such as lettuce and prickly-seeded spinach that enjoy a reprieve from the live Sunday . You may be able to get a couple more weeks out of these lower growing plants that prefer cooler weather .
right drain is essential for Roma tomato plants , so avoid planting them in areas that are prone to standing body of water or heavy rainfall .
For planting , you’re able to pick out rear beds , garden beds , or containers , depend on the outer space available and your preference .
At planting time , sneak off the broken two sets of branch and bury the fore close to the lowest remaining branches . This helps to advance more root development .
Adding limeor Epsom salts to the planting gob helps with atomic number 20 ingestion and aids in the bar of next problems likeblossom final stage rot .
Spacing Requirements and Support
Most Roma plants are determinate which means that the fruit go far pretty much all at once .
There are also indeterminate cultivars available that continue to flower and set fruit throughout the growing season . See our guide on determinate vs indeterminatefor more information .
You ’ll need to know what your particular plants are to find out the space requirement .
Plant determinate varieties 12 to 24 inch aside in rows four feet apart . undetermined multifariousness often originate much large and usually require two to three feet between plants with row spacing up to six feet .
Which plant that you ’ll want to grow depends on your needs .
If you prefer yield for fresh eating , undetermined varieties will spread out your harvest throughout the season . If your are send away your green groceries , you may want it to arrive all at once – or perhaps not if you circulate your canning efforts through the summer .
Install cages or stakes for documentation to prevent tooth root disturbance subsequently on . You may also choose to use a low budget approach such as the“florida weave”to support your tomato works .
Growing in Containers
Roma tomato plant plants do quite well in when grown in pots or even five gallon bucket .
Use a promiscuous potting mix enrich with organic materials like compost or aged manure and amended with water system - retaining materials such ascoconut coir , peat moss , or vermiculite .
Container flora typically require more frequent feeding and can be given a half - strength resolution of fertilizer every hebdomad if needed .
Pot - rise plants often need more frequent watering as well . When the top inch of land is teetotal , water easy and deeply . This allow the soil to absorb the wet and not inundate out the drainage hollow .
Ourguide to growing love apple in containerswill cover specifics accommodate to that method , for terrace raiser and other lowly quad gardeners .
Roma Tomato Plant Care
Roma love apple care requirements are similar tothat of other tomato plants .
To foreclose problems like bloom closing hogwash , disunited skins , andcatfacing , piss plant deeply once a hebdomad instead of render more frequent shallow tearing .
The entire root ball , including the lowest rootage , need to have a drink – not just the surface one .
To help continue moisture and keep weeds down , impart a natural mulchof grass clippings , foliage mold , orstraw .
sneak out fall guy as they appear . Suckers are the small secondary branches that look in the “ V ” between main branch and the stalk . Removing them direct Energy Department into yield production .
Once flowers lead off to set , feed every two week with a balanced plant food , or practice a tomato formula of 18 - 18 - 21 ( NPK ) .
yield typically ripen in 70 to 80 daylight .
Cultivars to Select
For sweet feeding or to put up preserves , there are several spectacular varieties for your consideration .
‘ Roma ’
you may ascertain seeds for the classic heirloom ‘ Roma ’ cultivaravailable at Eden Brothers .
Or if you require to essay something a lilliputian bit different , here are a few of the most popular cultivars :
Cherry Roma (Heirloom)
A mini cultivar , ‘ Cherry Roma ’ produces an teemingness of small one - ounce fruits with an vivid , fresh flavor that ’s both sweet and tangy .
Ideal for an clamant bite , the firm fruit is perfect to chop up up for bruschetta or tossed into a salad with novel basil .
‘ Cherry Roma ’
The indeterminate plant life uprise 36 to 40 inch and fruits age in 75 to 80 days .
semen bundle areavailable at Burpee .
La Roma III (Hybrid)
This hybrid cultivar produces a large craw of five - ounce , vivid red fruits on vigorous , determinate vines .
Firm - fleshed and tasty , they are perfect for canning , sauces , and paste .
‘ La Roma III ’
Highly disease resistant , these vigorous plants will require caging or other support .
you could find seedsavailable at True Leaf Market .
Orange Roma (Heirloom)
With a rich , angelical flavor and orangish hide and chassis , these two - ounce fruit grow abundantly on vigorous , indeterminate vine .
They ’re ideal for adding a dab of colour to summer salad , and the firm flesh is complete for salsa and sauce .
‘ Orange Roma ’
fruit grow in 75 mean solar day .
you could find package of seeded player in a variety of sizesavailable at Eden Brothers .
Roma Grande (Hybrid)
These vigorous plants are one of the adept for extreme temperatures , both red-hot and cold .
‘ Roma Grande ’ ( aka ‘ Rio Grande ’ ) feature an abundance of bright red pear - shaped fruits with a full flavor that ’s both acidic and sweet .
The four - snow leopard fruits are firm and meaty , ideal for juicing , paste , and sauces .
‘ Roma Grande ’
The determinate plant grow 15 to 24 inches and are very generative . Caging is recommend to support vines oppressed with yield .
fruit ripen in 75 to 85 days and plants are heavily disease resistant .
Seeds areavailable at Burpee .
Roma VF (Heirloom)
The first cultivar , ‘ Roma VF ’ is a vigorous plant with abundant yields of bright red and mild tasting two - ounce fruit .
An fantabulous motley for ketchup , puree , and sauce , the determinate vines grow 30 to 36 column inch and fruit matures in 76 days .
‘ Roma VF ’
Plants are resistive to verticillium wilt and fusarium wilting .
Seeds areavailable at True Leaf Market .
Yellow Roma
favourable - yellow fruit add a punch of color to the garden – and the salad bowling ball .
solid flesh with a low battery-acid and sugar content has a subtly sweet flavor that is enhanced by cooking .
Determinate vines produce an abundance of one to two - snow leopard fruit , and grow to a ripe size of 40 column inch .
Managing Pests and Diseases
Romas are susceptible to most of the same pests and disease that affect all love apple plant .
Some mutual pests admit :
Some common disease include :
We have a comprehensivelist of diseases that affect tomato plant here .
Harvesting Roma Tomatoes
The secure prison term to glean is when the fruit is full colored and slightly soft to the touch . sign that a Roma tomato is quick for beak include a vibrant red vividness and a slight give when gently mash .
When picking Roma tomatoes , it ’s important to apply the correct technique . Hold the yield in one hand and the stem in the other , then gently convolute and displume to remove the tomato from the vine .
or else , you’re able to cut off the stem with your shear or tongue to harvest item-by-item fruit or polish off the intact vine . Be gentle to avoid bruising the fruit , as this can lead to spoil .
Once you ’ve harvested your Romas , the next whole tone is to clean them . bump off any debris and filth by softly brushing the tomatoes or dampen them under cool , run urine . Dry them good to prevent stamp and bacterium from develop .
It ’s okay if you harvest some green ones , you canmake them turn redby exit them in a warmer domain such as a picnic table or on a window sill .
Storing
lay in Roma tomatoes is unsubdivided .
station your tomatoes in a single layer in a tray or shallow bowl , with the stem conclusion facing up to reduce the risk of bruising .
For fresh eating , they should ideally be kept at elbow room temperature , aside from unmediated sunlight . Avoid refrigerating them , as this can affect their relish and texture .
However , for longer term entrepot , infrigidation will extend their life . But for optimum flavor , permit them to come up to board temperature before have .
on a regular basis visit your stored tomatoes for signs of spoiling , such as mold , cushy spots , or an off olfactory property . If you spot any of these signs , discard the affected tomatoes immediately to forbid the spread of spoilage .
Find more bakshis in ourguide to hive away tomatoes .
Preserving
If you have a large harvest and want to preserve your Roma tomatoes for long - terminal figure use , there are several methods you could use .
Canning is a pop pick , allowing you to revel your tomatoes class - orotund .
freeze is another simple and efficacious method acting , in particular if you ’ll be using your Lycopersicon esculentum in cooked saucer . Read more about freezing tomato .
Lastly , drying your tomatoes can condense their feel and make them a toothsome increase to a sort of looker . Read more about dehydrating tomatoes .
Each preservation method has its own curing of teaching , so be sure to research the best practices for each one . Happy harvest home !
Roma Tomato Recipe Ideas
cookery really brings out the plentiful , complex flavors of ‘ Roma ’ tomatoes , and they make a bully addition to many recipes .
Here are a few ideas to try out this summertime .
You ca n’t go wrong with bruschetta .
For a balanced spirit and bang-up texture , try your freshly harvested ‘ Roma ’ in this sumptuous homemade tomato basil bruschetta – you could find the recipeat Foodal .
For a zesty starter or entree , this einkorn pastry with tomato , ricotta , and sweet basil is ideal for a rich , scrumptious flavor your guests will jazz . Therecipe ’s at Foodal .
And for those who care a relish with a tangy morsel , test them in a fresh and savory tomato jam .
I love their plentiful taste and always add in a big fistful of fresh basil and parsley along with some diced and saute celery and onion plant .
you’re able to find this zestyrecipe at Foodal as well .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Plum Perfect for Stocking the Pantry
With their rich gustation , meaty texture , and low seed count , everything about ‘ Roma ’ conspires to make it plum perfect for stock the pantry – and for novel eating !
Use them to make succus , ketchup , or the complete pasta sauce . And if you ca n’t keep up with the harvest , pop them whole into the deep freezer and make your sauce afterwards .
And if you want to check tomato varietiesto grow in your garden , check out these scout next :
photograph by Fanny Slater , Lorna Kring , and Meghan Yager © require the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more detail . Originally publish on July 14th , 2020 . Last update June 9th , 2023 . production exposure via Burpee , Eden Brothers , and unfeigned Leaf Market . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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Lorna Kring
