They have less moisture content than other, juicier tomato varieties, such asbeefsteak tomatoes.
Romas have a thick fruit wall and skin, firm and dense flesh, and they have fewer seeds.
Roma tomatoes stand out by their elongated, egg-like shape, which in some varieties is pear- or plum-shaped.
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These tomatoes dont get very big, only about 3 inches long.
The skin is usually bright red, although new hybrids are being introduced in a variety of other colors.
The non-fruit parts of tomatoes are toxic to humansand pets.
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The plants, and especially young seedlings, are frost-sensitive.
Planting them too early even if there is no more frost can be risky.
Taking your time to properly harden off the seedlings is crucial for a successful tomato season.
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They will develop roots from any part that is buried in the soil, which leads to extra-strong plants.
The spacing depends on whether the variety is determinate or indeterminate.
Leave 12 to 24 inches of space between determinate, and 2 to 3 feet between indeterminate varieties.
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Rows should be spaced 4 to 6 feet apart.
Roma tomatoes need staking, trellising, ortomato cages for support.
Roma Tomato Plant Care
Caring for Roma tomatoes is similar to other tomato varieties.
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Light
Tomatoes need lots of light during their entire life cycle, starting with the seedlings.
The plants need full sun, which means a minimum of six to eight hours of direct sunlight.
Anything less will result in leggy plants and poor fruit.
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Before planting, amend the soil with organic matter.
In the absence of rain, give them at least 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week.
The soil should never dry out, which can lead to fast wilting.
In the spring, delay planting until nighttime temperatures reach at least 60 degrees.
Fertilizer
Fertilizing tomatoes is largely dependent on the condition of the soil when they are planted.
At planting time, add 2 tablespoons of a high-phosphorus granular fertilizer such as5-10-5to the soil around each plant.
There are a number of different approaches to fertilizing midseason and recommended NPK ratios can vary widely.
However, insects and wind move the process of pollination along.
Attracting beneficial insects such as natural predators can also help keep pests such as the tomato hornworm under control.
They vary in fruit size, days to maturity, disease resistance, and other features.
Harvesting Roma Tomatoes
Roma tomatoes are ripe and ready to be harvested when they areevenly colored red.
They should still be firm, so dont let them turn overripe on the vine.
Choose a 5-gallon container with large drainage holes and fill it with potting mix.
As the tomato grows, it will need some staking.
Tomatoes in containers need daily watering and a balanced fertilizer once a month throughout the summer.
The life cycle of the tomatoes ends with the onset of fall frosts; no repotting is necessary.
It is essential to keep the vigorously growing plants under control.
Plants that grow too densely lack air circulation and trap moisture, which fosters the spread of plant diseases.
How to Grow Roma Tomatoes From Seed
Like all tomatoes, Roma tomatoes are propagated from seed.
In most climates, it works best tostart them indoorsto get a head start on the outdoor growing season.
The exact timing depends on your local climate and the days to maturity of the variety.
Starting Roma tomatoes from collected seed only makes sense forheirloom, open-pollinated varietiessuch as San Marzano.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Like all tomatoes, Roma tomatoes are prone to arange of diseases.
Potential fungal diseases include early and late blight,septoria leaf spot, verticillium wilt, and fusarium wilt.
Two common viral diseases of tomatoes are mosaic virus andtomato spotted wilt virus.
Other problems can beblossom end rotortomato hornwormsattacking the plants.
Both determinate and indeterminate varieties need a trellis to keep them off the ground.
The yield depends on how vigorous the plant is.
Roma tomatoes come in both indeterminate and determinate varieties.
Toxic Plants.University of California.
Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants: Tomato Plant.ASPCA.
