Roma

Described in catalogs as mild and sometimes tangy and meaty, valued more for firm, low-moisture flesh than for bold taste. This is the recurring catalog and grower description, not a measured claim.

The Roma VF cultivar was developed by USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists in Beltsville, Maryland in the 1950s and bred for resistance to Verticillium and Fusarium wilt.

• Determinate bush. It sets most of its crop in one concentrated flush, which suits batch cooking and canning, and needs only light support.
• Mid-season timing, ripening around 70 to 80 days from transplant.
• Generally forgiving and beginner-friendly to grow.
• One of our picks for the cold, short-season gardens of New England.

Sold out, or after a change? The closest alternatives, and how they differ.

San Marzanobut San Marzano is an indeterminate Italian plum with thicker, sweeter fleshAmish Pastebut Amish Paste is a larger, indeterminate heirloom paste

• High Mowing Organic Seeds

• San Marzano vs Roma
• Buried in Tomatoes? What to Do With a Mid-Summer Glut
• When Are Tomatoes Ripe? A Variety-by-Variety Guide
• Best Disease-Resistant Tomatoes

Is Roma determinate or indeterminate?

Roma is a determinate variety. Determinate bush. It sets most of its crop in one concentrated flush, which suits batch cooking and canning, and needs only light support.

How long does Roma take to ripen?

Roma ripens in about 75 days from transplant. Mid-season timing, ripening around 70 to 80 days from transplant.

Is Roma an heirloom or a hybrid?

Roma is open-pollinated, so seed saved from it comes back true to type.

What can I grow instead of Roma?

A close swap is San Marzano, but San Marzano is an indeterminate Italian plum with thicker, sweeter flesh.