Roma Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum (nightshade)

Also known as: Roma VF (a later hybrid selection)

A classic paste tomato bred in 1955 at the USDA's Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, a cross of Italian paste varieties with Pan America to give reliable disease resistance. Compact, sturdy plants set heavy yields of oblong, plum-shaped fruit with thick, dense, dry flesh and very few seeds — exactly the low-moisture, high-solids character that makes it the standard choice for sauces, pastes, and canning. Ripens mostly all at once toward the end of the season, giving a strong single harvest perfect for a proper preserving day. Determinate (bush) variety — minimal staking required.

Days to harvest 75–80 days from transplant
Fruit size 60–90g, oblong, plum-shaped
Sowing depth 5mm
Germination 6–14 days at 24–29°C
Spacing 45–60cm apart
Aspect Full sun, well-drained soil
Frost tolerance Frost sensitive — needs reliably warm nights

Growing notes

Choose a full-sun, open position with good air circulation. Avoid planting where tomatoes or other nightshades have grown in the previous year or two. Compact determinate habit suits pots from 30L

Soil preparation: Well-drained, fertile soil, slightly acidic, pH 6.0–6.8, with organic matter worked in.

Support: Light staking or a small cage can help keep fruit off the ground, though this compact variety needs far less support than a climbing type.

Watering & feeding: Keep soil consistently moist, especially through flowering and fruiting — inconsistent watering can cause splitting. Feed regularly with a balanced fertiliser.

Harvest: Because fruit ripens mostly together, expect one strong main harvest rather than a slow trickle — ideal for batch sauce-making or canning.

Timing: Expect harvest around 75–80 days after transplanting, concentrated toward the end of the season.

Key features

  • Open-pollinated, bred 1955 (USDA)
  • Oblong, plum-shaped fruit, 60–90g
  • Thick, dense, dry flesh with few seeds
  • Classic choice for sauces, paste, and canning
  • Compact, sturdy bush habit
  • Ripens mostly all at once for a big single harvest

Short season tips

Sow 6–8 weeks before you want to plant out, on a heat mat if possible — soil needs to be 24–29°C to germinate reliably. Transplant only once all risk of frost has passed. Bury the stem deep at transplanting, leaving just the top leaves above ground, to encourage a stronger root system. Being a compact, determinate variety, it's a reliable, low-fuss choice for a shorter or less predictable season.

  • Spring
  • Summer

Tender perennial — most often grown as an annual

  • Basil (classic tomato pairing) Marigolds Carrots Parsley
  • Other nightshades (capsicums, chillies, eggplants, potatoes) Fennel Corn

Bred in 1955 by William S. Porte at the USDA's Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, developed from a cross of Italian paste tomato varieties with the Pan America line to introduce fusarium wilt resistance. Now grown worldwide, it became the archetype for the entire category of "Roma-type" paste tomatoes that followed — dense, dry, and built for the kitchen rather than the salad bowl.