No one could ever say no to some fresh tomato sauce, plus points if it’s made from homegrown Roma tomatoes. A lot of people do gardening as either a passion, hobby, recreational activity, or just to pass their time and if you’re one of them then you should definitely grow these tomatoes as soon as possible. Fret not because here I will teach you how to grow Roma tomatoes easily!
You can grow Roma tomatoes easily by having a rich organic material soil, and by watering them at least once a week. Don’t forget to stalk up the Roma tomato plants once they’re around 6 to 12 inches or 15 to 30.5 centimeters. Once the tomato is red, pick them and save them for later or enjoy them right away!
If you’re not aware of growing vegetables all by yourself then don’t worry friend, I am here to help you out. I have grown some Roma tomatoes myself and I can give you some insider tips on growing the juiciest Roma tomatoes you might be dreaming of.
Types of Roma Tomatoes
There are six amazing types of Roma tomatoes which you’ll definitely love to plant in your garden or lawn. They’re listed below:
Plum Regal
Plum Regal are meaty, flavorful and dark red Roma tomatoes with good immunity towards early and late blight diseases. They’re easy to grow and require high fertile soil rich in phosphorus and moderate in nitrogen content.
Granadero
Granadero is a bright red and oval-shaped Roma tomato variety. It has effective pest resistance and features an impressive growth in open grounds with fertile soil and moderately cool temperatures.
Sunrise Sauce
Sunrise Sauce variety of Roma tomatoes are sweet in taste and ideal for preparing delicious tomato sauces and pastes. They’re easy to grow and maintain with soil requirements the same as every Roma tomato species.
Heinz
Heinz is a superior Roma tomato variety that nurtures large, plumy, flavorful and nutrition filled tomatoes. It is also rich in lycopene, an effective antioxidant that nourishes the body with several health benefits. Kindly ensure to grow them in organic-rich and well-drained soil accompanied by watering on a regular basis.
Martino’s Roma Tomato
Martino’s tomatoes are delicious, pear-shaped and slightly dark red tomatoes with good yield and early blight disease resistance. It’s growing requirements is similar to other varieties of Roma tomatoes.
San Marzano Tomato
San Marzano is widely used in seasoning, sauce preparation, and exotic salad toppings. They’re bright red long fruits with rich taste and thrive well in fertile, well-drained and organic soil.
What Do You Need to Grow Roma Tomatoes?
Well, before I tell you the procedure of growing Roma tomatoes by yourself, you’d need to gather some important stuff.
First of all, you need all the gear to dig up the soil. Such as a shovel, or maybe just garden gloves if you plan on planting it in a pot. Make sure to get some fertilizer that is rich in organic material and most importantly some Roma tomato seeds or seedlings.
Once you’ve gathered all the required material, it’s time to get started to work!
How to Grow Roma Tomatoes
Roma tomatoes are not considered as heirloom tomatoes. They are determinate tomatoes that grow up to 1 m tall, suitable choice for gardeners with limited space. They can be grown in garden beds as well as in containers. The period of maturation of Roma tomatoes takes 75-90 days from germination to maturity.
Growing Roma tomatoes is not much different than cultivating other varieties. They may differ in shape and size but the growing process and requirements are similar. You just have to make sure that they get enough sunlight, water, fertile organic matter rich soil and care against pests and diseases. You can grow the Roma tomatoes in your garden bed as well as in pots.
Growing Roma Tomatoes in a Pot
Roma tomatoes can be grown in pots as well. It is recommended to use a material pot that is at least 14 to 16 inches deep and 20 to 24 inches wide (in diameter).
You can use a loose potting mix that has organic material such as coco coir, vermiculite, or perlite.
I would recommend you install a cage or stakes before planting the Roma tomatoes in a pot as it will give it support and help them to grow vertically. Later on, the cage or stake will support the plant when the tomatoes start to grow as well.
Transplanting the Roma Tomatoes Outside
If you plan on growing Roma tomatoes in your garden, then you have to wait for the frosting season ends and the temperature does not drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 degrees Celsius.
Here is a step-by-step guide for transplanting your Roma tomato seedlings into the soil.
- Make sure to water the plants enough before you move them from the pot to the soil.
- You have to install plant supports as well such as tomato cages, trellises, or stakes.
- Don’t forget to pinch off a few branches on the lower end.
- When planting the Roma tomato seedling into the soil, make sure it is deep enough that the leaves on the low are not too high from the surface.
- All of the seedlings should be at least 14 to 20 inches away from each other.
- In the end, firm the soil around the base of your Roma tomato plant and water it to make the plant connect with the soil.
