Pretty Chill
Full Sunlight
Keep Soil Moist
Not Pet Safe
WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR ROMA TOMATOES:
- Fresh: rinse under cool water and enjoy as is! Roma tomatoes are typically less juicy than your average tomato, making them perfect for slicing to add to salads, sandwiches, and homemade salsas.
- Canning: considered one of the most rewarding things you can do with a bountiful harvest! I am still testing this out myself, so instructions and tips coming soon. :)
- Make a sauce: Roma tomatoes are considered the gold standard for sauce-making. Here's how to do it:
- Blanch & peel: cut a small X on the bottom of each tomato with a small knife. Drop tomatoes into boiling water for about 1 minute. Transfer to bowl of ice water.
- Once cooled, peel away the skins and roughly chop the tomatoes.
- Heat olive oil in a pan with minced garlic then add your chopped tomatoes.
- Stir until combined, season to your liking, and simmer for 20-30 minutes. You can also blend or mash to your preferred thickness.
- Add to pastas, pizzas, or use as a base for tomato soup. Enjoy!
Info
GROW YOUR OWN FOOD
USDA Hardiness Zone
Roma tomatoes can grow in zones 3-11
Find Your Zone
A USDA hardiness zone map shows you the average annual extreme minimum temperature in your area. This helps you know which plants can survive there.
FULL SUNLIGHT
More sun = more tomatoes
Place a Roma tomato plant in the brightest spot possible and you'll find it reaching for the sun in no time. This plant is a total sun-lover.
6 to 8+ HOURS OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT DAILY
Too little sun will result in a weak plant and a smaller tomato harvest.
Watch out for leggy growth and a leafy plant with very few yellow blossoms. These are indications that your Roma tomato plant needs more sunlight!
KEEP SOIL MOIST
Keep this plant consistently watered, making sure it has good drainage to prevent soggy soil.
Tomato plants can be a little dramatic after a long day in the sun. If you notice your Roma tomato plant drooping midday, then it is telling you it's thirsty! Give it a thorough pour of water and it should slowly perk back up.
A consistent watering cycle for a tomato plant is key in preventing blossom end rot (read more about this in the Common Issues section below).
MODERATE HUMIDITY
Indoor humidity or normal outdoor air is typically fine for tomato plants. As long as the humidity levels are not too extreme in either direction, a Roma tomato plant will be happy.
Avoid misting or using a humidifier since it is prone to fungal issues if its leaves stay wet.
SOIL
ROMA TOMATOES DIG A WELL-DRAINING, SLIGHTLY MOIST MIX
When choosing a potting mix for this plant, look for mixes that include:
COMPOST
COMPOST
Looks dark brown, almost black in color and is typically fluffy. It should smell like fresh earth, not rotten!
It is added to soil to feed plants essential nutrients and improve overall growth.
PERLITE
Looks like tiny white popcorn bits mixed into the soil. Improves drainage and prevents waterlogging.
COCO COIR
Looks like fluffy, light brown fibers like shredded coconut husk (what it's made from). Helps hold moisture without making the soil too wet.
HARVESTING
ALWAYS USE CLEAN SCISSORS OR HANDS
You can start harvesting your Roma tomatoes once the fruits have turned bright red and feel slightly firm. Tomatoes transitioning from green to red can take up to 30 days in bright, direct light.
Once you notice the tomatoes changing colors, try to check on them every few days so you can pick them at peak ripeness! Most tomatoes will ripen all at once since they are determinate plants.
IDENTIFY THE PICKING SPOT
Typically, you can use your hands to gently twist the tomatoes off the stem. If they are not snapping off easily, you can use scissors to snip the stalk just above the fruit.
Any unripe tomatoes that are starting to crack should be snipped off and left to ripen indoors.
HARVEST REGULARLY FOR BEST RESULTS
Picking ripe tomatoes encourages the plant to focus more energy on ripening the remaining fruits.
If tomatoes are left on the plant too long, they are susceptible to cracking and attracting unwanted pests.
Don't worry if you need to harvest some while they're still green! Roma tomatoes will continue to ripen indoors when placed in a warm, bright spot.
COMMON ISSUES
BLOSSOM END ROT
A soft, black spot on the bottom of your tomatoes could indicate blossom end rot (BER). Once your tomatoes have BER, there is no way to reverse it.
BER is a common physiological disorder among some nightshade plants. It is due to a calcium deficiency from inconsistent waterings.
Calcium from the soil is absorbed into the plant through ample moisture. So in the event of a drought, or inconsistent watering cycles, the plant's ability to absorb calcium is reduced. This lack of calcium appears as a soft, rotted patch at the bottom of the fruit.
You can cut off the blossom end rot and safely eat the rest of the tomato. However, it is known to not have the best taste.
The absolute BEST way to prevent BER is to keep your watering cycle as consistent as possible, making sure your tomato plant is watered thoroughly until harvest time.
Some people choose to add calcium to the soil at the sight of their first tomato with BER to prevent other fruits from having it. There is conflicting evidence of this being effective at all. Most experts will say the only way to avoid blossom end rot is to keep your tomato plant consistently watered.
YELLOWING LEAVES
A sign of overwatering or poor drainage of the pot. Although a Roma tomato plant prefers moist conditions, soil that remains soggy can lead to root rot.
Remove affected leaves. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out. Adjust your watering schedule for this plant.
If problem persists and/or you suspect root rot: remove from pot, trim away dead mushy roots, and repot in fresh soil.
LEGGY
A definite sign of not enough sunlight.
If you notice your Roma tomao plant looking leggy and weak, it's time to move it to a brighter spot.
This plant needs 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily!
FLOWERS DROPPING
Extreme weather conditions (heat stress or cold spells) can cause Roma tomato flowers to fall off before bearing fruiit.
Make sure to keep the plant well watered and protect it from sudden temperature changes if possible.
CRACKED TOMATOES
Irregular waterings is the most common cause of cracked (almost ripe) tomatoes.
For example, a Roma tomato plant that consistently goes through a major dry spell in high heat followed by a heavy watering can run the risk of cracking.
This happens because a tomato that was once short on water is now absorbing a lot of water all at once, and the skin cannot stretch fast enough to keep up.
If you leave your cracked tomatoes on the plant to ripen, it will naturally develop a scar to protect itself. Keep in mind, this exposed tomato flesh can also attract unwanted pests.
You may remove the cracked tomato early and let it continue ripening on a windowsill or kitchen counter. A cracked/scarred tomato is still safe to eat as long as your cut off the cracked areas.
PESTS
Sometimes issues can be the result of a pest infestation. Watch out for these creepy crawlers:
Aphids
Hornworms
Spider Mites
Whiteflies
