Roma is the tomato most cooks reach for when making sauce. Its meaty flesh and low moisture cook down fast into a rich result. This guide covers its flavor, growing needs, common problems, and the facts you need before planting.
Roma Tomato Quick Facts
| Type | Open-pollinated (hybrid versions exist) |
|---|---|
| Growth Habit | Determinate |
| Days to Maturity | 75 to 80 days |
| Fruit Size | 2 to 3 oz |
| Fruit Color | Red |
| Shape | Plum or egg |
| Flavor | Mild, meaty, low moisture |
| Best Uses | Sauce, paste, canning |
| Plant Height | 3 to 4 feet |
| Spacing | 18 to 24 inches |
| Support | Short cage |
| Sun | Full sun, 6 to 8 hours |
| Container Friendly | Yes |
| Disease Resistance | Verticillium and Fusarium (Roma VF) |
| Origin | United States, 1955 |
What Is a Roma Tomato?
Roma is a plum tomato developed in the United States in 1955. It is also called an Italian or paste tomato. The plant is determinate, so it stays compact and ripens most of its fruit in a short window. That makes Roma a favorite for gardeners who want to can or make sauce in big batches.
Roma Flavor and Best Uses
Roma has a mild, savory taste that shines when cooked. The flesh is thick and meaty with few seeds and little juice. Raw, it is firmer and less sweet than a slicing tomato.
Roma is best for sauce, paste, canning, and sun-drying. It also works in salsa and on pizza, where extra juice would make the food soggy.
How to Grow Roma Tomatoes
Roma is easy to grow and does not need tall staking. Follow these basics.
- Sun: give plants 6 to 8 hours of direct sun.
- Spacing: set plants 18 to 24 inches apart.
- Support: use a short cage, since plants stay around 3 to 4 feet.
- Water: water deeply and evenly to prevent blossom end rot.
- Feeding: avoid too much nitrogen, which grows leaves instead of fruit.
Common Problems and Disease Resistance
Roma VF resists Verticillium and Fusarium wilt, but it is prone to one common issue.
- Blossom end rot: a dark, sunken spot on the bottom from uneven water and low calcium. Water steadily and mulch.
- Cracking: heavy rain after dry spells can split the fruit.
- Catfacing: cool weather at bloom can cause scarred, misshapen fruit.
Roma vs San Marzano
Both are paste tomatoes, so gardeners often compare them. Roma is shorter, easier to grow, and widely available. San Marzano is longer and thinner, with a sweeter, lower-acid flavor that many cooks prize for sauce. San Marzano usually needs staking, while Roma stays compact.
When to Harvest Roma Tomatoes
Pick Roma when the fruit is fully red and firm. Because the plant is determinate, much of the crop ripens within a week or two, which is perfect for a single canning session. Harvest before heavy rain to avoid cracks, and use any bruised fruit first.
How Many Roma Tomatoes You Need for Sauce
Roma gives a high yield because it is meaty. You need about 1 pound, or 5 to 6 Romas, for a cup of sauce. For a quart of sauce, plan on about 4 pounds. See our guides on Roma tomatoes per pound and tomatoes for a cup of sauce for exact amounts.
Companion Plants for Roma
Roma grows well next to basil, which may improve flavor and repel pests. Marigolds deter nematodes, and garlic helps keep aphids away. Keep Roma away from potatoes and fennel, which can slow its growth or share disease. Good companions support a clean, heavy harvest.
Where to Buy Roma Seeds and Plants
Roma seeds and plants are sold almost everywhere in spring, since it is one of the most popular tomatoes. The open-pollinated type lets you save seeds for next year. Look for Roma VF if you want the added disease resistance.
Roma Tomato Nutrition
Roma tomatoes are low in calories and rich in nutrients. One Roma has about 11 calories. They provide vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, and folate. Because Roma cooks down into a concentrated sauce, it also delivers a strong dose of lycopene, the antioxidant that gives tomatoes their deep red color and is linked to heart health.
Care Notes
Seed racks carry both open-pollinated and modern hybrid strains. Rich, well-drained soil drives steady growth, so refresh the soil with compost each spring. Vines keep producing until frost ends the season. Prune lower leaves and crowded stems to improve airflow.
Related Tomato Varieties
- San Marzano Tomato
- Cherokee Purple Tomato
- How Many Tomatoes for a Cup of Sauce
- Tomato Measurement Converter
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do Roma Tomatoes Take to Grow?
About 75 to 80 days from transplant.
Are Roma Tomatoes Determinate or Indeterminate?
Determinate. They grow to a set size and ripen most fruit within a week or two.
What Are Roma Tomatoes Best For?
Sauce, paste, and canning, because they are meaty and low in moisture.
How Many Roma Tomatoes Make a Pound?
About 5 to 6 Roma tomatoes.
Why Do My Roma Tomatoes Get Black Bottoms?
That is blossom end rot from uneven watering and low calcium.
Can You Eat Roma Tomatoes Raw?
Yes, but they are firmer and less juicy than slicing tomatoes.
Shakeel Muzaffar is the founder of TomatoAnswers.com, a gardener, and a content writer. He combines hands-on tomato growing experience with evidence-based research from horticultural and nutrition sources. His work focuses on tomato cultivation, nutrition, and practical gardening advice, helping readers grow healthier plants and make informed food choices