Roma Tomatoes are one of the absolute best tomatoes for making sauces and are also great for slicing and using in a capricci salad. As with most tomatoes they will grow very well here in Zone 9 and here is an easy-to-follow guide to grow roma tomatoes!
Sowing Roma Tomato Seeds
As with most tomatoes, it is best to sow Roma seeds indoors in the middle of winter. The seeds should be started in a sterile seed starting mix and kept warm (it is best to use a heating mat under the seed starting container). Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Some tomatoes will be slow to germinate, so be patient.
Roma Seedling Care
As the first seeds germinate it is important to ensure the new plants have adequate light. The light can be provided by a grow light or a sunny window with southern exposure.
After the seedlings develop their first set of true leaves a gentle fertilizer can be added. A well balanced (even NPK) organic fertilizer works very well for the young plants.
If the seeds were sown in small seeding cells or other types of small seed starting containers, the seedlings can be safely transplanted soon after their first or second set of true leaves begin to grow. A 2-4″ pot will work well to get the plant large enough to transplant to the garden.
Transplanting Outdoors
As soon as all threat of frost has past, it is time to transplant the seedlings outdoors.
The first step is “Hardening off” the plant. This basically means acclimating the plant to the outdoor environment. Start by putting the plants outside for 1 hour. Then add about 1 hour each day until they have been outside for 6 hours, at this point they are ready for the big move.
Select a part of the garden with rich well drained soil that gets no less than 6-8 hours of sun.
Plant the seedlings deeper than the first set of leaves. This will cause the plant to root out from more of the stem and allow for a VERY nice root system.
Plant Care
As the plant begins to grow it is time to start fertilizing the plant. Keep in mind that when tomato plants get fertilizer that is rich in Nitrogen the plant will grow tall and leafy but will set far less fruit. Many manufacturers make fertilizer intended for tomatoes to help prevent this. Use the manufactures recommended amount of fertilizer and do so at the frequency recommended.
When the plant reaches a height that starts causing it to sag, it is time to stake the plant.
Most Roma type tomatoes are determinate so they will not grow all season, they will reach a specific height and stop, so they will not need very tall stakes, but a tomato cage or tying them to a bamboo steak works well.
Harvesting
Tomatoes can be harvested before they are fully ripe and be ripened indoors. Most tomatoes will be set as a cluster. When the first tomato in the cluster turns bright red, cut the entire cluster off the plant and allow the remaining tomatoes to ripen indoors. If pests or birds are eating the vine ripened tomatoes, you can harvest the rest of your tomatoes before they are fully ripe. When they first start to change from green to red is a good time to harvest.
More Info
Roma Tomatoes are most frequently determinate plants and will only grow to a predetermined size. Most of the fruit will ripen at the same time. To enjoy a longer harvest period, stagger your planting!
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