How to Grow Roma
Solanum lycopersicum 'Roma'
Roma tomatoes are popular slicing varieties prized for their meaty texture and low moisture content, making them ideal for sauces and canning. As a warm-season crop, this heirloom thrives in full sun and offers moderate resistance to common diseases while requiring consistent care.
📷 Wikipedia: TomatoStarting Roma: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Roma is not usually started indoors.
Transplant seedlings outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures have warmed sufficiently for this warm-season crop.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8 before planting. Since tomatoes are frost-sensitive, start seeds indoors only after the last spring frost date or wait until soil is warm enough for direct sowing. Sow seeds at a depth of about one-quarter inch; germination typically takes six to fourteen days under proper warmth.
Space plants eighteen to twenty-four inches apart and stake or cage them early for support, as they can reach two feet tall. Provide high water consistently to prevent cracking, applying mulch to retain moisture. Feed regularly with a balanced fertilizer during the growing season to encourage robust fruit production throughout the warm months.
Watch for tomato hornworms, aphids, and whiteflies by inspecting leaves frequently; remove pests manually or use organic controls. Prevent early blight, late blight, and fusarium wilt through good air circulation and proper spacing. Harvest fruits sixty to sixty-five days after planting when they reach their deep red color.
When to Plant Roma
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May | — | September – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | September |
| Zone 3 | April | — | August – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March | — | July – September |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February | — | June – August |
| Zone 9 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 10 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 11 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January | — | April – June |
Companion Plants for Roma
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve flavor and growth
Deters hornworms and attracts pollinators, may improve tomato flavor
Helps break up soil for tomato roots, doesn't compete for nutrients
Repels aphids and may improve tomato flavor and growth
Natural fungicide properties help prevent blight and repel various pests
Deters nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with natural compounds
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, repels whiteflies
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on tomato pests
✗ Keep away from
Releases juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Compete heavily for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Both attract corn earworm/tomato fruitworm, creating pest problems
Inhibits growth of tomatoes through allelopathic compounds
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
