Opalka
Single source · Reviewed Sep 9, 2026
Values marked like this (estimated) are model estimates, not confirmed from a source.
Heirloom paste from Poland. Polish paste heirloom with the flavour Roma lacks, and alarmingly sparse foliage. Ready in about 85 days from transplant.
- Heirloom
- 85 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- Indeterminate
- Medium fruit
- Challenging (estimated)
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Paste 4–6 oz (110–170 g) · Elongated (estimated)
- Leaf type
- Wispy leaf
- Plant height
- 6–8 ft (180–240 cm) (estimated) Tall
- Spacing
- 24 × 35 in (60 × 90 cm) (estimated)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Position
- Handles open positions
- Growing sites
- Greenhouse · Polytunnel · Open ground
- Container growing
- Not suited to pots
- Skin
-
- Red
- Interior
-
- Red
Plant size and habit
Tall · Indeterminate
6–8 ft (180–240 cm) (estimated) · Wispy leaf
Opalka is an indeterminate plant that keeps growing and setting fruit until frost; it needs a stake, cage, or trellis for the whole season. Expect a plant of 6–8 ft (180–240 cm).
Flavor
“Polish paste heirloom with the flavour Roma lacks, and alarmingly sparse foliage.”
Growing calendar
- Sow indoors
- Transplant out
- Harvest
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date.
Disease resistance
No documented disease resistances — protect this variety with good airflow and crop rotation.
Uses & tags
- Sauce & paste
- Canning
- Drying
- Roasting
- Sauce workhorse
- Heirloom classic
- High flavor
Origin
Opalka came to the United States from Poland and is the paste tomato most often named when someone says Roma tastes of nothing. The fruit is long and pepper-shaped, the flesh nearly dry, and the flavour full enough to be worth eating raw, which is rare in a paste type. The foliage is sparse and wispy, which alarms first-time growers. The Opalka family brought it from Poland to Amsterdam, New York, in the early 1900s; Carolyn Male had seed from a co-worker married into the family and listed it in the Seed Savers Exchange Yearbook in the 1990s.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
| Shop | Offer | Price | Packet | Stock | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato Growers Supply Company | Seeds | $3.95Checked Sep 16, 2026 | Pack (20 seeds) | Check availability | Buy |
- BuyTomato Growers Supply CompanySeeds
Pack (20 seeds)
Check availability
$3.95Checked Sep 16, 2026
Links may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices checked Sep 16, 2026; not live.
All photos
-
Opalka tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover -
A truss of Opalka tomatoes -
Opalka tomato plant in a garden bed with ripe fruit on the vine -
A ripe Opalka tomato held in a gardener's hand -
Freshly picked Opalka tomatoes -
Opalka tomato sliced in the kitchen
Questions
How long does Opalka take to mature?
Opalka is ready in about 85 days from transplant.
Does Opalka need staking?
Opalka is an indeterminate plant that keeps growing and setting fruit until frost; it needs a stake, cage, or trellis for the whole season. Expect a plant of 6–8 ft (180–240 cm).
Can Opalka be grown in a container?
Opalka is better suited to open ground or a greenhouse bed than a container.
Is Opalka resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Opalka.
See also
Other paste varieties people put next to this one.
Grows like this one
Indeterminate, mid-late, full sun. Same support, same calendar.
