Roma
Single source · Reviewed Aug 30, 2026
Values marked like this (estimated) are model estimates, not confirmed from a source.
Open-pollinated plum from USA. The default American paste tomato: blocky, meaty and bred for one big harvest. Ready in about 76 days from transplant.
- Open-pollinated
- 76 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- Determinate
- Cocktail-size fruit
- Moderate (estimated)
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Plum 2–3 oz (60–90 g) · Elongated (estimated)
- Leaf type
- Regular leaf
- Plant height
- 3–4 ft (90–120 cm) (estimated) Medium height
- Spacing
- 18 × 35 in (45 × 90 cm) (estimated)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Position
- Handles open positions
- Growing sites
- Greenhouse · Polytunnel · Open ground · Container
- Container growing
- Balcony friendly min. 6 gal (25 L) pot (estimated)
- Skin
-
- Red
- Interior
-
- Red
Plant size and habit
Medium height · Determinate
3–4 ft (90–120 cm) (estimated) · Regular leaf
Roma is a determinate plant that stops growing at a set height and ripens most of its crop in one concentrated window; a cage is usually enough support. Expect a plant of 3–4 ft (90–120 cm).
Flavor
“The default American paste tomato: blocky, meaty and bred for one big harvest.”
Growing calendar
- Sow indoors
- Transplant out
- Harvest
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date.
Disease resistance
- V Verticillium wilt
- F1 Fusarium wilt (race 1)
Uses & tags
- Sauce & paste
- Canning
- Drying
- Roasting
- Sauce workhorse
- Beginner friendly
- High yield
- Market favorite
Origin
Roma was released by the United States Department of Agriculture in the 1950s, developed at Beltsville, Maryland, as a processing tomato bred for uniform, blocky fruit, fusarium resistance and a concentrated harvest. It became the reference paste tomato in North American home gardens, and the name is now used loosely in shops for almost any plum-shaped tomato, which is why the search demand behind it is far larger than the cultivar itself.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
| Shop | Offer | Price | Packet | Stock | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Botanical Interests | Seeds | $2.69Checked Sep 16, 2026 | Packet size not listed | Check availability | Buy |
| True Leaf Market | Seeds | $3.59Checked Sep 16, 2026 | 250 mg Packet | Check availability | Buy |
| Eden Brothers | Seeds | $4.99Checked Sep 16, 2026 | Packet | Check availability | Buy |
Links may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices checked Sep 16, 2026; not live.
All photos
-
Roma tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover -
A truss of Roma tomatoes -
Roma tomato plant in a garden bed with ripe fruit on the vine -
A ripe Roma tomato held in a gardener's hand -
Freshly picked Roma tomatoes -
Roma tomato sliced in the kitchen
Questions
How long does Roma take to mature?
Roma is ready in about 76 days from transplant.
Does Roma need staking?
Roma is a determinate plant that stops growing at a set height and ripens most of its crop in one concentrated window; a cage is usually enough support. Expect a plant of 3–4 ft (90–120 cm).
Can Roma be grown in a container?
Yes — Roma grows well in a container of at least 25 L (6 gal).
Is Roma resistant to disease?
Roma carries documented resistance to Verticillium wilt and Fusarium wilt (race 1).
See also
Other plum varieties people put next to this one.
Grows like this one
Determinate, mid-late, full sun. Same support, same calendar.
