- Heirloom
- Plum
- 80 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- Indeterminate
- Red
San Marzano
Heirloom plum from Italy. The classic Italian sauce tomato: thin skin, few seeds, low acidity. Ready in about 80 days from transplant.
Single source · Updated Aug 30, 2026 · Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Plum 2–4 oz (70–110 g) · Elongated (estimated)
- Leaf type
- Regular leaf
- Days to harvest
- 80 days (estimated) from transplant · Mid-late
- Plant height
- 5–7 ft (150–210 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
- Difficulty
- Moderate (estimated) 3/5
- Skin
-
- Red
- Interior
-
- Red
Plant size and habit
Tall · Indeterminate
5–7 ft (150–210 cm) (estimated) · Regular leaf
San Marzano 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 5–7 ft (150–210 cm).
Flavor
“The classic Italian sauce tomato: thin skin, few seeds, low acidity.”
Growing calendar
80 (estimated) days from transplant Mid-late
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 6–8 (estimated) weeks before your last frost date. Look up your last frost date by ZIP code →
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
- Market favorite
Origin
San Marzano comes from the volcanic soils south-east of Mount Vesuvius in Campania. Its reputation rests on thin skin, low seed count and a taste described as stronger, sweeter and less acidic, in flesh that breaks down cleanly into sauce. The DOP designation protects fruit grown in that specific area, so seed sold under the name elsewhere produces a San Marzano type rather than the protected product.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
Prices rechecked daily- Botanical InterestsSeeds
Packet size not listed
Check availability
$2.69Checked Nov 1, 2026 - True Leaf MarketSeeds
250 Mg Packet
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$2.99Checked Nov 1, 2026 - Tomato Growers Supply CompanySeeds
Pack (30 seeds)
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$3.15Checked Nov 1, 2026 - Eden BrothersSeeds
Packet
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$4.19Checked Nov 1, 2026 - BurpeeSeeds
75 Seeds
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$4.95Checked Nov 1, 2026
Links may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices checked Nov 1, 2026.
All photos
Questions
How do you grow a San Marzano plant?
A San Marzano plant grows 5–7 ft (150–210 cm) tall (estimated). Space plants 24 in (60 cm) apart in rows 35 in (90 cm) apart (estimated). Start seed indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost (estimated); it germinates in 7–14 days (estimated). It needs full sun.
How long does San Marzano take to mature?
San Marzano is ready in about 80 days from transplant.
Does San Marzano need staking?
San Marzano 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 5–7 ft (150–210 cm).
Can San Marzano be grown in a container?
San Marzano is better suited to open ground or a greenhouse bed than a container.
Is San Marzano resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for San Marzano.
