Speckled Roman
Single source · Reviewed Sep 9, 2026
Values marked like this (estimated) are model estimates, not confirmed from a source.
Open-pollinated paste from USA. A paste tomato that looks like a novelty: orange-gold stripes over dense red flesh. Ready in about 85 days from transplant.
- Open-pollinated
- 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
- Regular 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
-
- Striped
- Interior
-
- Red
Plant size and habit
Tall · Indeterminate
6–8 ft (180–240 cm) (estimated) · Regular leaf
Speckled Roman 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
“A paste tomato that looks like a novelty: orange-gold stripes over dense red flesh.”
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
- Slicing
- Sauce & paste
- Canning
- Drying
- Roasting
- Sauce workhorse
- Novelty color
- High flavor
Origin
Speckled Roman was developed by Seed Savers Exchange member John Swenson of Illinois as a stabilized cross of Antique Roman and Banana Legs. It is a paste tomato striped in orange and gold over red, which is unusual in a category where appearance is normally an afterthought. The flesh is dense and the seed cavity small, so it behaves like a proper sauce tomato despite looking like a novelty.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
| Shop | Offer | Price | Packet | Stock | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato Growers Supply Company | Seeds | $3.95Checked Sep 16, 2026 | Pack (30 seeds) | Check availability | Buy |
- BuyTomato Growers Supply CompanySeeds
Pack (30 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
-
Speckled Roman tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover -
A truss of Speckled Roman tomatoes -
Speckled Roman tomato plant in a garden bed with ripe fruit on the vine -
A ripe Speckled Roman tomato held in a gardener's hand -
Freshly picked Speckled Roman tomatoes -
Speckled Roman tomato sliced in the kitchen
Questions
How long does Speckled Roman take to mature?
Speckled Roman is ready in about 85 days from transplant.
Does Speckled Roman need staking?
Speckled Roman 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 Speckled Roman be grown in a container?
Speckled Roman is better suited to open ground or a greenhouse bed than a container.
Is Speckled Roman resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Speckled Roman.
See also
Other paste varieties people put next to this one.
Grows like this one
Indeterminate, mid-late, full sun. Same support, same calendar.
