Description
Roma is a determinate paste tomato known for its bright red, plum-shaped fruits with meaty flesh and relatively few seeds. Fruits average around 2 ounces and are especially useful for sauces, cooking, and preserving. The listed maturity window is approximately 70–78 days from transplanting under suitable conditions.
Growing Roma Tomatoes in Alabama
Transplant after the last spring frost when soil has warmed. Choose full sun, fertile well-drained soil, and sturdy support even though plants are determinate. Water deeply and consistently at soil level to reduce fruit cracking and blossom-end rot risk; mulch to moderate soil moisture and limit splashing. Space plants for airflow, monitor for hornworms and fungal leaf spots, and avoid overhead irrigation when possible.
In Alabama, early planting helps fruit set before prolonged summer heat, when high night temperatures can reduce pollination. Roma has traditionally been listed with resistance to Verticillium wilt and Fusarium wilt races 1 and 2, but disease resistance does not eliminate the need for crop rotation and good sanitation.
