Roma VF

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Roma VF to a garden.

Sun-warmed, deep-red flesh with a dense, spoonable body—Roma VF delivers that classic paste-tomato richness in every harvest.

Expect firm, meaty texture and a balanced, gently sweet flavor that shines when you want tomatoes to stay thick and flavorful. Grow Roma VF for dependable yields and a steady stream of elongated fruits that are ideal for thick sauces, roasting, and hearty preserves.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Determinate

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Roma VF Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 6th	Jul 20th	Oct 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Sep 27th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Sep 21st – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Sep 16th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Sep 12th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 9th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 3rd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Aug 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Aug 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jul 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jun 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Determinate
Support Needed	Cage
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	8

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Roma VF is the working paste tomato: dense, low-moisture flesh that cooks down into a spoonable, sliceable kind of sauce rather than a thin one. Use it when you need tomato flavor to stay bold and structured—especially in reductions, roasts, and preserves.

Best Uses

thick paste-style sauce—reduce hard without going watery
roasting for jammy edges and spoonable pulp
brick-style diced tomatoes for braises and chili that stay chunky
thick tomato preserves/salsas where you need body

Flavor Profile

balanced sweetness meaty, dense flesh with low seed gel bright tomato acidity on the finish stands up thick when heated

Kitchen Pairings

garlic olive oil onion black pepper Parmigiano-Reggiano balsamic vinegar

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Solanum lycopersicum (Roma VF) and how do I control it?

Watch closely for early blight (Alternaria) and leaf spot, which commonly show up as dark, concentric rings on older leaves. Remove and destroy affected leaves early, water at the soil line (not on foliage), and improve airflow by spacing plants and pruning lower leaves that touch the ground. If new spots keep appearing, start a labeled fungicide regimen for tomatoes at the first signs and repeat according to the label intervals.

How often should I water Roma VF during the main growing phase to keep plants productive?

During active fruit set and growth, keep soil evenly moist by watering deeply when the top 1–2 inches begin to dry, usually about 2–3 times per week depending on heat and soil type. Aim for consistent moisture to avoid flower drop and cracking; uneven wet/dry cycles are a common cause of poor Roma fruit quality. Mulch around the plants to stabilize moisture and reduce the frequency of deep watering.

How can I tell when Roma VF tomatoes are ready to harvest?

Harvest when the fruits have reached full color for Roma (typically deep red), feel firm but not hard, and the fruit lifts off the vine with a gentle twist. Taste is a final check: mature Roma fruit should be sweet and rich with low bitterness. For best texture, don’t wait until they’re overly soft—Roma quality drops quickly once fully overripe on the plant.