San Marzano Redorta

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Sun-warmed and richly aromatic, San Marzano Redorta brings a dense, sweet-tart flavor with a classic “paste tomato” intensity—meaty flesh that clings together beautifully.

At maturity, its elongated fruits hang in tidy clusters, offering a velvety, low-seed texture that shines in thick sauces and slow-simmered favorites, and also performs wonderfully for roasting and preserving. Grow this 75-day standout for a harvest that tastes like tradition—bold, balanced, and deeply tomato-forward.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Botanical illustration of San Marzano Redorta

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 7th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Jun 20th
Harvest Begins	Sep 3rd
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Indeterminate
Support Needed	Stake
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This is a paste tomato built for reduction: low-seed and meaty, it turns into a sauce that actually clings instead of thinning out. Expect a sweet-tart snap and aromatic depth that holds up when you simmer it hard—perfect for sauces that need to coat pasta with real body.

Best Uses

thick, slow-simmered passata for weeknight red sauce
roasting whole or halved for spoonable, caramel-tinged tomato preserves
hand-crushed canned-style sauce that clings to pasta
tomato paste style reductions for glossy pan sauces

Flavor Profile

sweet-tart bite dense, low-seed, velvety flesh meaty tomato intensity sun-warmed, richly aromatic finish

Kitchen Pairings

garlic olive oil anchovy Parmigiano-Reggiano oregano mozzarella

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease problem most often affects Solanum lycopersicum (tomatoes) and how can I stop it early?

Early blight (Alternaria) is a common tomato issue, showing as dark, target-like spots that spread from lower leaves upward. Remove and discard infected leaves, improve airflow with proper spacing, and water at the soil line (not the foliage) to reduce spore spread; if problems persist, use an approved fungicide labeled for tomatoes and rotate modes of action to avoid resistance.

How often should I water San Marzano-type tomatoes during peak fruiting?

During the main growing and fruit-setting phase, keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—about 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water per week total, adjusted for heat and container size. Aim for deep watering so moisture reaches the root zone, and water when the top 1 inch (2.5 cm) of soil dries; irregular watering can lead to blossom-end rot and fruit cracking.

How do I tell when Solanum lycopersicum ‘San Marzano Redorta’ tomatoes are ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully red (no green shoulders) and feel firm but give slightly under gentle pressure. If you see the seeds turning fully gel-like and the fruit comes off the plant with a slight twist, it’s at peak picking stage—waiting for over-softening can reduce shelf life and flavor.