Roma tomato

[dominic10]

Can anyone tell me how high this variety grows and how wide. In my ignorance I was training this type just like a tall variety at first i.e. nipping out the side shoots but left the plants for a few days and they are now going bananas. They are in a greenhouse. If I let them just do their own thing do you still pinch out the tips when 4 sets of flowers have grown. Any help appreciated. I have just read a post about determinate and indeterminate which are quite new terms for me.

[teakdesk]

Roma is determinate.

Determinate means that it is a bush type and will grow to a pre-determined height - often around 4 feet.

You should not remove side-shoots - the tomatoes grow on these side-shoots.

You do not need to stop the plant by removing a top shoot - it will naturally stop producing new flowers after a while.

You will generally find that you wait a little longer for the first ripe tomato from a bush type than an indeterminate, or cordon, type. You will also find that all the season's tomatoes ripen almost at the same time over 4 to 6 weeks - after this time there will be almost no more tomatoes. A cordon type will keep giving new tomatoes until the frost arrives to kill the plant.

[Snadger]

Roma is determinate.

Determinate means that it is a bush type and will grow to a pre-determined height - often around 4 feet.

You should not remove side-shoots - the tomatoes grow on these side-shoots.

You do not need to stop the plant by removing a top shoot - it will naturally stop producing new flowers after a while.

You will generally find that you wait a little longer for the first ripe tomato from a bush type than an indeterminate, or cordon, type. You will also find that all the season's tomatoes ripen almost at the same time over 4 to 6 weeks - after this time there will be almost no more tomatoes. A cordon type will keep giving new tomatoes until the frost arrives to kill the plant.

I grew Roma last year...........the above reasons are why I aint growing them this year!

[MagicLady]

Thanks for the advice guys - I've got Roma as well, and some MoneyMaker. I also did a swap for a couple of Beef Steak plants at the weekend. I'm not too fussed how many toms I get, as it's only DS who eats them in our house but I'm growing them more for my parents and my Nan

[dominic10]

Thanks folks. These are growing on the allotment I help with and the Roma were chosen by the guys I work with. I should have looked them up asap but I think they are doing what they should be doing in spite of me! There are lots and lots of flowers growing so hopefully some tomatoes afterwards. We were also given some Marmande and I did look these up as some kind grapes gave me advice about these earlier on. My own tomatoes are the more traditional varieties I usually grow. I'm all for keeping it simple but I don't there is such a thing with growing stuff!

[ann-the-nan]

Roma tomato

I am growing them for the first time. I thought they were semi-determinate. May be I'm wrong. If I am right, it's a new ball game.

[teakdesk]

Ok, a bit of clarification....

As I understand it, MOST Roma plants are determinate, BUSH types.

Most produce fruit weighing 2 to 3 ounces and resemble the tomato you get in a tin of plum tomatoes from the supermarket.



But there are a FEW varieties that are indeterminate, CORDON types.

Another thread has reminded me that I have previously grown a Cherry Plum as a cordon, which I think was also called Roma. I think it was an F1 cross (presumably between Roma OP and a cherry tomato).



Perhaps my previous reply didn't allow for this uncertainty.

[ann-the-nan]

Roma tomato

I didn't know there was more than one type of Roma toms. Mine are Roma VF, but I don't know what that stands for. Any help appreciated.

[zazen999]

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...oes_32633.html

[teakdesk]

I didn't know there was more than one type of Roma toms....

From Roma Tomato - The Portal for Roma Tomatoes, Recipes, How To Grow

Roma tomatoes are the epitome of a true Italian tomato. Their dense, meaty flesh, low moisture content and few seeds make them ideal for processing into sauces, paste, ketchup or canning. No other tomato is better for sauces and pastes then the roma or paste tomatoes.

The dense, meaty flesh of a Roma tomato make it feel heavy for their size, which averages 2 to 3 inches long and weighs 2 to 4 ounces for the classic romas.

In the past 40 years, many different cultivars of the roma have been established and there is a wide variety to choose for size, color and taste.

Two of the largest romas, the Jumbo Roma and La Roma II Hybrid produce fruits that weigh 6 to 12 ounces (180 to 350 grams) and 5 to 8 ounce fruits (140 to 225 grams) respectively.

Other large varities include the Big Mama Hybrid and the Russian Big Roma. Small varities include the Cherry Roma (1 ounce sweet flavored fruits).

Classic romas (Roma OP and Roma VF) and most varities are deep red, red, reddish-orange or reddish-pink in color when ripe.

These colors describe the majority of roma tomatoes. However, like slicing and salad tomatoes, other colors of romas do exist. Samples of these include: the Golden Roma, Kelsey Yellow Roma, Sweet Orange Roma, and Yellow Roma. These varities are also suitable for processing or eating fresh.


Varieties of Roma Tomatoes

Alla Roma: Red, determinate variety from Russia.

Amish Market Roma: Red, cylindrical shape, 75 to 80 days, determinate, originated from Ohio. (Do not confuse with the Amish Paste which is larger, and originated in Wisconsin)

Baller: A true pear shaped, red roma type tomato that grows 3 inches long and has a mild flavor. Indeterminate. 71 days.

Big Mama: This hybrid, produces large, 3 inch by 5 inch roma style tomatoes good for making paste and sauce. Meaty, full of flavor but few seeds.

CalRoma Hybrid: The red colored fruit of the calroma hybrid weigh 2 to 2.5 ounces (60 to 70 grams) and are long and tubular in shape. This is a hybrid variety of the San Marzano and is grown in large commercial operations in Europe.

Cherry Roma: Abundant producer of 1 inch, plum shaped fruit similar to grape tomatoes sold in stores, but reportedly tastes better with a combination sweet and acid flavor. Indeteriminate, 75 to 80 days from transplant.

Fen Roma: Rare, Not known to have been sold commercially in North America for over 20 years. Little is known about this Sasquatch of the lycopersicon family. Primarily used as an urban legend to scare little children who misbehave.

Golden Roma: A beautiful, yellow or yellowish-gold version of the roma, that is delicious, thick and good for processing. Good yields. Determinate, 70 days.

Jumbo Roma: Red, tubular shaped fruit weighing 6 to 12 ounces (180 to 350 grams). Harvest 85 to 90 days after transplanting. Indeterminate growth.

Kelsey Yellow Roma: This yellow, plum shaped fruit grows to 2 inches in size. Indeteriminate, 70 to 80 days.

La Roma: This bush variety tomato is an abundant producer of 3 to 4 ounce fruits (85 to 114 grams) that are perfect for sauce or paste. Disease resistant. Determinate, 80 days.

La Roma II Hybrid: Produces large yields of 5 to 8 ounce fruits (140 to 225 grams). Large, hearty plants are VFFNA resistant. Determinate. 76 days.


Martino's Roma: Popular Italian Heirloom Roma. Abundant producer of 2 to 3 ounce fruits, mild in flavor and meaty. Foliage is described as "rugose," meaning - ridged or wrinkled leaves. Dependable grower. Determinate, 75 days.

Missouri Roma: The roma that doesn't look like a roma. Developed by a Kansas City, Missouri gardener, this multi-globed, uneven shaped Roma has the flavor of a Roma despite it's larger size. Determinate, 85 days. According to ReimerSeeds, "He purchased a Roma plant from a local store and one of the plants produced a tomato with several globes or sections. He saved the seeds and has been growing the tomato for 4 years."

Northern Roma: Long, cylindrical shaped red fruit that produces up to 200 fruits per plant. Determinate, 75 to 80 days. "Improved version of the Amish variety from Pennsylvania." - VentMarin (France)

Nova Roma: Originated from Spain. Not much else known. More info needed.

Orange Roma: These yellowish-orange plum/oval shaped roma's mature in 65 to 69 days, somewhat earlier than most other roma's. Holds up well in hot weather, produces 2 inch size fruits. Indeterminate.

Pink Roma: 6 oz. fruits (170 grams). Indeterminate, 75 days. Rare. More info needed.

Phil Tolli's Roma: Red, plum shape. Weighs 3.5 to 4.5 ounces (100 to 120 grams), with few seeds. Matures 75 to 80 days after transplanting. Indeterminate.

Plum Dandy Roma: Variety commonly grown in commercial farming operations in the United States. Provides good yields. VF resistant. Seeds not widely available in retail garden seed catalogs/providers.

Rio Grande Roma: For those who live in hot, humid Southern climates, the Rio Grande is a good choice. These strong and hearty plants produce an abundant supply of large, dry, 4 inch, pear shaped fruits. Determinate. 80 days. Reportedly better tasting and more productive than standard Roma's.

Roma OG: The common, classic Roma, usually organic certified, open-pollinated, abundant producer of red, plum shaped 2 ounce fruits (57 grams) with thick flesh and yields of up to 200 tomatoes on one plant. Determinate, harvest 72-78 days after transplanting. Not a true heirloom, but close enough. Seeds can be reused.

Roma Gigante: Variety believed to have disappeared. Unknown whereabouts. Possible UFO abduction.

Roma Long: Open Pollinated, red, pear/cylindrical shape, 5 ounce average (142 grams), VF resistant, determinate, 76 days.

Roma Macero: Abundant producer of thick, large, tubular shaped solid red fruits. Hearty plants, resistant to VF and ASC. Determinate, 68 to 76 days, earlier than most other romas.

Roma Napoli: A smaller plant with good leaf cover, produces cylindrical elongated red fruit ending in a point that weighs 2 to 3 ounces (57 to 85 grams). Well suited for processing, sauces, ketchup, canning, or eating whole. Good resistance to disease. Determinate, 75 to 80 days.

Roma Paste: Small but delicious, red, oval shaped fruit from 1 to 1.3 ounces (35-40 grams). Famous variety, ideal for canning and sauces because of it's good flavor. Originated in Italy.

Roma Puree: Rare, difficult to find. More info needed.

Roma Rhoda: Originated in Tennesse, red oval shape, Determinate.

Roma Ukrainian: Originally from the Black Sea coastal city of Yalta, Ukraine. Red fruit, determinate, 75 to 80 days.

Roma VF: A very popular version of the roma sold in seed catalogs and nurseries throughout the USA. Open pollinated, bright red, meaty flesh, ideal for making sauces, ketchup and paste. Disease resistant and dependable grower of 3 inch fruits. Determinate, 76 days.

Romalina Hybrid: Red, Oval shaped fruit weighing 1.4 to 2.1 ounces (40 to 60 grams) and grows in clusters of 8 to 9 tomatoes. This variety is popular in large, industrial European farms.

Russia Big Roma: Harvest 80 to 85 days after transplanting. Large plant that grows over 5 feet tall.

Speckled Roman, Striped Roma: These beautiful and unique looking romas are a cross between an Antique Roman and Banana Legs. Larger in size, they average 3 inches by 5 inches and have the characteristic jagged orange and yellow stripes. Meaty, productive, few seeds, great taste, also good for processing. Indeterminate, 85 days.

Super Roma: Matures 70 to 80 days after transplanting. Bush tomato, growing just 18 inches tall. More info needed.

Sweet Orange Roma : Yellow-orange, oval, tube shaped fruit weighing 1.8 to 2.8 ounces (50 to 70 grams). 75 to 80 days. Indeterminate growth.

Viva Italia Roma Hybrid: These hybrid Roma's are VFFNA and Bacterial Speck resistant. Three ounce, deep red, oval/pear shaped fruits (85 grams). Determinate. 75 days.

Window Box Roma: These dwarf size plants are abundant produces of 2 ounce (57 grams) red pear shaped romas that are rich in flavor and have a long shelf life. Good for sauces, paste or salads. Their small size makes them ideal for pots and containers.

Yellow Roma: Fruit is yellow-orange in color, weighs 1.8 to 3.5 ounces (50 to 100 grams). Grows in clusters of 12 to 15 fruits, but low in productivity. Ideal for canning and sauces. Plant from 48 to 52 inches tall. Determinate, 70 to 80 days. Cross between a "Roma" and "Jubilee." Variety developed and established in 1990 by Luc Fichot, Belgium.

[dominic10]

Wow Teakdesk! A-Roma-therapy