When to Plant Roma Tomato Seeds

Planting Roma tomato seeds at the correct time encourages healthy growth.

Although not a true vegetable, the tomato is one of the most common plants grown in vegetable gardens across the United States. Also called love apples, tomatoes come in hundreds of varieties, including the popular Roma. The characteristics and correct planting time for Roma tomatoes vary somewhat from other varieties, such as large slicing tomatoes and small cherry tomatoes.

Characteristics

The Roma is a variety of red paste tomato. Typically processed as an ingredient in ketchup, pastes and sauces, Romas have meaty, solid flesh and minimal moisture content. These tomatoes are also suitable for eating in salads or adding to culinary dishes. The fruits form on short, sturdy plants about 72 to 80 days after planting, depending on the specific cultivar. The best time to plant Roma tomatoes depends on your climate and intended use of the fruits.

Indoor Planting

Like many varieties of tomatoes, Roma tomatoes need a head start in mild to cold climates, such as those between USDA plant hardiness zones 2 through 8. Plant the Roma seeds indoors about six to eight weeks prior to the last seasonal frost in your area, placing them in small peat pots under grow lights. Starting the seeds earlier than this provides a longer growing season and an extended harvest. However, if you grow Romas only to produce a single mass harvesting for canning, you won't require the extended growing season anywhere other than the coldest climates.

Outdoor Seeding

Planting your Roma seeds directly into the garden soil is suitable in climates warmer than USDA plant hardiness zone 8. In semi-tropical climates, such as the southern sections of Florida, California and Texas, outdoor seeding may occur as early as March. Since even mild frosts can kill Roma tomato plants, it is important to wait until after the last chance of frost is over for the season. Seedlings prefer soil temperatures above 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a sheet of black plastic over the bare soil on a sunny day to warm the soil before planting.

Transplanting

The correct time to transfer your indoor seedlings to the outdoor garden is after the last spring frost. This occurs between the middle of April and the middle of May in many parts of the country. Hardening off the plants for a week before transplanting helps condition the seedlings to the outdoor environment. Harden off Roma plants by taking them outdoors for a couple hours every day, gradually increasing the amount of time to at least eight or nine hours before transplanting them into the garden.

References

• University of Florida; Tomatoes in the Florida Garden; James M. Stephens
• Roma-Tomato.com: How to Grow Roma Tomatoes
• "Botanica's Gardening Encyclopedia"; Susan Page; 2001

Resources

• University of Illinois Extension: Tomato