Roma VF Tomato

‘Roma VF’ tomatoes are an annual determinate self-pollinating variety, that produce plum or egg-shaped, shining bright red tomatoes, bred to have few seeds. Roma tomatoes are frost tender and resistant to verticillium wilt and fusarium wilt. They have high sugar and acid levels with a low moisture content, making them ideal for preserving and used to make sauces.

Difficulty: Easy

Soil: The soil must be loamy or sandy.

Sowing: Spring / Summer

Germination: 7 – 14 days

Days to Maturity: 80 – 100 days

Position: Full sun

Spacing: 30 x 150 cm

Sow Depth: 3 mm

Height: 1.5 m

Growing notes:

Seeds should be started indoors six to eight weeks before you intend to transplant outdoors.  For the best results, sow the tomato seeds 3 mm deep in a well-draining warm soil. Tomato seeds need warm soil to germinate. Choose a location in full sun and avoid growing tomatoes in the same soil that has previously had tomatoes grown in. Transplant when the seedlings have their first true leaves, they should be planted deep in the soil all the way up to the bottom couple set of leaves to establish a strong root system. As well as spaced apart to avoid the root systems competing with each other.

The plants develop quickly, when kept warm and given lots of light. Keep the soil moist but not soaked and avoid wetting the leaves of the plants. Add a natural mulch around the plants to help retain moisture and keep weeds down. Tomatoes are heavy feeders and should be fertilized upon transplanting and once the first flowers appear.

Roma VF tomatoes require staking or trellising, be sure to apply the stake when first transplanting the seedlings as to not damage the later established roots. Pinch out secondary branches that appear in between main branches and the stems, known as suckers, to direct the plants energy into fruit production.

The Roma VF Tomato plant is determinate and reaches its mature height and set all its fruit at once for one big harvest, which is why it is used primarily in preserves and sauces to use up all the fruit.

Uses:

All tomatoes are high in vitamin A, C and B, as well as being a rich source of iron, fiber and lycopene.

Roma tomatoes are primarily used for preserving, making sauces or pastes. They do have an excellent flavour and few seeds so they are also eaten fresh.