Best Roma Type for Market
 

I have a customer who is planning on growing tomatoes (fruit) to sell to a Co-Op grocery. They requested a "standard Roma type" tomato. They are not adverse to F1's. I appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks,
Steve

I suggest referring the customer to TGS' paste tomato pages, starting at:

[url]http://www.tomatogrowers.com/Paste/products/7/[/url]

If the customer insists on something close to exactly matching Roma in shape and size, he may be stuck with determinates, which have the disadvantage for a market grower of producing their entire crop within a few weeks. TGS carries a very few indeterminates that are close matches, but not many, and I don't know enough to recommend for or against them.

If matching size and shape with Roma is less important than just having a really great tomato, well, my only experiences with paste tomatos have been with San Marzano and Sausage, neither of which I think would be ideal for your customer. But I've read so many glowing reviews of Opalka, I'd think that might be one of the best suggestions you could make. Let's see what other Tomatovillians have to say now...

I really liked Opalka in 2011, but production was modest.

San Marzano is a workhorse with good, but not great production over 3 months. Shapes are "well behaved", longer than standard Romas with somewhat pointed tips.

Viva Italia (a hybrid) is very similar to Roma but is (for me) slightly more productive and less prone to blossom end rot.

San Marzano Redorta fruits looked very promising, but they seemed to take forever to ripen and production was low.

I'll put in a plug for Heidi - about the size of a standard Roma, perhaps a bit smaller. Deep red color, fairly consistent shape. Flavor is much better than Roma. Indeterminate and very good production - rivaling San Marzano - over several months.

Petronius_II and SEAMSFASTER,

Thank you, that will give my customer a lot of options.:)

Steve

I would add to the above, also check out Gleckler's paste tomato page. Gleckler's has Heidi, with which I'm not familiar, but for some reason it doesn't appear on this page:

[URL]http://www.glecklerseedmen.com/-Paste_Tomato/cat80690_529080.aspx[/URL]

...and Heidi:

[URL]http://www.glecklerseedmen.com/Heidi/p80687_535511.aspx[/URL]

MARTINO'S ROMA. This one just pumps out the fruit!
Jeff

In Italy, Fiaschetto aka Fiaschetto di Napoli is a famous Roma-type. I shall grow it this year for the first time. If I remember well, I've sent you some seeds. Happy gardening! clara

I find standard Roma's from the store far too juicy for a true paste tomato. But, that's what people are used too.
I was very pleased with Striped Roman last year, great paste tomato. Very beautiful to look at and large, too.
How about San Narzano, that at least has the name behind it that foodies recognize.

Jeff and Petronius_II, thanks for the links and suggestion, I'll pass it on.

Clara, yes, thanks, I planted your seeds yesterday, I look forward to seeing some great new varieties!

Tracy, thanks for the suggestion. And yes, I think the Co-op initially wants something that is recognizable (in shape and color). I'm thinking once my customer establishes herself as a vendor she will be able to add some of the other varieties. I sent her 'Striped Roman' and 'Casady's Folly' so she will get a good idea of how they do.

Steve

Just adding my vote for Heidi, that and Striped Roman are my two standbys every year. Heidi is a recognizable roma type shape but not as blocky and a bit smaller. It seems to have fewer issues with BER than others and is really productive in a fairly short (3-4 ft) and stocky plant. It isn't a determinate but seems to have a fairly concentrated set.

I prefer Sarnowski Polish Plum to Opalka, SPP is more reliably productive for me but it is also rather late. It is bigger and more variably shaped than a typical roma.

Rio Grande is one I've yet to try even though I consider it each year and might be worth looking at.

ginny

Hi Steve,
May I suggest "Pompeii (or) San Remo.
Both are the same tomato using 2 different names. ???
They look a lot like a roma, about the same size and shape, big plants very productive, very dry, almost no juice and makes a very thick sauce. The seeds are difficult to find.
If you want seeds I have plenty, I grew this plant for the first time in 2011 and was very pleased with the production and quality.

Ginny, thanks, it looks like Heidi is one she needs to try. Sarnowski Polish Plum also looks good - my production of Opalka was also low.

Thanks Joe, I may take you up on the seed offer next year - Pompeii looks like one I should try! I've already planted over 100 new-to-me varieties this year and that's about my limit if I'm going to get any meaningful feedback.

Steve

Looks like my Mamma Mia, very productive good paste and flavour

Rio Grande - all day long. They look like ridiculous Christmas trees covered in Easter Eggs at first flush & continue with subsequent sets. Very drought & disease resistant for me here. I use Franchi seed.

Just for fun I like growing Jersey Devil. Not as productive but definitely eye catching & very useful dry paste.

Got Cowtit (to try again) & Opalka to try out this year. But plenty of Rio Grandes for sauce - They add great body so I can dump in gazillions of cherries & not have watery sauce.

I'm going to have to get some Rio Grande seeds for next year. I keep hearing great things about it. I'm growing San Marzano Nd Striped Roman. Grew Stiped Roman last year. It's very pretty and a great sauce tomato, was very productive for me. This is my first try for SM.