- Variety Info
- Sowing Info
- Growing Info
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Variety Info
Days to Maturity: 80 days from transplanting
Family: Solanaceae
Type: Determinate, Paste Tomato (Learn more)
Native: Andes
Hardiness: Frost-sensitive annual
Exposure: Full sun
Plant Dimensions: About 36" tall, 18" wide
Variety Info: 3" x 1 ½", 5-6 oz. oblong, red fruits with few seeds. Italian 'Roma' is a determinate type tomato.
Attributes: Frost Sensitive
Sowing Info
When to Sow Outside: For mild climates only: 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is at least 60°F.
When to Start Inside: RECOMMENDED. 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting. Transplant when air temperature is 45°F or warmer, usually 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date. Ideal soil temperature for germination is 70°–90°F.
Days to Emerge: 5–10 days
Seed Depth: ¼"
Seed Spacing: A group of 3 seeds every 24"
Row Spacing: 36"
Thinning: When 2" tall, thin to 1 every 24"
Your hardiness zone is
Growing Info
Harvesting: Italian Roma' tomatoes are at the peak of sun-ripened deliciousness when red, and have a slight give when gently squeezed.
- April S.Verified ReviewerRated 2 out of 5 stars12/24/25Not a Great Experience...
I purchased a few packets of seeds from Botanical Interests on December 24, 2024 in preparation for the 2025 growing season. The Romas, unfortunately, were the only ones that did not meet the standard that I was expecting. I only had a 36% germination rate on the Romas (marked in blue) as compared to everything else that had a 94 to 100% germination rate. The 9 seeds that made it were late to emerge and had thin weak stems. I had to baby them in order to get them up to par, and even then they still looked very sad compared to my other tomatoes. Once transplanted in the ground, they did alright, but there was some inconsistency across the two best starts I planted in my garden. One did fantastic and produced about 30+ perfectly sized, delicious tomatoes throughout our short growing season. The other produced about 15 or so golf-ball-sized, bland tomatoes that didn't ripen well at all.
I gave these seeds two stars because I know they have the potential to be great, due to the ONE good roma that made it to the end of the growing season without any disappointments. Although, they are not getting more because of the crappy germination and inconsistencies of the fruit amongst different plants.
Which best describes you as a gardener? ProfessionalBIBotanical Interests1/3/26Hey April,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts in a review. I've reached out to you via email to offer assistance. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to ensuring your experience is positive. Thank you once again for your input. Keep on growing 🌻️
- SharonVerified ReviewerRated 3 out of 5 stars8/31/25A little disappointed
Nice tomatoes, small size, which is okay, but only grew 9 tomatoes.. that’s it. Was hoping for more. I harvested 6, there are only 3 more growing..
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests9/12/25Hey Sharon,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts in a review. I've reached out to you via email to offer assistance. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to ensuring your experience is positive. Thank you once again for your input. Keep on growing 🌻️
- INDIRARated 4 out of 5 stars8/7/25Good germination
These seeds germinated well, and the plant grew nicely. However, the plant did not produce much fruit, but the ones that it did produce were very nice.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests8/8/25Hey Indira,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with our Italian Roma Bush Tomato Seeds! We're glad to hear they germinated well and that the plants grew nicely. Roma tomatoes can sometimes have variable yields depending on growing conditions, but we're happy to hear that the fruit you did get was very nice quality. Italian Roma Bush varieties are known for their meaty, flavorful tomatoes that are perfect for sauces and cooking. We appreciate your honest feedback about both the germination success and the yield. Keep on growing 🌻️
- Alana S.Rated 5 out of 5 stars4/26/255 Stars
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- Barbara R.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars1/8/255 Stars
Used last year and purchased again!