Roma tomatoes, also known as Italian or paste tomatoes, are a popular variety prized for making sauces, salsas, and canning With their firm, meaty flesh, excellent flavor, and low moisture content, home gardeners love growing Roma tomatoes. But exactly how many days to maturity do these oblong tomatoes need to fully ripen on the vine?
Understanding the typical Roma tomato ripening timeline can ensure you enjoy these tasty tomatoes at peak flavor. In this article, we’ll explore the key factors that affect Roma days to harvest and provide tips for getting faster tomato ripening in your garden.
What are Roma Tomatoes?
Roma tomatoes belong to a class of tomatoes bred specifically for cooking and processing. They are also referred to as Italian plum or paste tomatoes due to their use for making tomato paste, sauce, and puree
Some key traits of Roma tomatoes include:
- Oblong, oval, or plum-shaped fruits about 3 inches long
- Firm flesh with few seeds and low moisture content
- Thick fruit walls and dense, meaty texture perfect for cooking down
- Bright red skin when fully ripe with little cracking
- Determinate, compact bush vines around 3-5 feet tall
- Excellent for sauces, salsa, soup, canning, and freezing
Popular Roma tomato varieties include Amish Paste, San Marzano, Plum Regal, and Sunrise Sauce. While often bright red when ripe, some Roma hybrids produce fruit in orange and other colors.
Typical Timeline for Roma Tomato Ripening
On average, most Roma tomato plants require:
- 75 to 85 days to reach maturity and full red ripening after being transplanted into the garden as young plants.
Here’s a general timeline for Roma tomato growth and development if planting seedlings after your last spring frost
- 4 weeks – Transplants establish roots and vines begin growing
- 8 weeks – Flower buds form and open into small green tomatoes
- 12-13 weeks – Fruits start changing from green to red/orange in color
- 14-15 weeks – Romas fully ripen and turn bright red with mature flavor
However, the actual number of days to harvest can vary quite a bit depending on growing conditions. Next we’ll look at the key factors that affect ripening time.
What Impacts the Ripening Rate of Roma Tomatoes?
Several important variables can influence how quickly Roma tomato plants set fruit and mature for picking:
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Climate and weather – Warm, sunny conditions accelerate growth and ripening. Cool temperatures and overcast skies delay maturity.
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Planting time – Earlier planting and transplant dates mean faster maturity. Starting seeds indoors extends the growing season.
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Variety selection – Maturity range is 55-90 days among different Roma types. Short season varieties ripen quicker.
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Growing conditions – Optimal soil, water, light, and spacing foster vigorous growth. Insufficient nutrients or sunlight slows fruit development.
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Container gardening – Plants grown in pots often mature a bit later than in-ground.
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Plant health – Fast, robust growth leads to earlier harvests. Stressed, stunted plants delay ripening.
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Pest and disease pressure – Insect/disease damage can significantly reduce plant vigor and productivity.
Providing optimal care and conditions at every stage speeds up Roma tomato ripening. Next we’ll look at some key tips for accelerating maturity.
How to Get Faster Ripening of Roma Tomatoes
Use these gardening techniques to reduce the days to harvest with your Roma tomatoes:
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Start early – Begin seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last average spring frost.
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Choose early varieties – Select short season Roma cultivars ripening in 55-70 days.
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Plant in warm soil – Wait until soils reach 60°F before transplanting seedlings.
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Provide full sun – Romas need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
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Space properly – Allow 18-24 inches between determinate plants for airflow.
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Use trellises/cages – Stake or cage plants to support heavy fruiting.
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Water and fertilize – Supply consistent moisture and nutrition all season.
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Control pests & diseases – Be diligent about prevention and rapid treatment.
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Prune for productivity – Remove excessive foliage for good light exposure.
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Harvest on time – Pick ripe fruits promptly to maintain plant productivity.
With excellent care focused on promoting robust growth, you can reduce the Roma tomato ripening period by 7-10 days or more.
What are Signs Roma Tomatoes are Ready to Pick?
To enjoy the best flavor and texture from your homegrown Romas, it’s important to harvest them at ideal ripeness:
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Uniform red/orange color – No remaining green areas on the fruit skin.
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Smooth, blemish-free skin – With a matte finish, not shiny.
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Slightly soft on bottom – Firm but with some give when gently squeezed.
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Distinct tomato aroma – Fruity smell and wrinkled stem end.
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Hollow interior – Cut a few open to check for jelly and seeds.
Avoid leaving ripe tomatoes on the vines too long, as they can quickly crack and rot in rainy weather. Pick promptly when fully red.
How Long do Harvested Roma Tomatoes Last?
Once picked at peak maturity, ripe Roma tomatoes will keep 1-2 weeks when stored properly:
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Leave stems intact and handle gently to prevent bruising.
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Keep unwashed fruits stem-side up in a cool area around 45-55°F.
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Don’t refrigerate, as cold damages texture and flavor.
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Check frequently and use ripe tomatoes right away for best quality.
For extended storage, can, freeze, or dehydrate your abundant Roma tomato harvests.
Growing Plenty of Romas for the Season
To maximize yields from your Roma tomato crop:
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Grow 2-3 plants per person for fresh eating. Plant more if planning to preserve.
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Space plants 18-24 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart. Use trellises to save space.
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Expect yields around 4-5 lbs per plant, depending on variety and care.
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Bushy Roma vines produce most fruits over 2-3 weeks for easy canning and sauce making.
With proper care focused on vigorous growth, you can harvest dozens of delicious Romas from each plant in about 75-85 days from transplanting. Time your plantings right and enjoy these versatile tomatoes throughout the season!
Frequently Asked Questions About Roma Tomato Maturity
How long does it take to grow Roma tomatoes?
On average, Roma tomatoes take 75-85 days to reach maturity and full red ripeness when transplanting young plants into the garden after the last spring frost. Starting seeds indoors can extend the growing season by 4-6 weeks.
When are Roma tomatoes ready to pick?
Roma tomatoes are ready for harvesting when fruits are fully orange-red in color, have smooth blemish-free skin, and are slightly soft but still firm when squeezed. This occurs around 75 days after transplanting seedlings.
How do you speed up Roma tomato ripening?
Choose short season varieties, start plants early, provide full sun, control pests and diseases, prune properly, and maintain optimal water and nutrients. These best practices can accelerate ripening by up to 10 days.
What is the timeline for Roma tomato growth stages?
0-4 weeks – Seedlings establish roots and vines start growing after transplanting. 5-8 weeks – Flower buds form and open into small green tomatoes. 9-12 weeks – Fruits start changing from green to red/orange. 13-15 weeks – Romas fully ripen for picking.
How many Roma tomatoes will one plant produce?
With proper care and growing conditions, each Roma tomato plant can yield around 4-5 lbs, or 15-25 fruits per plant. Fruit production depends on variety, plant health, weather, and your gardening practices.
How long do harvested Roma tomatoes last?
Once picked at peak ripeness, Roma tomatoes will keep for 1-2 weeks if stored stem-side up in a cool area around 45-55°F. Avoid refrigerating ripe tomatoes. Use promptly or preserve via canning, freezing, or dehydrating.
Growing your own Roma tomatoes is extremely rewarding, providing an abundant harvest of sweet, meaty fruits perfect for cooking. Monitor your plants closely as they near maturity and pick promptly when ripe. With excellent care, you can maximize yields and enjoy harvests up to 10 days faster.
Temperature and Humidity
Romas need warm temperatures, so if you live in a cold climate with a short growing season, pick the quickest maturing varieties. In the spring, delay planting until nighttime temperatures reach at least 60 degrees.
Tomatoes will withstand humid conditions but high humidity fosters the spread of diseases, especially if there is a lack of air circulation within the plant, and between plants.
Water
Tomatoes need to be well-watered at all times so keep an eye on the soil moisture level all season long. In the absence of rain, give them at least 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week. The soil should never dry out, which can lead to fast wilting. Water slowly and deeply and try not to get the foliage wet, which increases the risk of spreading fungal diseases such as blight.