Photo: "Roma tomato" by Amanda Slater
· CC BY-SA 2.0
Tomato · Paste
Roma VF Tomatoes
Determinate · Solanaceae
Classic American paste tomato. Determinate — concentrated 2-3 week harvest for batch canning. 'VF' literally names disease codes. Thick-walled, few seeds, high solids. Most BER-susceptible type due to elongated shape.
At a Glance
Days to Maturity
75–80 days
Sun
8+ hours
Spacing
24–30 "
Seed Start
6–8 weeks
before transplant
Container
Yes
7+ gallon pot
Height
3–5 ft
Zone Planting Guide
Growing Guide
Germination
Germination Time
6–12 days
Optimal Temp
80°F
Seed Depth
0.25"
Transplanting
Min Soil Temp
60°F
Harden Off
10 days
Watering
Weekly Water
1.5–2 "
Needs
Consistent
Method
Drip
Soil
pH Range
6.2–6.8
Support
Cage — 3-4 ft cage or Florida weave. Do NOT prune suckers.
Resilience
Heat: Moderate
Cold: Low
Drought: Low
Disease Resistance
V
F
Common Problems
blossom-end-rot
Cause: HIGHEST BER risk. Elongated shape.
Prevention: Consistent watering. Gypsum.
early-blight
Cause: Fungal
Prevention: Fungicide
Nutrition
Feeding Intensity
Heavy feeder
Calcium
Critical — supplement recommended
Recommended Recipes
Root drench, Silica foliar, Worm castings topdress
Harvest
Full deep red. Wait for shoulders to soften slightly for max sauce quality.
Expected Yield
8–12 lbs/plant
Storage
3 days — Room temp. Process same day. Do NOT refrigerate before processing.
Companion Planting
Good Companions
Avoid Planting Near
Herb fennel
Sources
university
Clemson Extension
seed_catalog
Burpee; Totally Tomatoes; Victory Seeds
More Tomatos
Roma VF Tomatoes Planting Dates by Zone
Planting dates for Roma VF Tomatoes vary by USDA hardiness zone. Select your zone below for frost dates, start-indoors timing, and a full monthly planting calendar.
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