Roma VF
Solanum lycopersicum 'Roma VF'
The gold standard paste tomato for home gardeners, producing abundant crops of meaty, low-moisture fruits perfect for sauces, paste, and canning. This improved version of the classic Roma offers better disease resistance while maintaining the dense flesh and rich flavor that makes it indispensable for preserving and cooking. Determinate plants provide a concentrated harvest ideal for batch processing.
Harvest
75-80d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Roma VF in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Roma VF · Zones 10–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | May – July |
| Zone 1 | May – May | July – August | — | October – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | June – July | — | September – September |
| Zone 11 | January – January | January – February | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January – January | January – February | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January – January | January – February | — | April – June |
Succession Planting
Roma VF is determinate — it loads up its fruit over a compressed 2–3 week window and then it's finished. One planting gives you one main flush, so there's no benefit to succession within a single sowing. If you want staggered paste harvests, start a second round of transplants indoors 4–6 weeks after the first; you'd be transplanting that second batch around the time the first planting is setting flowers. In zone 7, that puts a first transplant in late April and a second in late May to early June — but the second planting is racing the calendar, and fruit set drops sharply once daytime highs hold consistently above 90°F.
Complete Growing Guide
Roma VF's determinate growth habit demands strategic timing—plant to reach peak production by mid-summer for optimal batch harvesting rather than staggered picking. This cultivar thrives in consistently warm conditions (70–85°F) and benefits from well-draining soil rich in calcium to prevent blossom-end rot, a common issue in paste tomatoes. Unlike indeterminate varieties, Roma VF sets most fruit within a compressed window, so plan succession plantings 2–3 weeks apart if continuous supply matters. The dense foliage provides excellent disease protection against early and late blight, justifying its VF designation, but monitor for spider mites in hot, dry conditions. A practical advantage: prune suckers minimally on determinate plants; instead, focus pruning on lower leaves post-flowering to improve air circulation around the fruit cluster while avoiding excessive vigor that delays ripening. Stake firmly to support the concentrated fruit load.
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Roma VF tomatoes reach peak harvest readiness when they display a deep red color throughout the fruit with slight give when gently squeezed, typically weighing 2-3 ounces each. The characteristic plum shape should feel firm yet yield slightly to pressure, indicating optimal flesh density and low moisture content ideal for processing. Because determinate plants concentrate their fruiting within a narrow window, plan for a bulk harvest over 2-3 weeks rather than continuous picking; this synchronized ripening perfectly suits canning and sauce-making projects. For best results, harvest in early morning when fruits are coolest, as this preserves their dense texture and concentrates flavors further before processing.
The fruits are smooth, shiny, glossy, and are classified as berries. The size, shape, and color will vary depending on the variety or cultivar. The color of the fruits may be red, yellow, orange, green, purple, or pink. The fruits may contain over 100 yellow to light brown seeds.
Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy, Variegated. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches. Width: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Edibility: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
Storage & Preservation
Roma VF tomatoes keep best at room temperature (68-72°F) away from direct sunlight until fully ripe, then move to the refrigerator if you need to extend shelf life for a few days. Store in a single layer in a breathable container—never in sealed plastic, which traps moisture and speeds decay. Expect 5-7 days of fresh storage at room temperature, or up to two weeks refrigerated, though flavor diminishes when chilled.
This variety excels at preservation. Canning whole or as sauce is ideal given the low water content and meaty flesh. For freezing, blanch and peel first, then pack in freezer bags with minimal air. Drying works exceptionally well; halve them lengthwise and dry at 200°F until leathery for concentrated umami. The concentrated flavor means you'll need less volume to achieve deep taste in finished dishes compared to juicier varieties.
History & Origin
The Roma tomato originates from Italy, where it was developed as a paste variety suited to Mediterranean growing conditions. The 'VF' designation indicates resistance to Verticillium and Fusarium wilts, improvements bred into the Roma line during the mid-twentieth century by American seed companies seeking to enhance disease tolerance while preserving the original variety's culinary qualities. While the exact breeder and year remain somewhat obscured in horticultural records, the VF strain emerged as a standard improvement during the post-1950s period when disease-resistant cultivars became priorities for both commercial and home gardeners. This improved Roma became widely distributed through major American seed catalogs and remains a foundational paste tomato in contemporary home gardening.
Origin: Peru
Advantages
- +Produces abundant meaty fruits ideal for sauces and canning purposes
- +Determinate growth concentrates harvest for efficient batch processing and preservation
- +Improved disease resistance compared to original Roma variety
- +Rich, concentrated flavor with low moisture content perfect for cooking
- +Easy to grow making it excellent for home gardeners of all levels
Considerations
- -Vulnerable to early blight and late blight in humid climates
- -Susceptible to blossom end rot requiring consistent calcium and watering
- -Prone to multiple pest infestations including hornworms and spider mites
- -Determinate nature means short harvest window requiring succession planting
Companion Plants
Basil at 12–18 inches is the first thing I'd put in — the pest-confusion claims are debated, but a paste tomato harvest and a basil harvest happening at the same time is reason enough. French marigolds (Tagetes patula specifically) earn their row space by suppressing root-knot nematodes in the soil, which matters for a determinate variety you'll want to cycle through the same beds repeatedly. Carrots and parsley fit cleanly because their root systems don't compete at the 6–12 inch depth where Roma VF feeds. Fennel is allelopathic to most vegetables and will stunt tomatoes planted within a few feet; Black Walnut trees produce juglone, a root-zone compound that kills Solanums, so any planting inside the tree's drip line is a write-off.
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms while potentially improving tomato flavor
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with their strong scent
Carrots
Help aerate soil around tomato roots and don't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control tomato pests
Chives
Repel aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting tomatoes
Peppers
Share similar growing requirements and don't compete heavily for resources
Borage
Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects while reportedly improving tomato growth
Keep Apart
Black Walnut Trees
Produce juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Fennel
Inhibits growth of tomatoes through allelopathic compounds
Brassicas
Heavy feeders that compete for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Corn
Both attract corn earworm/tomato fruitworm, increasing pest pressure
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Verticillium wilt (V), Fusarium wilt (F)
Common Pests
Tomato hornworm, aphids, cutworms, spider mites
Diseases
Early blight, late blight, bacterial spot, blossom end rot
Troubleshooting Roma VF
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Sunken, leathery black or brown patch on the blossom end of fruit, usually showing up as the first fruits size up
Likely Causes
- Blossom end rot — calcium deficiency in developing fruit caused by inconsistent soil moisture, not always a lack of calcium in the soil itself
- Irregular watering (boom-and-bust cycles) that disrupts calcium uptake through the roots
What to Do
- 1.Water on a consistent schedule — Roma VF is a determinate paste type that sets a lot of fruit at once, so moisture swings hit it hard
- 2.Mulch 3–4 inches deep with straw to buffer soil moisture between waterings
- 3.Pull affected fruit off the plant; they won't recover, and leaving them on wastes the plant's energy
Lower leaves developing dark brown bullseye spots with yellow halos, spreading up the plant from the soil line, typically 40–50 days after transplant
Likely Causes
- Early blight (Alternaria solani) — a soil-borne fungus that splashes onto lower foliage during rain or overhead irrigation
- Dense canopy or close 18-inch spacing that limits airflow and keeps foliage wet longer
What to Do
- 1.Strip affected lower leaves and bag them — don't compost them
- 2.Lay 3–4 inches of straw mulch under the plants to stop soil splash
- 3.NC State Extension's IPM guidance recommends rotating nightshades out of the same bed for at least 3–4 years; for some tomato diseases, that window stretches to 5–7 years
Large sections of foliage turning gray-green and collapsing quickly — sometimes within 48 hours — with water-soaked, rapidly expanding dark spots on fruit
Likely Causes
- Late blight (Phytophthora infestans) — spreads fast in cool, wet weather with nights below 65°F and sustained high humidity
- Infected transplants or a nearby potato planting introducing the pathogen into the bed
What to Do
- 1.Remove and bag affected plants immediately — late blight can take out a whole bed inside a week and move to neighboring gardens
- 2.Do not compost any plant material; bag and trash everything
- 3.NC State's Plant Disease and Insect Clinic (PDIC) tracks late blight pressure seasonally — check their alerts before your transplant date so you know what you're walking into
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Roma VF take to grow from seed to harvest?▼
Can you grow Roma VF tomatoes in containers?▼
Is Roma VF good for beginner gardeners?▼
What's the difference between Roma and Roma VF tomatoes?▼
When should I plant Roma VF tomatoes?▼
How many Roma VF tomatoes does one plant produce?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.