San Marzano
Solanum lycopersicum 'San Marzano'
The legendary Italian heirloom paste tomato that's considered the gold standard for authentic Neapolitan pizza and premium sauces. These elongated plum tomatoes have dense, meaty flesh with few seeds and an intensely sweet flavor that transforms when cooked. Prized by chefs worldwide, true San Marzano tomatoes are worth the extra care they require.
Harvest
80-90d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for San Marzano in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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San Marzano · 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 | — | September – 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 |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Water: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. 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
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
Bloom 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
Fresh San Marzano tomatoes have a short storage window and should be used within 3-5 days of harvest. Store ripe fruits at room temperature away from direct sunlight—never refrigerate as this destroys their delicate flavor compounds. Slightly underripe tomatoes will continue ripening on the counter.
For preservation, San Marzanos excel at canning due to their low moisture content and intense flavor. Process whole, crushed, or as sauce following tested canning recipes. Their dense flesh and minimal seeds make them perfect for paste and sauce making.
Freezing works well for sauce purposes—simply core and freeze whole in bags, then run under warm water to slip skins when ready to cook. Properly canned San Marzano sauce or paste maintains superior flavor for 12-18 months, making the growing effort worthwhile for serious home cooks.
History & Origin
San Marzano tomatoes originated in the volcanic soils of the Campania region near Naples, Italy, in the late 18th century. Legend credits their arrival to the first tomato seeds gifted to the Kingdom of Naples by the Viceroyalty of Peru in 1770, though some accounts suggest they arrived earlier through Spanish trade routes.
The variety gained fame in the fertile plains around Mount Vesuvius, where the volcanic ash created ideal growing conditions. Italian farmers selected and refined these tomatoes over generations, developing the elongated shape and intense flavor that made them indispensable for authentic Neapolitan pizza and marinara sauce.
By the early 1900s, San Marzano tomatoes had earned protected status in Italy, with strict regulations governing their cultivation and marketing. Today, genuine 'Pomodoro San Marzano dell'Agro Sarnese-Nocerino' carries DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) status, though home gardeners worldwide grow various San Marzano types that maintain the variety's essential characteristics and superior culinary qualities.
Advantages
- +Attracts: Bees, Pollinators, Predatory Insects
- +Wildlife value: The plant is pollinated by bees, especially bumblebees.
- +Edible: 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.
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Leaves, Stems): Medium severity
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve tomato flavor
Marigold
Deters nematodes and repels tomato hornworms
Carrots
Loosens soil for tomato roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects that prey on tomato pests
Chives
Repels aphids and may improve tomato growth
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and repels cucumber beetles
Oregano
Repels pests and may enhance tomato flavor
Borage
Deters tomato hornworms and attracts pollinators
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Releases juglone which causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Fennel
Inhibits tomato growth through allelopathic compounds
Brassicas
Compete for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Susceptible to most tomato diseases, requires careful management
Common Pests
Tomato hornworm, aphids, spider mites, whiteflies
Diseases
Late blight, early blight, fusarium wilt, bacterial canker