Roma Tomatoes Identification: Are Roma Tomatoes Determinate or Indeterminate?

Roma tomato plants produce small red fruits that are oblong in shape. They are also referred to as plum tomatoes and belong to the determinate variety. They produce fruits that are meaty inside with fewer seed,s ideal for making sauces, paste and canning.

You’ll tell if a tomato plant is determinate or indeterminate through observing growth habits like height, structure of the leaves, and fruit production. Determinate tomato varieties are small in size and are ideal for limited garden space. 

On the other hand, indeterminate varieties are best if you want to enjoy fruits throughout the season. 

The table below provides a summary of the comparison between determinate and indeterminate tomato varieties.

Determinate Tomato Plants	Indeterminate Tomato Plants
Have a bush-like growing habits, hence the name bush tomatoes	Continues to grow and produce new suckers throughout the growing season and hence they are referred to as vining tomatoes.
They are smaller in size and can only grow to a maximum height of approximately 4 to 5 feet tall. Due to their size, they are suitable for growing in a limited space or containers.	They grow in sprawling vines that can reach a maximum height of 10 feet or more. They continue to grow and produce flowers throughout the season.
They require less staking or caging to support the plant and the weight of the fruits.	They require a lot of staking and trellising to prevent the plant from toppling to the ground due to its height and the weight of the fruit.
Fruit bearing and ripening normally occur in one flush over a short time. Ripening of all the fruits normally happens within 2 weeks	Produces flowers and fruits at different growing stages throughout the season
Produce many but smaller fruits	Produce larger cluster of fruits

Roma Tomatoes Determinate or Indeterminate?

Roma tomatoes are determinate; they produce their flowers in one set and the fruits become ripe almost at a similar time. The plant is small in size and can grow to a maximum height of 4 to 5 feet tall. They are preferred by many gardeners due to their small size. They are easy to care for and maintain.

Roma tomatoes require the same growing conditions as other tomato varieties. According to the University Of Arizona College Of Agriculture, it takes 100 to 120 days to harvest fruits if you are growing Roma tomatoes from seeds to maturity. After setting the fruits the plant loses vigor.

When purchasing tomato seeds or seedlings, you will often see a label on the packet or on the plant indicating ‘’determinate’’ or ‘’indeterminate’’. The two terms are simply referring to the growth characteristics of the tomato plant. 

Determinate means bush growth, while indeterminate means vining growth. Here is how to tell determinate from indeterminate tomatoes:

1. Height of a mature tomato plant

The size of mature tomato plants can help to determine whether it is determinate or indeterminate. If the plant is fairly short or less than 5 feet tall, then it is probably a determinate variety. On the other hand, if the tomato plant is more than 10 feet tall, it’s probably an indeterminate variety.

2. Shoot and flower growth

Determinate tomatoes can be distinguished from indeterminate tomatoes by paying close attention to the shoot formation. Determinate tomatoes will stop producing shoots once the flowers form at the end. 

On the other hand, indeterminate varieties will form flowers and fruits along the sides of the shoots. The shoot continues to grow until the weather conditions become unfavorable.

3. Structure of leaves

The appearance of the leaves on your tomato plant also distinguishes whether it is determinate or indeterminate. For determinate tomato varieties, the leaves are commonly close together on the stem, and hence making the plant bushy. On the other hand, indeterminate varieties have leaves that are well spaced out.

4. Fruiting Pattern

Determinate tomatoes produce flowers at once, and the fruits become ripe almost at a similar time. All the fruits become ready for harvesting within a period of 2 to 3 weeks. On the other hand, an indeterminate variety will continue producing flowers throughout the season until the fall of the first frost.

5. Seedlings or seed label

When purchasing tomato seeds or seedlings from a plant store, make sure to check the tag on the plant or on the packet to determine if it is determinate or indeterminate. It is important to understand the kind of variety you are growing. It helps to gauge the weather and maintenance requirements.

Common Types of Roma Tomatoes 

There are various Roma tomato varieties that you can grow in your garden. They include:

1. Plum Regal

Plum Regal produces meaty and flavorful red fruits. They are preferred by many gardeners since they are easy to grow and maintain. They are also quite resistant to some diseases, like early and late blight. Does well in fertile loamy soil with proper drainage.

2. Sunrise Sauce

If you are looking for a Roma tomato variety that is sweet and ideal for making sauces and paste, then you can go for Sunrise Sauce. They are also easy to take care of and maintain. Requires warm summer weather conditions and fertile soils to thrive and produce high yields.

3. Granadero

This variety produces red and oval-shaped fruits. It is resistant to some pests like aphids and thrips. Due to its adaptability, it can be grown in open garden beds, greenhouse, and indoors in containers. Does well in fertile soils with moderate cool temperatures.

4. Heinz

This variety produces relatively large fruits filled with numerous nutrients. It is the best choice for making sauces and salsas due to its sweet taste and flavor. It also matures within 70 to 80 days from seed to produce fruits earlier in the growing season.

5. San Marzano 

San Marzano produces bright red, long fruits that are rich in taste and flavor. It is commonly used in seasoning, making sauce, and for exotic salad toppings. Thrives well in fertile and well-drained organic soil.

6. Martino’s Roma 

This variety produces dark red and pear-shaped tomatoes. It is also resistant to some diseases like early and late blight. It requires warm weather conditions to thrive and produce high yields. Its growing conditions are similar to those of other varieties.

7. Viva Italia

Viva Italia is a high-yielding Roma tomato variety that matures within 70 to 80 days from seed. They have a sweet flavor that makes them delicious when eaten raw as well as when cooked. They are also ideal for making sauces and pastes.

Tips for growing Roma Tomatoes 

Roma tomatoes can only grow 4 to 5 feet tall. They are ideal for gardeners with limited space. They grow and thrive well in warm summer weather conditions and take 75 to 90 days to mature. The growing tips are similar to those of any other tomato variety. They include:

1. Choosing the right variety

Roma tomatoes are available in various varieties. Choose the right cultivar that suits your needs. There are different varieties suited for canning, pastes, or sauces. Some are also tasty when raw.

The variety you are intending to plant is supposed to suit the soil, weather, and climatic conditions of your area. The common varieties include the plum Regal, Granadero, Heinz, Sunrise sauce, San Marzano Tomato and Martino’s Roma tomato.

2. Germinating the seeds

When growing Roma tomatoes right from the seeds, it is important to germinate them indoors at around 6 weeks prior to the onset of the summer season. If you are not sure when to germinate the seeds, you can simply acquire your seedlings from a plant store or a nursery.

3. Planting in the best spot

Like any other tomato variety, the Roma tomato plant requires at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. They also thrive well in fertile loamy soil that is rich in organic matter, well aerated and drained, with a slightly acidic pH of 6 to 6.8. Roma tomatoes can be grown in garden beds or in containers. 

When planting in containers, ensure you pick the correct size. They are supposed to be at least 14 to 16 inches deep and 20 to 24 inches wide. They are also supposed to have tiny drainage holes at the bottom.

4. Planting the seedling at the correct spacing and depth

Plant your tomatoes 15 to 20 inches apart to provide them with enough space for growth. Planting too close can cause competition for water, nutrients, sunlight, and other natural resources. The planting holes are supposed to be around 4 inches deep. However, this depth can be adjusted depending on the size of the seeding.

5. Providing the cages

Heavy fruiting can cause Roma tomato plants to topple, or the fruits can come into contact with the soil. To prevent this from happening, ensure the plant is caged properly. Provide the cage before transplanting the tomato plant to minimize injuries to the plant.

6. Watering the plants adequately

Tomato plants require slow and deep watering. Check the soil moisture content before watering. Tomato plants require adequate and not excessive water to thrive. The soil is not supposed to become too soggy with water. On the other hand, underwatering can cause the plant to wilt or have stunted growth.

7. Applying mulch and controlling weeds around the plants

Mulching around the plants helps to conserve soil moisture content as well as suppressing growth of weeds. They also add organic matter to the soil after decomposing.

However, it is important to choose the right mulching materials like dried grass, chipped wood, bark, and sawdust. Uproot weeds that may sprout around the plant.

8. Feeding the plants with a well-balanced fertilizer

Tomato plants are heavy feeders; they require fertilizer application every two weeks. Use a balanced fertilizer that contains all the nutrients. However, go slow on nitrogen and increase phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium as the plant nears flowering.

9. Controlling pests and diseases

Pests and diseases are detrimental to tomato plants. They can cause the plant to have stunted growth, wilt, or even die. Common diseases that affect tomatoes are early blight, late blight, septoria leaf spots, and bacterial wilt. Check out for early symptoms and control the disease before spreading to other plants.

Common pests that attack tomato plants include aphids, thrips, hornworms, and cutworms. Small pests like thrips and aphids can be controlled using organic sprays, while large ones can be picked and killed.

10. Harvesting the tomatoes

Roma tomatoes are ready for harvesting when they change color from green to red, yellow, or orange. Ripe fruits also come off the vine easily. Tomatoes are delicious and flavorful when allowed to ripen on the vines. Roma tomatoes are determinate, meaning that all the fruits are likely to ripen at the same time or within a period of 2 weeks.

Final Thoughts

Both determinate and indeterminate tomato varieties have their advantages and disadvantages. It all depends on how you are planning to use the tomatoes and the growing season. If you want thick and meaty tomatoes for making sauces, then you can go for a determinate variety like Roma. On the other hand, if you want fresh tomatoes throughout the season, you can go for an indeterminate variety.