No one could ever say no to some fresh tomato sauce, plus points if it’s made from homegrown Roma tomatoes. A lot of people do gardening as either a passion, hobby, recreational activity, or just to pass their time and if you’re one of them then you should definitely grow these tomatoes as soon as possible. Fret not because here I will teach you how to grow Roma tomatoes easily!
You can grow Roma tomatoes easily by having a rich organic material soil, and by watering them at least once a week. Don’t forget to stalk up the Roma tomato plants once they’re around 6 to 12 inches or 15 to 30.5 centimeters. Once the tomato is red, pick them and save them for later or enjoy them right away!
If you’re not aware of growing vegetables all by yourself then don’t worry friend, I am here to help you out. I have grown some Roma tomatoes myself and I can give you some insider tips on growing the juiciest Roma tomatoes you might be dreaming of.
So without any further ado, let’s get into it!
What Do You Need to Grow Roma Tomatoes?
Well, before I tell you the procedure of growing Roma tomatoes by yourself, you’d need to gather some important stuff.
First of all, you need all the gear to dig up the soil. Such as a shovel, or maybe just garden gloves if you plan on planting it in a pot. Make sure to get some fertilizer that is rich in organic material and most importantly some Roma tomato seeds or seedlings.
Once you’ve gathered all the required material, it’s time to get started to work!
Here’s How to Grow Roma Tomatoes with Ease
Without talking about anything else, we will just directly get into planting and reaping Roma tomatoes easily.
Prepare the Tomato Bed
First of all, you have to prepare the soil of your tomato bed. You have to add slow-release fertilizer or compost to your tomato bed or the pot.
Although it is recommended to sow the tomato seeds in the ground or a dedicated tomato bed, if there are any problems as lack of space or anything else then you can let the seed sprout in a pot as well until it is ready to be moved to the dedicated bed.
If you're interested, here's a list of the best soil for tomatoes.
Sow the Seeds
Moving forward, keeping the tomato bed setting in mind, once you’ve prepared the tomato bed with compost or fertilizer. It is time to sow the seeds. You have to make sure that you have at least 6 to 8 weeks before the frost season starts. Roma tomato seeds sprout when the temperature is at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit and not lower.
If you’re sowing it in a pot, make sure to place the pot next to a window that faces south. Other than that, you can also use artificial lights as well. Light is important as without appropriate and adequate lighting, the Roma tomato sprout or seedling’s stem will be elongated and leaning over to one side.
After 6 to 8 weeks of sowing the seed, you have to start hardening the plant.
Hardening Off the Plant
If you don’t know about the hardening process, then don’t worry because I am here to help you out.
For the indoor-grown tomato seedlings, you can’t directly put them in the soil outside. You will have to slowly expose seedlings (s) to outdoor conditions every day. The recommended time to harden off your Roma tomato plants in the mid to late April season.
The best way to harden off Roma tomato plants is by placing the seedlings outside (but still in the shade) for a few hours every day. Start with a few minutes at first and then slowly start increasing the exposure time.
You have to start directly exposing them to the sunlight after a few days.
After a few weeks of hardening, you can move the sprout or the seedling from the pot to the outdoor garden area aka the dedicated tomato bed.
If you plan on growing Roma tomatoes in a pot due to lack of space then don’t worry, I have a solution for you too. On the other hand, if you have a garden area and can move the Roma tomato seedlings to the soil then you can skip the next step and move towards the one after it.
Growing Roma Tomatoes in a Pot
Roma tomatoes can be grown in pots as well. It is recommended to use a material pot that is at least 14 to 16 inches deep and 20 to 24 inches wide (in diameter).
You can use a loose potting mix that has organic material such as coco coir, vermiculite, or perlite.
I would recommend you install a cage or stakes before planting the Roma tomatoes in a pot as it will give it support and help them to grow vertically. Later on, the cage or stake will support the plant when the tomatoes start to grow as well.
Transplanting the Roma Tomatoes Outside
If you plan on growing Roma tomatoes in your garden, then you have to wait for the frosting season ends and the temperature does not drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 degrees Celsius.
Here is a step-by-step guide for transplanting your Roma tomato seedlings into the soil.
- Make sure to water the plants enough before you move them from the pot to the soil.
- You have to install plant supports as well such as tomato cages, trellises, or stakes.
- Don’t forget to pinch off a few branches on the lower end.
- When planting the Roma tomato seedling into the soil, make sure it is deep enough that the leaves on the low are not too high from the surface.
- All of the seedlings should be at least 14 to 20 inches away from each other.
- In the end, firm the soil around the base of your Roma tomato plant and water it to make the plant connect with the soil.
Conclusion
Now you just have to water it at least once a week, although you can water it once every 2 to 3 days for best results. Overwatering could be dangerous and can ruin the tomatoes as well.
So I will be taking your leave for now but I hope that you are motivated enough to start growing Roma tomatoes soon enough and make some tasty tomato sauce. My mouth is watering now!