Where to find plum tomatoes

Of course, there are likely a few tomato connoisseurs out there who have devoted a generous amount of time to learning the length list of varieties and have maybe even tried their hand at growing some exotic varieties at home, or searched the land far and wide to find a local farmer who is specializing in a wide array of tomato varieties. No matter where you are on the tomato knowledge or love scale, there is definitely an advantage to knowing the differences between some of the more common varieties, especially since their features can really dictate best method for preparation canning, stewing, freezing, saucing, etc.

The Roma and the plum tomato are two widely popular tomatoes in Pennsylvania and are often a hot topic when it comes to variety distinction. So, what's the deal In short, the Roma tomato is one of the famous varieties that falls under the plum tomato type. It is also called as Italian plum tomato. Italian plum tomatoes are also known as paste tomatoes, pear tomatoes, or pomodoro perini. They can also be referred to Italian cooking tomatoes.

Roma tomatoes are one variety of plum tomato. Roma tomatoes are grown from Roma VF heirloom seeds. Roma VF tomatoes are perhaps the most common commercially-grown variety of plum tomato. Roma VF tomatoes are the classic heirloom Italian plum tomato. This variety is perfect for making Italian-style tomato sauce and tomato paste. San Marzano tomatoes are another popular type of Italian plum tomato.

San Marzano tomatoes have pointed ends when compared to the more rounded Romas. Plum tomatoes are as commonly sold canned as they are sold fresh. Most canned plum tomatoes are Italian varieties of plum tomato such as Roma or San Marzano. Some canned tomatoes are imported from Italy, while other brands are grown domestically. When buying canned plum tomatoes, look specifically for the words Roma or San Marzano, or look for a photo or drawing of oblong tomatoes as opposed to round tomatoes.

Fresh plum tomatoes can be sliced up and eaten fresh, added to cooking, or processed into tomato sauce. Fresh plum tomatoes should be kept at room temperature rather than in the fridge, as the fridge can dull their flavour and give them a bit of a mealy texture. Plum tomatoes are generally easy to grow. You can also take an online course specifically about growing heirloom types of tomatoes: Growing Heirloom Tomatoes, with Marie Iannotti.

Place the containers under grow lights or in a sunny window. As the seedlings grow, keep the soil lightly moist and fertilize every 10 to 14 days with a diluted liquid organic fertilizer.

About a week before transplanting, start the hardening off process by placing the seedlings in a shady spot outdoors. Over the next four to five days gradually introduce the plants to increasing levels of light. After a week they should be ready to be moved to the garden or containers. Tomatoes are a heat-loving crop and need eight to ten hours direct sun each day.

They also appreciate fertile, well-draining soil so amend with compost or aged manure before planting. I also like to work a granular organic vegetable fertilizer into the soil. When setting the transplants in the ground, plant them deeply to encourage deep-rooted plants. I bury the bottom two-thirds of the stem and remove any leaves that would be under the soil.

Deep planting promotes a robust root system and plants that are less susceptible to drought stress. Get more tomato growing secrets in this detailed article.

Plum tomatoes can also be planted in pots, planters, and fabric beds. If you want to grow them in containers select determinate varieties like Sunrise Sauce or Roma VF that only grow about 4 feet tall. My go-to growing medium for container tomatoes is two-thirds high-quality potting mix and one-third compost or aged manure.

I also add a couple of tablespoons of a slow release organic vegetable fertilizer to the pot which provides a steady release of nutrients. To learn more about blossom end rot and how to avoid it, check out this awesome article by Jessica.

You want the soil to be lightly moist. I water my potted tomatoes daily in summer, but on really hot days I water in the morning and evening. There are many options for supporting tomato plants; cages, stakes, trellises, or even techniques like the Florida weave. Tomatoes are a long season vegetable that remain in the garden all summer long. When picked at the peak of ripeness a plum tomato is a garden treat!

The fruits are firm but have a little give. Tomatoes ripen from the inside out so color and feel are good indicators of whether your plum tomatoes are ready to harvest. Ripe tomatoes also come off the stems with a gentle tug. That said, I prefer to use garden snips to harvest my plum tomatoes. Trying to pull the ripe fruits from the plant can damage the cluster and knock off still-green tomatoes. The fruits of determinate varieties ripen around the same time.

Indeterminate varieties produce a steady crop of tomatoes until frost. If you want to make a big batch of sauce at one time, grow determinate varieties as the fruits ripen together. Because I like to make small batches of sauce all summer long I prefer indeterminate plum tomatoes and harvest as the tomato clusters ripen. Yes and no. Roma tomatoes are a variety of plum tomatoes grown by gardeners to can or make sauces.

Roma tomatoes are a standout variety of plum tomatoes, but there are many other varieties you may want to plant. Check out my favorites in the list below. There are many varieties of plum tomatoes available through seed catalogs. When selecting which ones to grow, be sure to read the variety descriptions carefully as some have determinate growth and others indeterminate growth. This is the type that is used in traditional pizza sauce.

This celebrated plum tomato also makes an outstanding sauce for pastas. The slender fruits grow around 3 inches long with blunt tips and have a rich, full flavor. Semi-determinate growth habit.