Pictures of Roma Tomatoes: A Complete Visual Guide

Roma tomatoes, also known as Italian plum tomatoes, are one of the most popular tomato varieties grown in home gardens and commercial farms. Their oblong shape and meaty flesh make them ideal for sauces, salsas, and canning But what exactly does a Roma tomato look like? In this article, we provide a complete visual guide to identifying Roma tomatoes with pictures illustrating their distinct characteristics at all stages of growth.

Typical Visual Features of Roma Tomatoes

Roma tomatoes can be easily distinguished from other tomatoes by their elongated oval shape and firm, meaty texture. Here are the key features to look for when identifying Roma tomatoes

• Oval and oblong shape – Length is around 2-3 times the width, with straight, parallel sides
• Deep red color – Fully ripe Romas are a rich crimson red. Green when unripe.
• Thick walls – Meaty interior with few seeds make them perfect for cooking down into sauce.
• Ridged shoulders – Vertical indented ridges run from stem to blossom end.
• Pointed blossom tips – The bottom tapers to a blunt point.
• Size – Typically 3-5 inches long and 3-6 ounces when mature.
• Clusters – Grow well on vines in bunches.

Photo Gallery of Roma Tomatoes

Below are pictures of Roma tomatoes at different stages of growth from unripe to fully ripe:

![Green unripe Roma tomatoes on vine]

Unripe green Romas growing on the vine.

![Ripening Roma tomatoes changing color]

Ripening Romas transitioning from green to red.

![Red ripe Roma tomatoes sliced open]

Sliced open ripe red Romas revealing the meaty interior.

![Bowl of red Roma tomatoes]

Bowl filled with ripe red Roma tomatoes.

![Roma tomatoes ripening on vine]

Close up of Romas ripening to red on the vine.

Roma Tomatoes at Progressive Ripeness Stages

Roma tomatoes undergo distinct color changes as they ripen from unripe to fully ripe:

• Green – Young, immature Romas are completely green.
• Greenish-orange – They start changing to orange as ripening begins.
• Red-orange – Nearing ripeness, Romas turn red-orange.
• Deep red – The deepest red hue indicates peak ripeness and sweetness.

So deeper shades of red signify riper, tastier Roma tomatoes ready for eating or cooking.

Tips for Picking Perfectly Ripe Roma Tomatoes

Follow these tips when harvesting Romas for maximum ripeness and flavor:

• Wait for full red color to develop on the tomato.
• Choose firm, heavy Romas without bruises or soft spots.
• Look for smooth, shiny skin without wrinkles.
• Avoid any tomatoes with green shoulders.
• Pick tomatoes with deep ridges and pointed ends.
• Leave vine-ripened tomatoes on bush until deep crimson.
• Pick promptly once fully ripe.

With their signature oblong silhouette and meaty interior, Roma tomatoes are easy to recognize in pictures when you know their distinct visual markers. Use this photo guide to identify peak ripe Romas for all your cooking and canning needs!

Other Tomato Varieties vs. Roma Tomatoes

While Roma tomatoes have an elongated oval shape perfect for sauces and canning, other tomato varieties have different visual and culinary characteristics:

Beefsteak tomatoes – Very large, round slicing tomatoes up to 1 pound. Juicy and low acidity.

Cherry tomatoes – Small, round, and bright red. Sweet flavor bursts in the mouth.

Heirloom tomatoes – Diverse shapes and colors. Unique flavor profiles.

Grape tomatoes – Ovals around 1-2 inches long. Sweet and crunchy texture.

Pear tomatoes – Teardrop or pear-shaped. Rich flavor, medium size.

So Roma tomatoes have a distinct appearance and utility compared to other tomato types even though they belong to the same plant species.

How Many Roma Tomato Pictures Are There?

Roma tomato pictures are widely available across photo sites and image databases. For example:

• Getty Images has over 1,000 photos of Roma tomatoes.

• iStock has around 5,600 images of Romas at various stages of ripeness.

• Majority show Romas on white backgrounds or sliced open.

So thousands of high-quality Roma tomato images are available for licensing online to meet various creative needs.

What Exactly Is a Roma Tomato?

Roma tomato, also called a plum tomato or paste tomato, is a common oblong-shaped tomato variety optimized for cooking down into sauces, purees, and pastes. Here are some key facts about Romas:

• An early Roma cultivar called ‘Roma VF’ was bred in the 1950s for fusarium wilt resistance.

• The elongated shape and meaty flesh contain less moisture and few seeds.

• Originally from Italy, it’s now grown worldwide in home and commercial gardens.

• Referred to as a plum tomato due to its oval shape resembling Italian prune plums.

• Maturing in under 3 months, the compact vines yield heavy fruit.

So Roma is technically a plum tomato cultivar valued for its thick walls, meaty texture, and relatively low moisture content.

Where Are Roma Tomatoes Grown?

Originally from Italy, Roma tomatoes are now widely cultivated across the world:

• United States – A leading producer of Romas, especially in California and Florida.

• Mexico – Major exporter of Romas to the U.S. and Canada.

• Italy – Still produces significant quantities of authentic San Marzano Romas.

• China – Large-scale greenhouse production of Romas.

• Turkey – Top European source due to ideal growing conditions.

• India – Emerging Roma producer owing to tropical climate.

So Roma tomatoes grow well in both cool and hot climates, thriving in countries from Italy to India.

Is Roma an Heirloom Tomato Variety?

While Roma is an open-pollinated variety, it’s not generally considered an heirloom tomato:

• Heirloom tomatoes – Open-pollinated varieties passed down for generations.

• Roma tomatoes – A modern hybrid first bred in the 1950s, not an antique variety.

• Maturity – Heirlooms reach maturity in 80+ days while Romas mature in 75 days or less.

• Yield – Heirlooms produce lower yields while Romas bear heavily.

• Shape – Heirlooms have more diverse shapes while Romas are consistently oblong.

So although Roma is open-pollinated, it lacks the generational history and diversity of true heirloom tomatoes. But it offers higher yields and a uniform shape ideal for cooking.

How Many Roma Tomato Plants Are There?

Roma tomato plants produce a prolific yield thanks to their compact, determinate vines:

• Each Roma tomato plant grows to around 3-4 feet tall on average.

• The dense foliage provides good coverage without taking up excessive space.

• Romas grow well spaced 1-2 feet apart in rows 2-3 feet apart.

• A typical yield is 10-20 lbs of tomatoes per plant over a season.

• Yields depend on climate, care, and harvest duration.

So a small home garden with 5-10 Roma tomato plants can yield over 100 lbs of tasty oblong tomatoes for sauces and canning.

Roma Tomato Cultivation

Here are some key tips for successfully growing Roma tomatoes:

• Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last expected frost.

• Harden off seedlings then transplant outdoors after frost risk passes.

• Plant in full sun in fertile, well-draining soil. Amend with compost if needed.

• Space plants 12-24 inches apart in rows 2-3 feet apart. Cage or stake plants.

• Water at soil level consistently to maintain even moisture. Avoid wetting leaves.

• Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced organic fertilizer.

• Harvest when fully red. Store at room temp short-term or preserve.

With proper care, Roma tomatoes produce abundant harvests of meaty, flavorful fruits perfect for kitchen use both fresh and preserved.