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Growing Cherry Roma Tomatoes in the Vegetable Garden

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost date. Sow seeds 0.25 inch deep in a fine, well-draining seed-starting mix and keep the soil warm — 75 to 85 F is ideal for good germination. A heat mat is highly recommended. Once seedlings develop their first true leaves, pot them up into 3-4 inch containers. Harden off transplants outdoors for 1-2 weeks before moving them into the garden after all danger of frost has passed. Space transplants 36-48 inches apart in rows 4-5 feet apart to give the vigorous vines plenty of room. Provide sturdy caging or staking at transplant time, as Cherry Roma is an indeterminate variety that will continue growing all season.

Water consistently and evenly — fluctuating soil moisture can cause blossom end rot or fruit cracking. Side-dress with compost or a balanced tomato fertilizer every few weeks during the growing season. Remove suckers (the small shoots that emerge from the crotch between the stem and branches) to improve airflow and direct energy into fruit production. Cherry Roma is a strong, high-yielding plant and benefits from a trellis or tomato cage to keep the heavy fruit clusters off the ground.

Harvesting Cherry Roma Tomatoes

Cherry Roma tomatoes are ready to harvest 75-80 days from transplanting, when fruits have turned a deep, uniform red and give very slightly to gentle pressure. Unlike many cherry types, these have notably thick skins that resist cracking and hold up well after picking — harvest regularly to keep the plant producing. Snip clusters with scissors or pinch fruits off individually at the stem. If frost threatens before all fruits have ripened, harvest green tomatoes and allow them to ripen indoors at room temperature away from direct sunlight.

About Cherry Roma Tomato Garden Seeds

Cherry Roma is also widely known as Baby Roma and Mini Roma — all three names describe the same compact, oval fruit that captures the rich flavor of a full-sized Roma in a grape-tomato package.

The variety was introduced to Seed Savers Exchange in 1999 by Meilie Moy-Hodnett of Maryland, who described it as a "suspect wild or antique variety" with an unknown origin, giving it a certain air of mystery that has only added to its charm among collectors and home gardeners alike.

The thick skins and relatively low moisture content that give Cherry Roma its flavor intensity also make it a standout for drying, saucing, and canning — and a good storage tomato compared to most cherry types. It has won several informal tasting tests over the years.

TLM sources this variety from A.P. Wilhite Seeds, a family seed company with deep roots in open-pollinated tomato production.

Tips From Our Gardeners

"Cherry Roma is one of those tomatoes that just keeps delivering all season. I cage mine and let them go — by mid-summer, I have more little red gems than I know what to do with. They hold on the vine longer than most cherry types without splitting, and they store beautifully on the counter for days after picking. My personal favorite for a quick pasta sauce."

- Jerry Sawyer, True Leaf Market Writer

Cherry Roma Tomato Seeds Per Package:

• 250 mg - Packet - Approximately 60 Seeds
• 0.25 oz - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 1,738 Seeds
• 1 oz - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 6,950 Seeds
• 4 oz - Wholesale - Approximately 27,800 Seeds
• 1 lb - Wholesale - Approximately 111,200 Seeds