Created by the USDA in the 1950s by cross-breeding two tomato varieties, Roma tomatoes deliver great color and taste with relatively easy care. The basics are much the same as other tomatoes, including plenty of sunlight and loamy, slightly acidic soil. Provide a minimum of 1-1.5 inches for total water per week between rain and watering. Avoid wetting the foliage and don’t let the soil dry out. A cage or stake will help keep fruits and leaves off the ground.

Watch out for common tomato diseases such as blight, fusarium wilt, mosaic virus, septoria leaf spot and blossom end rot. Pests that like Roma tomatoes include aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, hornworms and cutworms. Keep the plants well-ventilated and use insecticidal soaps as necessary.

Starting Roma tomatoes indoors 6-8 weeks before the final frost will maximize the growing season in cooler climates. Use flats or seedling trays filled with a starter mix, sow the seeds about a quarter-inch deep and lightly cover them. Maintain moist soil and temperatures around 75 degrees with lots of sunlight or grow lights. Transplant seedlings to separate four-inch pots when true leaves appear. Before moving them outdoors, harden off the seedlings for a week.

Wait until the last spring frost threat has passed before transplanting Roma tomatoes outdoors or planting them in the ground. Choose a sunny area and avoid placing them near cabbage family plants or tall vegetables. Also, don’t plant in a spot where you grew nightshades within the previous two years, as nutrients will be depleted. Roma tomatoes are a determinate nightshade, so not as much space is needed as other varieties — 2-3 feet spacing should be sufficient for ventilation.

Compact Roma tomatoes are excellent for container growing indoors or outdoors. Use a well-draining container that’s at least five gallons with a good potting mix. Water them daily and add a stake whenever the plant starts to lean.

Roma tomatoes produce the best fruits with rich soil and regular fertilization. Mix in a balanced granular fertilizer or tomato-specific formula when planting, then reapply every 3-4 weeks. When the plants begin flowering, switch to a high-potassium formula for fruit development and avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers that spur leaf growth. Compost and bone meal are excellent organic options. Test the soil to determine your exact fertilization schedule and NPK formula.

Like most tomatoes, the Roma variety is grown as an annual. Container plants started late in the year can be brought indoors to finish their life cycle. Otherwise, once the plant is harvested, remove the plant from the ground and dispose of or compost it.

Do regular pruning when the plants are small to encourage compact growth and improve air circulation. The best way is to remove side shoots by snapping them off or cutting them with sterile shears. This also sends resources to the main vines for larger, healthier tomatoes.

It’s safe to harvest Roma tomatoes when they are firm and have a consistent red color. Gently twist the tomato off the stem or use sharp scissors to cut it off the vine. Green late-season tomatoes can be ripened indoors in a paper bag.