How to Grow Roma Tomatoes (in a pot) AND
Roma Classic OG, 2009 Growing Journal

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Although we've grown them before, we never documented their progress from start to finish with photographs and a journal. And since this website is about, Romas, we wanted to give our readers access to what it's like to grow a Roma tomato plant for a full season and for it be a lesson on How To Grow Roma tomatoes. Therefore, this year, you can follow along with us as we grow the Classic Roma, OG, (Organically Grown) in a 5 gallon container.

Disclaimer: The following How To is just one way to grow a roma tomato plant. There are many different methods, tips and do's and dont's on growing tomatoes. The following method is right for our climate zone, requirements, and situation. We hope that it will be helpful to readers. Also, tomatoes grown in containers larger than 5 gallons, (10 to 25 gallons) will produce more and larger fruit, but 5 gallon is what we have to work with this year. So,...

The starter trays with the greenhouse effect are a great way to start tomatoes indoors. We get a 96 percent germination rate using this method. Starter trays and peat pellets can be purchased from any garden supply or hardware store that offers a garden section.

We planted our Roma and Spitze Tomatoes on March 7, 2009.

Soil :
Here in our part of Oklahoma (Tulsa), the soil is atrociously bad. Clay, sandy, full of sedimentary rocks and other pebbles - it's about useless for a garden in many areas, but notall. Therefore, we have to buy our soil and compost. (We started our own compost pile but it won't be ready for another year or so). We buy a high quality compost from a local supplier by the pick up load, and then buy bagged regular top soil and mixed garden soil (compost & rich soil mixed together). We also buy a bag or two of peat moss. For the pots, we put about 2/3rds mixed garden soil in a 5 gallon bucket and 1/3 compost and mix it up well. We then use that 5 gallon bucket of soil to supply our 3" and 4" pots. As we transplant the seedlings into the pots, it's important to plant it as deep as possible. You want to get that stem down deep so more roots can sprout and shoot off, giving the plant a sturdy and strong base.

Sun & Artificial Light:
In our part of Oklahoma, we get enough Sunlight during February, March and April to keep our tomato plants in front of a window all day long and do the job well. Tomatoes NEED lots of Sun at this point. The more the better. However, in northern Climates, there just may not be enough Sunlight to do the job. Tomato growers in those colder, Northern states have to resort to grow lights. There is a whole science and school of thought on what kind of lights to use, how much, how big and how long. But since we don't use them, yet, we're not experts. If you live in a colder climate, and don't have a greenhouse, the folks at homeharvest.com can can guide you on the type and size of grow light you need, as well as instructions for using them. As the size of our garden grows, along with the amount of vegetables we start in February and March, we might have to get a grow light if we run out of window space. Maybe next year.

Special Note: If your tomatoes are too leggy and low on foliage/leaves, this means they are not getting enough Sun. Get more sunlight on them or use a grow light. It is possible to turn this problem around.

Hardening off your Roma tomato plants:
All tomato plants started indoors (and not in a greenhouse) need to adjust slowly to outside temperatures and breezes before transplanting (picture at left, above). This is called "hardening off." This is done mid to late April. On Sunny, breezy days, leave your tomato pots outside in the Sun. Keep an eye on it so it doesn't wilt or get damaged by the wind. If it's too breezy, use a windbreak or take the plant back inside, and let it get Sun and breeze from an open window.

At right, above, we've transplanted our 6.5 week old Roma to a 5 gallon bucket. [A raised bed garden would be better, but we'll be moving from this starter home to a larger house/acreage as our family grows. Therefore, why invest $$ in a big, raised bed garden?] For Romas, a 5 gallon container will do fine as these are determinate plants which are shorter and bushier. Prior to transplanting, we sprinkled some tomato food granules into the hole we dug. Water afterwards. If temperatures dip to the 40s or lower at night, cover young plant with cloth, or a smaller plastic pail, or any special cover sold in garden centers. Fortunately, the temps here in Northeastern Oklahoma were very warm (and wet) during late April, early May, 2009.

Make Sure you drill holes in your container to allow water to drain! I've drilled 2 in each bucket about 3/8 of an inch.

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