Roma Tomato 'San Marzano 2'

70 seeds

Roma Tomato 'San Marzano 2' is one of the world's most famous Italian plum tomatoes. It produces long, cylindrical, bright red fruits with thick flesh, few seeds, and rich flavor, making it ideal for tomato sauce, paste, pizza sauce, canning, drying, and cooking. In the Gulf region, it grows best during the cool season.

Best Planting Time

• August to November (recommended)
• January to February (spring crop in mild areas)
• Avoid transplanting during the hottest summer months.

Seed Preparation

• No soaking is required.
• Optional: Soak seeds in lukewarm water for 4–6 hours to speed germination.
• Use fresh, high-quality seeds.

Soil Preparation

Tomatoes prefer fertile, loose, well-drained soil rich in organic matter.

Recommended mix:

• 40% Sandy garden soil
• 30% Well-rotted compost
• 20% Coco peat
• 10% Perlite

Ideal soil pH:

• 6.0–6.8

Sowing Method

• Sow seeds in seed trays or small pots.
• Plant seeds 0.5–1 cm deep.
• Keep the soil evenly moist.
• Transplant seedlings when they develop 4–6 true leaves (approximately 4–6 weeks old).

Temperature & Light

• Ideal germination temperature: 22–28°C
• Ideal growing temperature: 20–30°C
• Requires 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
• During late spring in the Gulf, provide light afternoon shade to reduce heat stress.

Watering

• Keep the soil consistently moist during germination.
• Water deeply whenever the top 2–3 cm of soil becomes dry.
• Water at the base of the plant and avoid wetting the foliage.
• Maintain even soil moisture to reduce blossom-end rot and fruit cracking.

Germination Time

• 5–10 days

Plant Spacing

• 45–60 cm between plants.
• 75–100 cm between rows.

Support

• Install stakes, cages, or trellises before plants become large.
• Tie stems loosely as they grow to support heavy fruit clusters.

Harvest

• Harvest 75–90 days after transplanting.
• Pick fruits when they are fully deep red, firm, and glossy.
• Harvest frequently to encourage continued fruit production.

Fertilization

• Mix compost into the soil before planting.
• Feed every 2–3 weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
• During flowering and fruiting, use fertilizer higher in potassium and calcium.
• Avoid excessive nitrogen, which promotes foliage rather than fruit.

Gulf Climate Tips

• Grow during the cool season.
• Water early in the morning.
• Apply mulch to keep roots cool and conserve moisture.
• Ensure good air circulation around plants.
• Monitor for whiteflies, aphids, spider mites, tomato fruitworm, early blight, powdery mildew, bacterial wilt, and blossom-end rot.
• Roma Tomato 'San Marzano 2' is excellent for home gardens, raised beds, greenhouses, large containers, and vegetable gardens throughout the Gulf.