Tomato, Roma

determinate – plum shaped known for thick flesh – great for canning sauces and pastes Select a location in full sun with good rich moist organic soil. Make sure you did not grow tomatoes, peppers, eggplant or potatoes in the bed the previous year to avoid disease Prepare the bed by turning the soil under to a depth of 8 inches. Level with a rake to remove clumps of grass and stones. Tomatoes should be set 30-48 inches apart in a row with the rows spaced 3-4 feet apart. It can be tempting to space tomatoes more closely at planting time, but if you plant too closely you will increase the chance of disease, and decrease yields. Dig a hole for each plant large enough to amply accommodate the root ball. Carefully remove the plant from its pot and gently loosen the root ball with your hands to encourage good root development.