Tomato varieties Roma and Roma VF are similar in many ways, but there are also differences between them in terms of appearance, yield, agricultural technology and disease resistance. They are not very common in Russia, because domestic breeders have developed many varieties and hybrids that are better adapted to local climatic conditions. Still, some gardeners grow Roma tomato on their plots. Sometimes in the literature you can find the name Roma f1, but in this case we are talking about eggplants. There is no tomato hybrid with this name, there is only a variety.
Features of varieties
The Roma group of varieties belongs to the mid-late varieties.The characteristics and description of the variety are indicated on the bag of seeds. From the moment of full germination until the first fruits begin to ripen, it takes from 100 to 120 days, depending on the region, the quality of care, watering and fertilizing. These periods can be varied slightly by adding more nitrogen or potassium fertilizers, but moderation should be observed.
Important! An excess or deficiency of a particular substance reduces resistance to disease.
The mid-early tomato variety Roma vf is suitable for cultivation in open ground and under light film covers - in unheated greenhouses and small greenhouses. The plant forms strong bushes reaching a height of 60 cm, the main stem grows from 35 to 65 cm. Partial pinching is required. Tomato fruits are of the “cream” type, they are slightly ribbed, oval in shape, slightly turning into cylindrical.
The variety belongs to the raceme, determinate, has a well-leafed bush. Leaves are of normal shape. During the period of fruit formation, plants need a garter.
Appearance and taste of fruits
Normal fruit weight is 60-80 g. Unripe tomatoes are green, then they turn pink and red. The ripe fruit is smooth, fleshy, and has a bright red color. The tomato is suitable for canning whole and in halves; you can also make tomato, puree, and paste from it. Excellent taste makes it possible to consume Roma vf tomatoes (tomatoes) in the form of salads and use them for preparing various dishes.
Advantages:
- good keeping quality;
- presentation of the fruit;
- resistance to fusarium;
- resistance to verticillium;
- stable yield.
The number of fruits that can be collected from 1 square.m, varies depending on the conditions under which the cultivation takes place. In field conditions, the yield averages 6-8 kg per 1 sq. m. On a personal plot, by providing the bushes with a complex of minerals, a sufficient amount of light and water, as well as using growth and root formation stimulants, you can collect up to 15 kg/sq. m. Reviews from those who planted this tomato indicate that in practice this happens often.
Features of caring for seedlings
The seeds are sown in such a way that the seedlings are ready for planting in a permanent place in 63-67 days. For cultivation without picking, peat humus cups, homemade cassettes and other suitable containers are used. Seedlings need additional lighting, otherwise they will stretch out.
On a note. It is not recommended to use cut-off plastic bottles; plants do not develop well in them and do not produce a high yield in the future.
The optimal time for sowing Roma tomato seeds is the second ten days of March. They are embedded in the soil to a depth of 2.8-3 cm. The soil on top is slightly compacted and moistened, and then, when the seedlings appear and develop, they are maintained in a loose state. In phase 2, the leaves dive. During the entire seedling period, fertilizing is done 2 times, diluting complex fertilizer in water.
Hardening
Before planting, the plants are hardened off for 7-10 days. To do this, you can lower the temperature to 9-10 degrees or take the boxes with seedlings outside every day. Time spent outdoors starts with a few minutes and gradually extends to a whole day. Planted when the threat of return frosts has passed.
Picking
For cultivation using the picking method, wooden boxes, homemade or factory-made, are used. When 2 true leaves appear, the seedlings dive, planting the bushes in wooden boxes or under film covers. Placement pattern: 10-15 cm between rows and 6-7 cm in a row. You can also dive into 1 liter peat pots.
Landing in the ground
Plants are planted in a permanent location after the return frosts have passed. In the south of the country this is early to mid-May, in the central regions - from late May to mid-June. Tomatoes are planted in a permanent place according to a 40 x 50 cm pattern, or less often. Many people place plants according to a 40 x 70 cm pattern. The grown Roma VF tomato bushes are tied to vertical supports. Water regularly, during drought - at least 2 times a week, 2-3 liters for each plant.
It is not recommended to thicken plantings, otherwise the plants will lack light, air and nutrients, resulting in a decrease in yield.
Further care for Roma tomato varieties comes down to loosening, weeding, watering and fertilizing. Preventive measures should also be taken to protect against diseases and insect pests. If agricultural practices are followed, Roma vf tomatoes produce a good harvest of tasty, dense fruits, suitable for long-term storage and transportation without loss of presentation and taste.
Important! To water the Roma VF variety, you can only use warm water.
Useful care tips
The Roma variety is highly resistant to heat and drought, which is why it is popular in the southern regions. Its peculiarity is that plants are more demanding of good lighting.In cloudy and rainy weather, fruits set worse, leaves wither, and plants are more susceptible to fungal diseases.
This variety of tomato can be planted in any type of soil, except heavy (clayey). It has been noticed that higher yields can be obtained by planting bushes in well-fertilized loamy and sandy loam soil.
Crop rotation
Successful predecessors are carrots, all types of cabbage, beans, cucumbers, and onions. Not bad ones are corn, rutabaga, onions, garlic, strawberries, beets, rapeseed, rye and other cereals, sunflowers, lawn grasses. All nightshades are not suitable as precursors: potatoes, sweet and bitter peppers, physalis, eggplant, nightshade, tobacco. Some gardeners argue: “I’ll plant it in any free space, and something will grow anyway.” This should not be done: diseases and pests of the predecessor, if they are the same as those of tomatoes, can destroy the entire crop.
During the period of intensive growth of leaf mass, the bushes are fed with nitrogen fertilizer, during the formation of fruits - complex, prepared on the basis of mullein (10 l), ash (2 kg), nettle leaves (5 buckets), yeast (2 kg) and whey (3 l) .
All components are placed in a barrel, filled with an arbitrary amount of water so that it covers the raw materials, and left for 2 weeks. Then add a little water again and pour 1 liter of fertilizer under each bush. Reviews prove that this is the best comprehensive nutrition.
Further care involves preventing late blight. Otherwise, the activities are the same as for growing other varieties of tomatoes.
