How does San Marzano compare? I had good fruit from Roma last year but heard San Marzano is a preferred tomato for sauce. I am mostly looking for a sauce tomato.

Joe, San Marzano, especially the "Redorta" variety, is a great plum/paste tomato. It's a bit larger than Roma and produces much longer, being an indeterminate vs the determinate Roma. It also doesn't seem to suffer from BER as easily as Roma does. I know some folks who grow it in Ct and NJ so maybe it'll do well for you in NY, too.

Rita, nice article!

Shoe

Thanks Shoe. we will have to go with your advice on San Marzano as I have never grown it.

Oh yea and good article Rita!

thanks

I have also hear that Viva Italia is a better tasting roma tomato. Thanks for the article.
Soooo, I don't have to go to Italy for San Marzano.....

I will definitely try Viva Italia if I can find it here in the North Country. I' do start from seeds and am excited to have scored some Big Momma seeds this year. Someone gave me one of these paste tomatoes as a seedling a few years ago and I have been looking ever since. Anyone else try it?