How to Grow San Marzano Redorta Tomato
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San Marzano Redorta Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'San Marzano Redorta'
vegetableSan Marzano Redorta is a determinate paste tomato variety prized for its dense, meaty flesh and low seed content, making it ideal for sauces, pastes, and canning. This Italian heirloom produces oblong, deep red fruits that ripen mid-season and are renowned for their rich, sweet flavor with minimal acidity. The compact, bush-type plant is reliable and disease-resistant, perfect for both home gardeners and commercial paste production.
When should you plant San Marzano Redorta Tomato in your zone?
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Example San Marzano Redorta Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant San Marzano Redorta Tomato
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest San Marzano Redorta Tomato
Around Jul 1≈ 75 days after planting
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Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-9; can be grown in zones 3-4 with season extension
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Seedling
3-4 weeksTiny plants with cotyledons and first true leaves emerge 5-10 days after planting.
Provide bright light (14-16 hours daily under grow lights). Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Maintain temperature around 70-75°F.
Vegetative
3-4 weeks after transplantingPlant develops sturdy stem, multiple sets of true leaves, and a strong root system. Determinate growth habit means plant reaches set size then focuses energy on fruiting.
Harden off seedlings before transplanting outdoors. Plant in warm soil (60°F+). Support with cages or stakes early. Pinch lower suckers if desired (minimal pruning for determinate types).
Flowering
2-3 weeksSmall yellow flowers appear in clusters at leaf axils. Plant typically reaches full size as a compact, bushy plant (2-3 feet tall).
Maintain consistent watering and nutrients. Apply mulch to regulate soil temperature and moisture. Introduce pollinating insects or gently shake flowers to aid pollination. Apply balanced fertilizer or switch to lower-nitrogen formula.
Fruiting
3-4 weeks from fruit set to mature colorGreen fruits develop, then transition to pink, orange, and finally deep red. Oblong, plum-shaped fruits grow to 3-4 inches long with thick flesh and few seeds.
Continue consistent watering to prevent cracking and calcium deficiency (blossom-end rot). Reduce nitrogen to avoid excess foliage shading fruit. Monitor for pests and diseases. Fruit set is typically heavy on determinate varieties.
Harvest
Continuous harvest over 2-4 weeks as plant is determinateFruits reach full red color and slight give when gently squeezed. Paste varieties like San Marzano can be harvested vine-ripe or slightly firm for processing.
Harvest in early morning when cooler. For canning/sauce production, pick at full maturity. Ripe tomatoes can be stored at room temperature; refrigerate only if fully ripe to extend shelf life.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Handpick regularly, encourage parasitic wasps, use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray, monitor for dark droppings on leaves
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Remove lower leaves as plant grows, ensure good air circulation, mulch to prevent soil splash, apply copper fungicide, water at soil level only
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Plant resistant varieties when possible, remove infected foliage promptly, apply chlorothalonil or copper fungicide, avoid overhead watering, ensure spacing for air circulation
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Increase humidity by misting, spray with water to dislodge, apply neem oil or insecticidal soap, encourage natural predators
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Use yellow sticky traps, spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap, encourage beneficial insects, remove heavily infested leaves
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Remove infected leaves immediately, ensure good air circulation, avoid overhead watering, apply copper or sulfur fungicide, rotate crops
Uses
Sauce, paste, and canning
CulinarySan Marzano is the gold standard for tomato sauce, paste, and canning due to its low moisture content, few seeds, and concentrated flavor. Its dense, meaty flesh makes it ideal for producing thick, rich sauces with minimal cooking and straining required. [source]
Fresh cooking and traditional Italian dishes
CulinaryWhile a paste variety, San Marzano's rich, balanced flavor makes it excellent in fresh preparations like bruschetta, salads, and traditional Italian dishes like arrabbiata and marinara. [source]
Preservation and long-term storage
HouseholdThe determinate harvest pattern and suitability for processing makes San Marzano perfect for home canners. The abundance of ripe fruit in a short window allows efficient batch processing for tomato sauce, paste, and canned whole tomatoes. [source]
Pizza and authentic Italian cuisine
CulinarySan Marzano tomatoes are the traditional choice for authentic Italian pizza and soups. Their low acidity and concentrated umami flavor enhance traditional recipes without overpowering other ingredients. [source]
Antioxidant-rich nutrition
MedicinalTomatoes are rich in lycopene and vitamin C, powerful antioxidants linked to cardiovascular health and cancer prevention. San Marzano's concentrated flavor means more nutritional benefit per serving in sauces and cooked dishes. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
San Marzano Redorta is a determinate variety, meaning all fruit ripens within a concentrated window (typically 2-4 weeks), making it ideal for simultaneous harvesting for sauce and canning. Harvest when fruits are fully red and slightly soft to the touch. For maximum flavor in fresh preparations, pick vine-ripe. For processing into sauce or paste, slightly firmer fully-red fruits work well. The plant produces abundantly, often yielding 4-6 lbs of fruit per plant. Store ripe tomatoes at room temperature away from direct sunlight; do not refrigerate until after harvest.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 San Marzano tomatoes are protected by PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status in Italy—only tomatoes grown in specific volcanic regions of Campania can legally bear the 'San Marzano' name for export to EU countries.
- 🌱 This variety produces 'twin fruits' (two lobes forming one fruit) more frequently than other paste tomatoes, giving it a distinctive appearance and making it instantly recognizable to experienced growers and sauce makers.
- 🌱 San Marzano Redorta was developed in the 1970s by Italian seed company Ente Sviluppo Agricolo in an effort to create a more reliable, disease-resistant version of the classic San Marzano while maintaining its legendary flavor and paste-making qualities.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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