Cherry Roma is a small, red plum tomato about 2.5 cm long. It combines the convenient size of a cocktail tomato with the elongated shape of a “Roma” tomato. The flavor is sweet and distinctive, with a subtly spicy note, which is why these tomatoes taste great both straight from the vine and in a salad.
Sliced lengthwise, they’re perfect on crostini, in a lunchbox, or as a topping for summer pasta dishes. You can also briefly roast them with olive oil and herbs to concentrate the flavor into small, juicy pieces. This variety is ideal for frequent harvesting of small batches, rather than waiting for a single large fruit.
The plant is tall, requires staking, and, under favorable conditions, continues to bear fruit until the autumn chill sets in. If you like plum tomatoes but also want a darker color and a character better suited for processing, compare it to “Black Plum.”
Seed Savers Exchange introduced “Cherry Roma” to its catalog in 1999. The variety also won the organization’s taste test in 2013—so its distinctive flavor has a nice story behind it even beyond our garden.
