On 25 Mar 2008 02:49:45 GMT, Nick Cramer
wrote:

Mark A.Meggs wrote:
On Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:14:45 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

spring greetings to all! I want to grow roma tomatoes for canning
this year. I've planted heirlooms for salads before, but never
"sauce" tomatoes. Are there any recommendations for a nice, sweet,
prolific type? We'd prefer to start from seed, but if there's a great
seedling from garden centers or mail order, that's fine too! All
suggestions & opinions greatly appreciated! TIA, bobdrob

I grew the San Marzano variety from Johnny's Selected Seeds last year.
They supposed to be the same ones grown in San Marzano. Prolific and
great flavor - I put up over 100 pints before I got tired of it and
stopped watering them. I had about 12 plants.

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/catalog/p...arch&search=sa
n%2bmarzano&item=2866

The only real problem was that they outgrew the tomato cages by
several feet. I'm trying to figure out how to support them this year.

Thanks, Mark. San Marzanos are the best Romas I've ever had. Unfortunately,
I've only had them canned. I last tried growing tomatoes, including Romas,
potted, two years ago. Between the bugs, my dog and other critters, I ended
up with almost nothing.

I had no problem with pests or critters last year or the year before
(only had the house and garden that long). Here in the Ohio valley
(just across the river from Louisville, KY), the Japanese Bettles and
June bugs went for the raspberries. Nothing else (other than me) was
interested in the tomatoes. They do suffer some from blossom end rot,
but I'm pleased enough that I'm going to plant them again this year.

What I really want to find is a good slicing/sandwich tomato. Lots of
flavor, and able to give me inch thick slices at least 4" across.

- Mark (still working my way through the remaining 50+ pints of
tomatoes)