Paste Tomatoes

Paste Tomatoes Plants and Seeds

Want rich, thick sauce with deep tomato flavor? Paste tomatoes are your best friend. They have meaty flesh, fewer seeds, and lower juice. In other words, less water to cook off and more bold taste in every pot. With our plants and seeds, you can grow baskets of perfect paste types for sauce, salsa, roasting, drying, and canning. From small patios to big plots, we make it easy to harvest the tomatoes you love.

Why Paste Tomatoes Are Different

Paste tomatoes are built for the kitchen. They are firm. They hold shape. They cook down fast. Most of all, they deliver that classic “tomato hug” we all want in sauces and soups.

  • Meaty texture: Thick walls and fewer seeds.
  • Lower moisture: Shorter simmer time on the stove.
  • Balanced flavor: Sweet meets savory, with real umami.
  • Versatile sizes: From palm-sized plums to long, elegant San Marzano types.
  • Great for preserving: Canning, freezing, drying, and passata.

What You’ll Receive From Us

We ship strong, well-rooted plants and fresh, true-to-name seeds. You’ll get simple planting and care cards with each order. Spacing, support, and feeding are all laid out for you. We include both classic and modern picks, so you can match your taste and space.

Choose the Right Paste Tomato

First, pick the growth habit. Then choose flavor, shape, and days to harvest.

  • Determinate (bush): Short, tidy plants that set most fruit in a tight window. Great for canning marathons. Minimal pruning. Perfect for pots and small beds.
  • Indeterminate (vining): Taller plants that keep producing all season. Needs a cage, stake, or trellis. Ideal for steady weekly harvests.

Classic flavor profiles:

  • Old-world rich: Deep, savory, less tang—great for slow sauce.
  • Bright and balanced: A touch more acid for lively salsas.
  • Sweet-forward: Softer bite and kid-friendly.

Shape and size:

  • Roma/Plum: Egg-shaped, reliable, easy to peel.
  • San Marzano type: Longer, ribbed fruits with dense flesh.
  • Giant paste: Fewer fruits per cluster, but each one is a meal.

Planting Guide: Plants and Seeds

If you’re planting live plants

  1. Harden off: Give 3–5 days outdoors: bright shade first, then more sun.
  2. Plant deep: Bury the stem to the first true leaves. Tomatoes root along the stem for strength.
  3. Space smart: Determinate 18–24″. Indeterminate 24–30″.
  4. Support early: Set cages, stakes, or a trellis on planting day.
  5. Water in: Soak the root zone to settle soil and remove air pockets.

If you’re starting from seed

  1. Start 4–6 weeks before last frost: Use seed-starting mix and warm temps.
  2. Sow shallow: ¼” deep; keep moist and give bright light 14–16 hours.
  3. Pot up once: Move to larger cells after the first set of true leaves.
  4. Harden off and plant: Follow the live-plant steps above.

Soil tip: Work in compost before planting. Paste types love rich, well-drained soil. A neutral pH is a good aim, but don’t stress—healthy garden soil plus compost does the job.

Support, Pruning, and Simple Care

  • Sun: 6–8+ hours of direct sun. Morning sun is gold.
  • Water: Deep and steady. Keep moisture even to reduce blossom end rot and cracking. Water at the base.
  • Mulch: 2″ of straw or shredded leaves to keep roots cool and weeds down.
  • Feed: Start with compost. Once fruit sets, feed with a tomato fertilizer every 2–3 weeks. Go easy on nitrogen; we want fruit, not just leaves.
  • Prune (as needed):
    • Determinate: Minimal pruning; remove only damaged leaves.
    • Indeterminate: Train to one or two main stems; pinch small suckers below the first flower cluster. Better airflow, cleaner fruit.
  • Trellis options: Sturdy cage, single stake with ties, or the Florida Weave for rows. Choose what fits your space.

Pollination and Fruit Set

Tomatoes are self-pollinating, but flowers need a nudge. Bees help. Wind helps too. Gently shake cages during bloom. Keep watering steady during hot spells so flowers don’t drop. Afternoon shade cloth can help when heat soars.

Harvest, Kitchen Uses, and Preserving

Pick paste tomatoes when fully colored and firm. They should feel heavy for their size. If rain is coming after a dry spell, harvest at “first blush” and finish ripening indoors to avoid cracks.

In the kitchen:

  • Passata or sauce: Simmer with garlic and basil. Less water means faster reduction.
  • Salsa: Thick body holds texture, even after chilling.
  • Roasted trays: Halve, drizzle oil and salt, roast until edges char. Freeze flat in bags.
  • Sun-dried style: Slice, dry in a dehydrator or low oven; store in oil for quick pasta nights.
  • Canning: Follow a tested recipe and proper acid levels. In other words, safe steps first.

Troubleshooting: Quick Fixes

  • Blossom end rot (black bottom): Usually from uneven watering. Keep moisture steady and mulch.
  • Cracking: Big swings in moisture or a heavy rain after drought. Harvest at blush; finish indoors.
  • Leaf spots: Improve airflow, avoid wet foliage, prune lower leaves, and remove badly spotted leaves early.
  • Pale new growth: Light feed with a balanced fertilizer; don’t overdo nitrogen.
  • Aphids/whiteflies: Spray with water first. If needed, use insecticidal soap on leaf undersides.

Container Growing Made Simple

Paste types do well in pots—especially compact determinates.

  • Pot size: 7–10 gallons per plant for best results.
  • Mix: Quality potting mix, not garden soil.
  • Support: Cage or stake at planting.
  • Water rhythm: Containers dry fast; check daily in heat.
  • Companion ideas: Basil, chives, or marigolds at the edges look good and help with pests.

Specs at a Glance

  • Days to Harvest: ~70–90 days from transplant, variety dependent
  • Plant Type: Determinate (bush) and indeterminate (vining)
  • Fruit: Meaty, low-seed, low-juice plums and long San Marzano types
  • Light: Full sun (6–8+ hours)
  • Water: Even moisture; deep, regular soaks
  • Soil: Rich, well-drained; compost before planting
  • Support: Stake, cage, trellis, or Florida Weave
  • Use: Sauce, salsa, roasting, drying, canning, soups

Simple FAQ

Do paste tomatoes taste good fresh?
Yes. They’re great sliced with salt, but really shine when cooked or roasted.

How many plants do I need for sauce?
As a guide, 8–12 healthy plants can stock a home freezer with many sauce nights. Use more for canning days.

Can I save seeds?
Yes—if the variety is open-pollinated. Hybrids may not grow true next year.

Do they need pruning?
Determinate types, hardly at all. Indeterminate vines, train to one or two stems for airflow and clean fruit.

Why is my plant dropping flowers?
Heat stress or dry soil. Keep water steady and offer light afternoon shade in extreme heat.

Our Quality Standard

We send vigorous plants and fresh, dated seed from true stock. Every order is inspected and packed to protect stems and fruit trusses. If your plants or seeds arrive with a problem, tell us right away. We’ll replace or refund. Your success is our success.

Stir, Simmer, Smile

Paste tomatoes turn simple meals into comfort bowls. Plant today and, after more than a few sunny weeks, you’ll be lifting lids on thick, red sauces that taste like home. Less water. More flavor. That’s the paste tomato promise—grown by you, enjoyed by all of us.