A deep reddish-purple high-antioxidant plum tomato, the Midnight Roma Tomato from Row 7 is a feast for all senses. In the garden the beautiful purple color dazzles, getting  richer in direct sunlight. In the kitchen, we love this purple wonder for its quick cook time and memorable flavor, ideal for producing sauces and pastes with layers of sweetness, acidity and rich umami. Roast them to bring out their sweetness, or chop and add to salsa or salads.

Plant Details:

• 20 seeds per packet
  
• Produced in California and Oregon.
• Semi-determinate
• 3-4” deep purple-red fruit. Purple color increases with direct sun exposure.
• Maturity: 80 days
• Organic

Field Notes:

• Soil Requirements: Fertile, well-drained soils with an optimal pH of 6.5. Little to no additional fertilization needed. Avoid high nitrogen prior to flowering, as it will delay fruiting. Phosphorus and calcium will boost yields and prevent blossom end rot.
• Plant Support: Provide trellising or other support for ease of maintenance and harvest.
• Purple color increases with direct sun; consider plant maintenance to increase exposure. 
• Harvest when the red and purple colors deepen and the fruit give slightly when gently squeezed. 

Transplanting

• Start seeds 5-6 weeks before transplanting
• Sow the seeds  ¼” deep in trays or shallow flats, 4 seeds per inch and indoors . 
• Germinate on a heat mat for 7+ days (optimal soil temperature: 75-85 ̊F). Maintain consistent moisture.
• At true leaf stage (4 weeks), bump up to 2"-cell trays or 4" pots; bury 2⁄3 of the stem to encourage adventitious root growth. Maintain temperatures at 60-70˚F.
• Move transplants outdoors to harden off gradually for 3-5 days, protecting seedlings from wind, strong sun, hard rain and cold.
• Transplant outdoors after risk of frost has passed, when soil temperatures do not dip below 55 ̊F. 

Pest + Disease Information 

• Insect Pests: Monitor carefully for aphids, flea beetles and whiteflies on seedlings. Control insect pests with biological control or organic insecticide such as pyrethrin, spinosad, soaps, etc. as appropriate. Tomato hornworms (using a blacklight at night is helpful) and potato beetles can also be managed by consistent monitoring and handpicking. 
• Diseases: Use best management practices such as drip irrigation and moisture management, crop rotation, removal of post-harvest crop debris and proper air circulation to prevent common tomato diseases. Be careful not to use tobacco prior to handling plants. Properly timed use of organic fungicides can help combat infection.