Speckled Roman Tomato

6Reviews
SKU: 0981A-P25
$3.95

Item Details

Developed by Seed Savers Exchange member John Swenson as a result of a stabilized cross of Antique Roman and Banana Legs, and introduced into the 1999 Yearbook. Gorgeous 5" long fruits with jagged orange and yellow stripes. Meaty flesh with few seeds. Great tomato taste, ideal for processing and fresh eating. Very productive.


  • Organic
  • Indeterminate - Fruit ripens throughout the season
  • Red fruits with orange and yellow stripes
  • Meaty flesh with very few seeds
  • Great tomato taste
  • Ideal for processing and fresh eating

This variety works for:

  • Fresh eating
  • Sauce
  • Paste
  • Roasting
  • Canning
  • Freezing


Store your tomatoes at room temperature. The flavor and texture of tomatoes suffer when the fruit is chilled.


Heirloom tomatoes are bred for their flavor and simple preparation best allows that intense flavor to shine through. Tomatoes can be sliced and drizzled with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper or layer slices with basil and mozzarella for a Caprese salad.


Roasted tomatoes have a richer, concentrated flavor.


There are hundreds of salsa recipes to try and most are dramatically improved with the use of heirloom tomatoes. Tomatoes are also the main ingredient in Gazpacho, a cold soup that is perfect for summer.

Growing Instructions

Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun.

  • Start Indoors: 6 weeks before last frost
  • Germination: 7-14 Days
  • Plant Outdoors: 24-36” Apart
  • Support: Cage, stake, or trellis

Ratings & Reviews

6 reviews

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Almost as fun to look at as they are to eat!

by

Great full flavor, almost nutty. Firm flesh is great for pico de gallo and sauces.

Sets fruit in hot and dry weather.

by

In 2014 I bought some of these seeds and was very happy with the results. In 2019 I had exactly 4 seeds left, they all germinated. I saved seeds from some of the tomatoes from one of those plants. In 2020 tomatoes are true to type. Furthermore, it's been 95 to 110 degrees here for the last 6 to 8 weeks and this plant has not stopped producing and setting fruit! Beautiful fruit, mostly flesh with some seeds and not watery, and delicious flavor. Makes a great tomatoe sauce. If you live in a hot dry climate, 9a inland Southern California, I very much recommend!

My favorite paste tomato by far!

by

These are the best paste tomatoes I've ever grown (and I've grown quite a few!) Sturdy plants that bear well, a nice tasty meaty fruit (my husband even uses them for sandwiches!) Easy to core and skin for canning. Good resistance to disease. Just a great all-around paste tomato.

The plants are a lot better than they look

by

These plants always look a bit weak and gangly compared to all other tomato varieties I've grown, but they produce very well. The skin is a bit thick but this is a delicious tomato I've grown for 5 years and keep coming back.

Beautiful tomato!

by

Have grown for at least 5 years and these are the best producing of the various tomato plants I grow! I use these for eating/slicing, sauce making, and canning. Great to gift as well.

Great germination... high hopes

by

super excited about these. Germination is excellent also glad to hear people are having luck with keeping their own seeds. Germinated in 4 days under grow lights. Will report back when they are in the ground and producing.