Martino's Roma in-grown.

Kikaida · May 11, 2015

Hello All,

My Martino's Roma growth characteristics are very weird....It's like a ball. Not really content with growing "up" but more so growing "in" to its self. Looks super healthy except for this growth pattern. I have two clones that I made of it that really took off...then started this "inward" growth. Is this normal for this type of plant?

**carolyn137** · May 11, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kikaida

Hello All,

My Martino's Roma growth characteristics are very weird....It's like a ball. Not really content with growing "up" but more so growing "in" to its self. Looks super healthy except for this growth pattern. I have two clones that I made of it that really took off...then started this "inward" growth. Is this normal for this type of plant?

No, that is not normal for this variety. As you can see from the following link I got my seeds back in the early 90's from Maureen and also SSE listed it and offerered in many seed offers.

You say you have only one plant? Where did you get your seeds from and what is the probability that you might be dealing with a stray seed?

In general I don't like most paste varieties but this one and a few others I do like.

I'll lose this post if I go back and check so is your Valencia the one in CA or the one in Spain, both being very hot withlow humidity at this time of the year, so are there also some environmental issues that might be a problem?

Carolyn

Kikaida · May 11, 2015

Thanks for the quick reply Carolyn,

I got it as an established clone from a reputable local nursery (along with my other varieties that are doing well). Snipped a couple of ends to start another set of clones as I didn't think one would produce enough to warrant putting anything up. Perhaps this made it angry (stressed)

The weather has been very mild thus far here in Southern California, we had a couple of 90 degree late afternoons but cool evenings and no flower drop. Again the leaves are deep green and lush...just the plant looks like a puff ball.

Since this is my first time I guess I'll just observe what's to come.

PhilaGardener · May 11, 2015

Sounds interesting. Can you post a picture for us to see?

Kikaida · May 12, 2015

Sure, I'll see if I can get one up tomorrow.

Kikaida · May 13, 2015

So here are a few photos...One is of a Black Krim that started off smaller than the Roma. All my other verieties share the same growth pattern of the Krim except for my Belgian Giant which is lanky with different leaves. As you'll see, the Roma is very dense, short and for the most part, new growth come from the center curling in towards the center. I often help the new growth by moving older leaves shading it to underneath it. *The first and last are the Krim and the middle are the Martino's Roma.*

**carolyn137** · May 13, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kikaida

So here are a few photos...One is of a Black Krim that started off smaller than the Roma. All my other verieties share the same growth pattern of the Krim except for my Belgian Giant which is lanky with different leaves. As you'll see, the Roma is very dense, short and for the most part, new growth come from the center curling in towards the center. I often help the new growth by moving older leaves shading it to underneath it. *The first and last are the Krim and the middle are the Martino's Roma.*

Nope, your Martino's doesn't look like what I have grown, and I wonder if indeed taking cuttings and rooting them might be that problem and that b'c I do see the thick stem at the bottom which is also correct.

Curling leaves don't bother me b'c it's not unusual to see leaves curl like that on any variety early in the season especially,

I fetched the following link from here that also addresses some issues raised about this variety that you may find interesting.

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=14597

When I grew it, and I'm darn glad I got my seeds from Maureen, who was the first to SSE list it, her seeds from the Italian man who gave her the seeds, my plants were determinate, about 3 ft tall, thick central stem, and fruit yield was so high that it looked like a miniature Xmas Tree,

Carolyn

Kikaida · May 13, 2015

Hmmm, thanks for the link. I guess I can hold out some hope as "short and bushy" seems to be a common theme. I have the two cuttings sharing a 25 gallons Dirt Pot so we'll see how this whole thing turns out. I like the Xmas tree analogy!

Kikaida · May 18, 2015

Just an update, it no less than 30% bigger than the photos now, major growth spurt. I dug into the core of this thing over the weekend and assisted a bunch of new 'curled under' growth that seems to have been deflected by the bigger, older leaves. Saw some fruit in there too! Although I'm new at growing tomatoes...this is truly bizarre! I may strategically snip a leaf or two for better light penetration.

May 11, 2015	#1
Kikaida Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Valencia, CA Posts: 258	Martino's Roma in-grown. Hello All, My Martino's Roma growth characteristics are very weird....It's like a ball. Not really content with growing "up" but more so growing "in" to its self. Looks super healthy except for this growth pattern. I have two clones that I made of it that really took off...then started this "inward" growth. Is this normal for this type of plant?

May 11, 2015	#4
PhilaGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Near Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,940	Sounds interesting. Can you post a picture for us to see?

May 12, 2015	#5
Kikaida Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Valencia, CA Posts: 258	Sure, I'll see if I can get one up tomorrow.

May 13, 2015	#8
Kikaida Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Valencia, CA Posts: 258	Hmmm, thanks for the link. I guess I can hold out some hope as "short and bushy" seems to be a common theme. I have the two cuttings sharing a 25 gallons Dirt Pot so we'll see how this whole thing turns out. I like the Xmas tree analogy!

May 18, 2015	#9
Kikaida Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Valencia, CA Posts: 258	Just an update, it no less than 30% bigger than the photos now, major growth spurt. I dug into the core of this thing over the weekend and assisted a bunch of new 'curled under' growth that seems to have been deflected by the bigger, older leaves. Saw some fruit in there too! Although I'm new at growing tomatoes...this is truly bizarre! I may strategically snip a leaf or two for better light penetration.