Type
indeterminate heirloom, paste
Tomato variety
San Marzano Tomato
A classic Italian plum tomato with elongated fruit and dense flesh. It is favored by gardeners who want a sauce type with strong flavor and low seed content.
Days to maturity
78 to 85
Best for
sauce, canning
About San Marzano
San Marzano is a traditional Italian paste tomato with long, narrow plum-shaped red fruits, dense flesh, and few seeds. The indeterminate vines are a benchmark for sauce and canning because of their concentrated flavor and low moisture, though the classic open-pollinated strain has modest disease resistance.
Growing San Marzano Tomato
Unlike bushy determinate paste types, these tall vines need a strong stake or cage and a longer, warm growing season to ripen fully. Keep soil moisture even to help prevent blossom end rot on the elongated fruits. Harvest when the tomatoes are deep red and firm, ideal for cooking down into sauce.
Full growing guide
For planting dates, care, and harvest that apply to all tomatoes, see the complete guide.
How to grow TomatoesOther tomatoes varieties
Variety characteristics are general guidance for US home gardens; performance varies by climate, soil, and season. Seed and plant availability differs by supplier. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.