Roma Tomato Showdown: La Roma III vs. Heirloom San Marzano

Roma Tomato Showdown: La Roma III vs. Heirloom San Marzano

Let’s start with the important part: both of these tomatoes were fantastic to grow in our garden. Side by side, on either side of our front door, they flourished, producing plenty of fruit that ripened beautifully within the growing season.

But as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words—and in this case, it really tells the story. The photo (which you can see above) captures the size difference between these two tomato varieties. Both had a wonderful firm texture when fully ripened, meaning no unpleasant squishiness—just crisp, sliceable perfection. And another bonus? Their meaty outer walls made them ideal for eating fresh, without an overwhelming amount of gelatinous goop in the middle. (I’m sure there’s a more technical gardening term for that, but you get the idea!)

And the Taste Test Winner Is…

Drumroll, please… After several side-by-side taste tests (for science, of course), the winner was…

🥁 La Roma III!

While both were delicious, the La Roma III had a slight edge in flavor—just a little more punch compared to its heirloom cousin, the San Marzano. That being said, I would absolutely grow both again. They were reliable, productive, and a joy to harvest.

So, if you’re looking for a solid Roma tomato for your garden, you can’t go wrong with either of these. But if you’re after that extra little boost in flavor, La Roma III might just be your new best friend. ❤️🍅✨