Gardenality.com · Gardenality Genius · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F
The San Marzano tomato is thought to be the best tomato in the world for making pasta sauce. Grown in the rich volcanic soils near Mt. Vesuvius, they are thicker and sweeter than Roma's and have a stronger, less acidic flavor. They are a great candidate for oven-dying, too. San Marzano vines tend to start bearing fruit a bit later in the year than some of their rivals, but once they begin, they are prolific producers offering a bountiful harvest until the first hard frost. The 3- to 4-inch tomatoes grow in small clusters that are ready to pick when they turn a deep, bright red. Harvest about 76 days after transplanting. Indeterminate.

Gardenality.com · Gardenality Genius · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Planting
Growing tomatoes is fairly easy to do. I've provided some links below to articles with helpful tips for growing them in containers or in the vegetable garden.

San Marzano is a taller growing fine to 8 feet so use a tall stake or cage for support.

One of the best things you can do to grow the most flavorful tomatoes involves companion planting. This means planting plants side by side that get along or benefit each other in one way or another. There are several plants that are good companions for tomatoes but one actually improves the flavor. That plant is Basil. Not sure how it does this, but it does. It probably has something to do with keeping the tomato plant healthy. The aroma of basil deters many tomato pests so that the plant can concentrate on flowering and fruit production.

Here's a link to an article that provides other helpful tips for growing tomatoes in containers:

www.gardenality.com/Articles/124/Garden-Types/Container-Gardens/Growing-Tomatoes-In-Containers-And-Pots/default.html

Here's a link to an article that provides other helpful tips for growing tomatoes in the garden:

www.gardenality.com/Articles/128/Garden-Types/Food-Gardens/Growing-Tomatoes-In-The-Vegetable-Garden/default.html

Gardenality.com · Gardenality Genius · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Pruning
Here's a link to an article that provides tips for pruning tomato plants:

www.gardenality.com/Articles/353/How-To-Info/Pruning/How-To-Prune-Tomato-Plants/default.html

Gardenality.com · Gardenality Genius · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Feeding
There are a million different methods for fertilizing tomatoes. I just use a good Tomato fertilizer as directed on the label. At planting time, an application of Epson salt under the plants roots will provide magnesium sulfate, which is very important to bloom production. Increasing tomato blooms means more fruit. Before you place a tomato plant in the planting hole, add one cup of Epson salt and then plant the tomato plant. After the plant has been planted, add a topdressing of Epson salt around each plant and water in. Then once a week, add a little additional Epson salt and water in.

Gardenality.com · Gardenality Genius · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Problems
Tomato plants do not like feet. Plant them in well-drained soil! The aroma of basil deters many tomato pests so that the plant can concentrate on flowering and fruit production.

Here's a link to an article that provides some helpful tips for disease control on tomato plants:

www.gardenality.com/Articles/83/Problems-and-Solutions/Diseases-and-Fungus/Disease-Control-For-Tomato-Plants/default.html

Here's a link to an article that provides some helpful tips for organic insect control:

www.gardenality.com/Articles/238/How-To-Info/Organic-Gardening/Organic-Insect-and-Disease-Control-in-the-Garden/default.html