Rio Grande Tomato

Paste Tomato • Determinate Type
Warm Climate TestedContainer Friendly

Grow dense, meaty paste tomatoes ideal for masala bases, sauces, and everyday savory cooking.

Rio grande tomato, seed packets

Easy Grow Info

Determinate plants set most of their fruit within a shorter window, making them ideal for batch cooking and preserving.
Sun
Full sun
Type
Warm season annual • Determinate
Start Method
Start indoors; transplant after frost
Height
3–4 ft with support

About Rio Grande Tomatoes

Rio Grande is a classic paste-style tomato producing firm, oval fruits with thick walls, low moisture, and balanced acidity. Known for dependable harvests and consistent fruit size, it’s especially useful when you want tomatoes that cook down into rich gravies and concentrated masala bases without becoming watery.

Determinate plants stay more compact than many indeterminate tomatoes, making them well suited to raised beds and structured garden spaces where a strong, predictable harvest is preferred.

Why We Chose This Variety

We selected Rio Grande for growers who want a reliable, cooking-focused tomato that performs well in warm California conditions. Its firm texture, concentrated flavor, and manageable plant size make it a practical choice for home gardeners looking to produce tomatoes suited for masala gravies and slow-cooked dishes.

Grower’s Corner

Grower’s Corner: How to Grow Tomatoes in Warm-Climate Gardens

Read the full guide on Grower’s Corner.

Grower’s Corner • 5–7 min read
Read the guide

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