Amish Paste Tomatoes: Sauce Tomato Growing
Amish Paste tomatoes are one of the most respected sauce tomato varieties grown by home gardeners. Known for their large size, dense flesh, and rich old-fashioned flavour, they are a favourite for making sauces, passata, soups, and preserving. Compared to standard plum tomatoes, Amish Paste produces bigger fruits with fewer seeds and excellent cooking quality, making them ideal for gardeners who grow tomatoes mainly for the kitchen.
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This guide explains how to grow Amish Paste tomatoes successfully, focusing on producing high-quality fruit for sauces and cooking. It covers sowing, planting, care, watering, feeding, harvesting, and tips to maximise flavour and yield.
What Are Amish Paste Tomatoes?
Amish Paste tomatoes are an heirloom (open-pollinated) paste tomato variety originating from traditional Amish communities. They produce large, elongated plum-shaped fruits that are often wider and heavier than Roma tomatoes.
Fruits have thick, meaty flesh with low moisture content and relatively few seeds. This makes them especially suitable for slow cooking, sauce making, and preserving, as they require less reduction time than juicier varieties.
Plants are cordon (indeterminate) types, meaning they continue to grow and fruit throughout the season when properly supported.
Why Amish Paste Tomatoes Are Ideal for Sauces
Amish Paste tomatoes are grown specifically for cooking quality rather than fresh eating.
Key advantages include:
• Thick, meaty flesh
• Low water content
• Fewer seeds
• Rich, deep tomato flavour
• Large fruits for efficient processing
When cooked, Amish Paste tomatoes break down into thick, flavourful sauces without excessive boiling, making them a top choice for home cooks and preservers.
Best Place to Grow Amish Paste Tomatoes
Amish Paste tomatoes need warmth and a reasonably long growing season.
Greenhouse or Polytunnel
In the UK, these provide the most reliable results. Stable temperatures and protection from rain help fruit ripen fully and develop strong flavour.
Outdoors
Outdoor growing is possible in warm, sheltered locations with good airflow. Choose the sunniest site available and protect plants from prolonged rain.
Containers
Amish Paste tomatoes can be grown in very large containers, though yields are usually better in greenhouse beds or garden soil due to their vigorous growth.
When to Sow Amish Paste Tomato Seeds
In the UK, Amish Paste tomatoes are best sown indoors from late February to mid-March.
Early sowing is recommended because the plants take longer to produce and ripen large fruits. Ensure seedlings receive plenty of light to prevent weak, leggy growth.
Seeds germinate best at temperatures between 18–22°C and usually emerge within 7–14 days.
How to Sow Amish Paste Tomato Seeds
Fill clean seed trays or small pots with fine, moist seed compost. Sow seeds thinly on the surface and cover lightly with compost or vermiculite.
Water gently and place in a warm location. Once seedlings emerge, move them into bright light immediately.
When the first true leaves appear, prick out seedlings into individual pots. Always handle seedlings by the leaves rather than the stems.
Growing Conditions for Amish Paste Tomatoes
Light
Amish Paste tomatoes need full sun to develop flavour and flesh density. Aim for at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Temperature
Ideal growing temperatures are between 18–24°C. Growth slows below 10°C, and frost will kill plants.
Airflow
Good airflow reduces disease risk and improves pollination. Space plants well and ventilate greenhouses regularly.
Planting Amish Paste Tomatoes
When to Plant Out
Under cover, plant out from late April to early May once temperatures stabilise. Outdoors, wait until late May or early June after all frost risk has passed.
Harden plants off gradually over 7–10 days before planting outdoors.
Spacing
Space plants 50–60cm apart. Amish Paste plants are vigorous and need room for airflow and fruit development.
Planting Depth
Plant deeply, burying the stem up to the first set of leaves. This encourages strong root development and supports heavy fruiting.
Supporting and Training Amish Paste Tomatoes
Amish Paste tomatoes require strong support due to their size and weight.
Use tall, sturdy canes, strings, or spiral supports. Tie the main stem loosely and check ties regularly as plants grow.
Removing Side Shoots
Remove side shoots regularly to maintain a single main stem. This directs energy into fruit production and improves fruit size and quality.
Watering Amish Paste Tomatoes
Consistent watering is essential for good sauce-quality tomatoes.
Water deeply and regularly, keeping soil evenly moist. Avoid cycles of drought followed by heavy watering, which can cause fruit splitting and blossom end rot.
Always water at the base of the plant rather than over the leaves to reduce disease risk.
Feeding Amish Paste Tomatoes for Sauce Quality
Once flowers appear and the first fruits set, begin feeding with a high-potassium tomato feed.
Feed weekly, increasing frequency slightly for container-grown plants. Potassium supports:
• Thicker flesh
• Better fruit size
• Improved flavour concentration
Avoid excessive nitrogen, which encourages leafy growth and watery fruit.
Managing Large Fruits and Trusses
Amish Paste tomatoes often produce very large, heavy fruits.
To support quality and ripening:
• Support heavy trusses if needed
• Avoid overloading plants with too many trusses
• Remove excess flowers late in the season
This helps plants focus energy on fewer, higher-quality fruits.
Harvesting Amish Paste Tomatoes
Amish Paste tomatoes are ready to harvest when fully red, firm, and heavy for their size.
For sauce making, allow fruits to fully ripen on the plant for maximum flavour. Harvest in batches when possible, as this makes processing easier.
Plants typically crop from mid to late summer through to early autumn.
Growing Amish Paste Tomatoes for Sauces and Preserving
For best results:
• Harvest fully ripe fruit
• Process tomatoes soon after picking
• Remove skins and seeds if desired
• Cook slowly to concentrate flavour
Amish Paste tomatoes are ideal for passata, pasta sauces, soups, and freezing.
Common Problems with Amish Paste Tomatoes
Blossom End Rot
Usually caused by inconsistent watering. Maintain even moisture levels throughout the season.
Fruit Splitting
Linked to irregular watering. Keep soil moisture consistent.
Slow Ripening
Large fruits take time. Ensure plants receive plenty of sun and remove excess foliage late in the season.
Tomato Blight
Not blight-resistant. Reduce risk by improving airflow, avoiding wet foliage, and removing affected leaves promptly.
Saving Seeds from Amish Paste Tomatoes
Amish Paste tomatoes are open-pollinated and ideal for seed saving.
Allow fruits to fully ripen. Scoop out seeds, ferment briefly in water, rinse thoroughly, and dry completely before storage.
Store seeds in a cool, dry place and label clearly.
When to Stop Amish Paste Tomato Plants Growing
Towards late summer, usually around August, pinch out the growing tip above the final truss you want to ripen.
Remove late flowers and very small green fruits that will not mature before cooler weather arrives. This helps existing fruits ripen fully.
Tips for Best Sauce Tomatoes
• Grow plants in full sun
• Feed regularly with high-potassium fertiliser
• Water consistently
• Remove side shoots frequently
• Allow fruits to fully ripen before harvest
Small improvements in care make a big difference to sauce quality.
Final Thoughts
Amish Paste tomatoes are one of the best choices for gardeners who grow tomatoes for sauces, passata, and preserving. Their large size, thick flesh, and rich flavour make them more efficient and rewarding than standard plum varieties.
With correct sowing, strong support, steady watering, and balanced feeding, Amish Paste tomatoes can produce heavy crops of high-quality cooking tomatoes throughout the season. For gardeners who want exceptional homemade sauces from their own plot, Amish Paste remains a classic and highly reliable choice.