How Many Paste Tomato Plants to Make Sauce

When it comes to making homemade tomato sauce, the type of tomatoes you use can make a big difference. Paste tomatoes, also known as plum tomatoes or sauce tomatoes, are the preferred type of tomato for making sauce. But how many paste tomato plants do you need to make a substantial amount of homemade sauce? Let's take a closer look.

The Yield of Paste Tomato Plants

The yield of paste tomato plants can vary depending on a few factors. The size of the plants, the climate, and the care given to them can all affect the amount of fruit they produce. On average, a single paste tomato plant can yield between 10 and 15 pounds of tomatoes over the course of the growing season.

How Much Sauce Can You Make from One Plant?

The amount of sauce you can make from one paste tomato plant will ultimately depend on how you choose to process the tomatoes. Some people prefer to simply chop them up and cook them down into a chunky sauce, while others prefer a completely smooth sauce. Let's look at the yield for both options:

Chunky Sauce

If you choose to make a chunky sauce, you can expect to yield about 5 to 7 pints of sauce from a single paste tomato plant. Keep in mind that this is a rough estimate and will depend on personal preference for thickness and texture.

Smooth Sauce

Making a completely smooth sauce requires removing the skins and seeds from the tomatoes. This process can be time-consuming, but the results are worth it for those who prefer a smoother sauce. A single paste tomato plant should yield around 4 to 5 pints of smooth sauce when processed in this way.

Calculating How Many Plants You Need

If you're looking to make a large batch of tomato sauce, you'll need to calculate how many paste tomato plants you need to grow. Let's use the example of a recipe that calls for 10 pints of chunky sauce:

Since one plant yields around 5 to 7 pints of chunky sauce, you'll need between 2 and 3 paste tomato plants to make 10 pints of sauce. It's always a good idea to plant a few extra plants to account for any loss due to pests or disease, or to ensure that you have enough for future batches of sauce.

Conclusion

So, how many paste tomato plants do you need to make sauce? It depends on how much sauce you want to make, your personal preference for texture, and how much care you put into your plants. Generally, one paste tomato plant can yield between 5 and 7 pints of chunky sauce or 4 to 5 pints of smooth sauce. Consider your recipe, growing conditions, and personal preferences when deciding how many plants to grow for a successful tomato sauce harvest.