What kind was it?

Romas aren't noted for fresh taste anyway - they are more of a cooking tomato. But otherwise it was probably left too long on the vine.

Once the outside looks "perfect" the inside has usually already gone mushy. And, if there has been lots of rain or excess watering that too can make them just as you describe.

Dave

Mushy and mealy usually means on the vine too long. Pick before they are dead ripe.

water could for sure be a factor...considering the amount of rain we have gotten!

I'm curious to see if I pick some of the others now (before them getting to what I consider ripe) if they will be better. thanks!!!!

That was both my reaction and my sisters who lives in a nearby town about 10 miles away when we tried the Park Whopper a few years back. It would seem unlikely that similar problems in different towns by different people, with different soil and picked by different people would be related to over ripening or soil or other cultural practices. I don't recall what the weather was like, it is possible that weather was similar in both places, like rainfall amt. Both were purchased as large pot grow plants with small fruit already set at a local farmers market, so soil, water, etc would have been similar before planting out in the garden.
To be honest, at the time we blamed the variety. I would be very interested to know if there are any other known reasons than over ripening. I would hate to be that disappointed again after all the work and wait for fresh garden tomatoes.

Sue

I had the same experience with my first tomato. I bought a cheater plant-- a hybrid from the store in a big pot that already had green tomatoes on it. The rest are heirlooms that I grew from seed. The sunleapers ripened first, and they're horrendous. Supermarket bad. They do make pretty decent sauce though, so you might try making your Romas into sauce.

Here is a link that might be useful: quick tomato sauce

Good news. Yesterday we pulled 3 of our Cherry Romas, and ate one. It was good/great! The very top of it wasn't ready...but the rest of it was GREAT! We've got 4 plants out there....If I like the tomatoes from just one plant I'll be happy!!!

it's not unusual for the 1st several sun golds to be terrible. it's not unusual for the 1st couple of non cherries to also be not up to par. no idea why but i actually expect this.

tom