Tomatoes determinate: What Are Determinate and Indeterminate Tomatoes?

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What Are Determinate and Indeterminate Tomatoes?

By

Marie Iannotti

Marie Iannotti

Marie Iannotti is a life-long gardener and a veteran Master Gardener with nearly three decades of experience. She’s also an author of three gardening books, a plant photographer, public speaker, and a former Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator. Marie’s garden writing has been featured in newspapers and magazines nationwide and she has been interviewed for Martha Stewart Radio, National Public Radio, and numerous articles.

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Updated on 04/12/21

The Spruce / K. Dave

One of the classifications you will often see on the label of a tomato plant or on a packet of tomato seeds is “determinate” or “indeterminate.” These terms refer to the growth habit of the tomato plants. They essentially mean bush or vining tomatoes, respectively.

All tomato plants are vines that would sprawl along the ground if gardeners did not stake them to grow upward. If left to their natural tendencies, tomato vines would become a damp, tangled mess on the soil, where they would attract diseases and pests. And the indeterminate varieties tend to grow much longer than the determinate varieties.   

Determinate Tomatoes

Determinate tomatoes are varieties that grow to a fixed mature size and ripen all their fruit in a short period (usually about two weeks). Once this first flush of fruit has ripened, the plant will begin to diminish in vigor and will set little to no new fruit.

Determinate tomato varieties are often referred to as “bush” tomatoes because they do not continue extending in length throughout the growing season. They are generally smaller plants than indeterminate tomatoes, with most growing to a compact 4 to 5 feet tall. Pruning and removing suckers from determinate tomatoes is generally not needed because they stop growing on their own.

Despite their compact size, staking or caging is still recommended. They will be supporting a heavy load once all of the fruits set and begin to plump up and ripen. This can put considerable weight on the branches, so staking will help the plant.

Growing determinate tomatoes is practical when you want a lot of tomatoes at once, for making juice, sauces, and canning. Many paste or Roma tomatoes are determinate varieties, such as ‘San Marzano’ and ‘Amish Paste’. Some others have been bred to be determinate, so they can be harvested in quantity all at one time. These include ‘Celebrity’, ‘Marglobe’, and ‘Rutgers’.

​The Spruce / K. Dave

Indeterminate Tomatoes

Unlike determinate tomatoes that hit their mature height and set all their fruit at once, indeterminate tomato varieties are vining plants that continue to extend in length throughout the growing season. This is why you will sometimes see them referred to as “vining” tomatoes.

Indeterminate tomato varieties also continue to set and ripen fruit throughout the growing season until frost kills the plants. They will give you a slow and steady supply of tomatoes, rather than one large harvest. However, they tend to start ripening a little later in the season than determinate varieties do because they first spend a good amount of time growing tall. It is a good idea to pinch back some of the suckers on indeterminate tomatoes to prevent unmanageable growth. Never pinch out a sucker directly below a blossom as this causes uneven growth in the plant and will reduce your harvest.

The majority of tomato varieties are indeterminate, including most heirlooms and cherry types. Even many dwarf tomato varieties are indeterminate. Some of the most popular tomatoes to grow, including ‘Beefsteak’, ‘Big Boy’, ‘Brandywine’, ‘Sungold’, and ‘Sweet Million’, are indeterminate varieties.

Early producing varieties, such as ‘Early Girl’, are also indeterminate. However, because they tend to mature earlier and die back before the end of the growing season, they are sometimes labeled semi-determinate.

The indeterminate varieties need large, sturdy stakes or caging for support because of how long they grow. The plants can reach 6 to 10 feet (or taller) and become very heavy.

Alternatively, tomatoes can be grown upside down as a hanging vine. This eliminates the need for support, keeps the fruit up off the ground, and permits the plant to grow in an open manner to allow sunlight to reach all its parts. However, the plant still will be heavy, so use a strong hook and sturdy hanger.

​The Spruce / K. Dave 

Considerations

Both determinate and indeterminate tomato varieties have their pluses and minuses. It really depends on how you plan to use the tomatoes and the length of your growing season. If you want a thick tomato for making sauces, you are better off with a paste tomato, which tends to be determinate with fewer seeds and more meat. If you typically eat your tomatoes fresh and want a season-long supply, go for an indeterminate variety.

Moreover, if you live where the growing season is only a couple of months long, determinate tomatoes might be the better growing choice for you. However, there are short-season indeterminate varieties, such as the early maturing tomatoes, that would probably ripen for you. Experiment to see which varieties grow best in your area, as well as which you enjoy eating the most.

​The Spruce / K. Dave 

What Is a Determinate or Indeterminate Tomato?

By

Colleen Vanderlinden

Colleen Vanderlinden

Colleen Vanderlinden is an organic gardening expert and author of the book “Edible Gardening for the Midwest.” She has grown fruits and vegetables for over 12 years and professionally written for 15-plus years. To help move the organic gardening movement forward, she started an organic gardening website, “In the Garden Online,” in 2003 and launched the Mouse & Trowel Awards in 2007 to recognize gardening bloggers.

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Updated on 06/15/22

Reviewed by

Debra LaGattuta

Reviewed by
Debra LaGattuta

Debra LaGattuta is a gardening expert with three decades of experience in perennial and flowering plants, container gardening, and raised bed vegetable gardening. She is a Master Gardener and lead gardener in a Plant-A-Row, which is a program that offers thousands of pounds of organically-grown vegetables to local food banks. Debra is a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.

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The Spruce / K. Dave

With the wide variety of tomatoes varieties, gardeners often focus on whether to grow standard, beefsteak, oxheart, cherry, Roma, sauce, grape, plum, or one of the many types of heirloom species. But before getting to this point, you have to make a more basic decision about tomato growth habits: whether to grow determinate or indeterminate tomato varieties.

The Determinate/Indeterminate Distinction

The two types of tomato plant growth habits are:

Determinate tomatoes grow to a predetermined height (approximately four feet tall). The plant stops growing when fruit sets on the top bud, and all fruit ripens at or near the same time (usually over a two-week period), and then the plant stops producing fruit and dies. Most sauce tomato varieties are determinate so that the entire crop ripens at once for making sauce, canning, and jarring in large batches. The restricted growth habit makes indeterminate tomatoes more suitable for growing in containers than indeterminate tomatoes and consume much less garden space. Staking is required but not nearly the heavy duty staking required by indeterminate tomato varieties.

Indeterminate tomatoes grow, flower, and produce fruit throughout the growing season until the first fall frost kills the plant. Given their long growing season, indeterminate tomatoes grow to be quite large and tall. Plants can reach heights of up to 12 feet although six feet is typical. Because of their size, they also require very sturdy staking or caging over the course of the season. So robust is the growth pattern on some indeterminate varieties that ordinary tomato cages are often inadequate. You may need to stake these large plants with heavy metal rebar stakes or another sturdy support structure.

Key Differences

Determinate

  • Predetermined, smaller plant size
  • Fruit ripens fairly early in the season over a two-week period
  • Ideal for mass canning, jarring
  • Plants usually die by midsummer freeing space for other plants
  • Requires less sturdy staking and caging
  • Suitable for containers
  • Can be integrated into flower beds

Indeterminate

  • Large plants with sprawling and unlimited size
  • Plants continue to grow, flower, and produce fruit all season
  • Grows until frost kills the plant
  • Requires strong, study support and staking
  • In-ground planting is recommended rather than containers
  • Well suited for large, dedicated vegetable beds

The Spruce / K. Dave

The Spruce / K. Dave

How Do You Choose?

So how do you decide what’s best for your garden?

If you have a large garden and would like heavy crops of tomatoes at certain points in the season, you might want to plan for several determinate varieties. You would look for two basic pieces of information in the plant catalog or on the plant label when making this decision. Look for the word “determinate” or the abbreviation “DET” so you know the growth habit of the plant. Next, look for the number of days to maturity, which is when the plant will set fruit. To get several nice harvests, try to combine determinate varieties that bear early, mid, and late season. If you are interested in canning, saucing, or drying your tomatoes, this is probably the best way to go—many ripe tomatoes at once.

If you want tomatoes for the course of the season for snacking and adding to salads and sandwiches, it is best to grow indeterminate varieties. Several types of indeterminate tomatoes are very prolific, and two or three plants will more than suffice to meet the needs of a family of four. Many favorite heirloom tomatoes are indeterminate varieties. When shopping for your tomato plants, look for the word “indeterminate” on the label, or the abbreviation “IND” (or, less commonly, “INDET”).

If you want to grow tomatoes in containers, you’ll probably want to stick with a few different determinate varieties. (Better yet, look for patio tomatoes or dwarf tomatoe varieties). Determinate tomato plants are more well-behaved and better suited to container culture. You can certainly grow indeterminate tomatoes in containers, but be prepared to be vigilant about staking or caging, as well as pruning the suckers to maintain compact growth.

Both indeterminate and determinate tomatoes offer choices for all types of tomatoes. You can find both determinate and indeterminate varieties of beefsteak, Roma, or cherry tomatoes, for example.

Recommendations

Here are some suggestions for recent tomato varieties with good reviews from horticulturalists and garden authorities:

  • Better Boy: Indeterminate hybrid beefsteak tomato. Produces fruit 10 to 16 ounces in size about 75 days from planting.
  • Big Beef: Indeterminate hybrid beefsteak tomato. Produces fruit 10 to 12 ounces in size about 73 days from planting. Was a 1994  All-America Selections Winner.
  • Big Boy: Indeterminate hybrid tomato. Produces fruit 10 to 16 ounces in size about 78 days after planting.
  • Celebrity: Determinate hybrid globe tomato. Produces fruit about 8 to 10 ounces in size about 70 days from planting.
  • Early Girl: Indeterminate hybrid globe tomato. Produces fruit about 8 ounces in size about 50 to 52 days after planting.
  • Juliet: Indeterminate hybrid elongated cherry tomato. Produces 1 ounce fruit about 60 days after planting. Was a 1999 All-America Selections Winner.
  • Sun Sugar: Indeterminate hybrid cherry tomato with orange fruit. Produces 1 ounce fruit about 62 days after planting.

Watch Now: Basic Homemade Stewed Tomatoes Recipe

The 13 Best Determinate Tomato Varieties

It’s well known that tomatoes are the crown jewels of any vegetable garden. Bright, juicy, and an eye-catching shade of red, they really stand out like rubies! Whether you’re an amateur tomato gardener or a professional, chances are that you’ve heard of the difference between determinate tomato varieties and indeterminate tomato varieties. If not, it’s an important difference to understand before you embark on your tomato planting journey-or even your tomato-sauce-making journey!

Roma Tomatoes

Read on to learn about determinate tomatoes, and the best determinate tomato varieties. 

What are Determinate Tomatoes?

Before we get to my list of the best determinate tomato varieties, let’s first clarify the determinate tomato versus indeterminate tomato situation.

Determinate tomatoes have a specific gene called the “self-pruning” gene. This gene causes the branches of a determinate tomato plant to end in a flower cluster, as opposed to the indeterminate plant, whose branches end in leaves. That’s why the gene is called “self-pruning”: the flower clusters prevent determinate tomato varieties from growing more than a determined amount, whereas indeterminate tomato plants continue spreading throughout the entire growing season.  

Determinate tomato plants are often referred to as “bush” tomatoes because the self-pruning gene causes them to grow thick and bushy, up to four or five feet tall at most. Indeterminate plants, on the other hand, grow vine-like branches, and can grow up to 10 or 12 feet tall, or even more!

As far as fruit production goes, determinate tomato varieties put out their fruit all at once, usually during a period of about two weeks. Indeterminate tomatoes produce fewer tomatoes over a longer period of time throughout the entire harvest season.

That means that indeterminate tomato varieties are great for those of you that are growing tomatoes specifically for culinary uses, like making tomato sauce: you need so many tomatoes that a single harvest of indeterminate tomatoes wouldn’t cut it. Determinate tomatoes, however, are perfect, because they produce all their tomatoes in one go!

What does that mean for tomato plant care? Though in general, the guidelines for planting and nurturing tomato plants are consistent for both determinate and indeterminate tomatoes (check out our article on planting tomato seeds), there are two main differences:

  • Pots: Determinate tomato plants can thrive in smaller pots, about five gallons in size. Indeterminate tomato plants, as you can imagine, need much bigger containers if you don’t want to plant them directly into the ground.
  • Support: While determinate tomatoes don’t necessitate heavy-duty stakes and support systems, it could be helpful to give them a hand once they start bearing fruit, especially if it is weighing the plant down more than normal. Indeterminate tomatoes, though, absolutely need cages or frames to help support their weight, or else they’ll become a damp tangle of vines across your orchard, which attracts pests and diseases.

The Best Determinate Tomato Varieties

Roma Tomato

The Roma Tomato is one of the most famous tomatoes used for canning and tomato sauces because of its slender shape, thick walls, and plumpness, which makes for a great cooking consistency. Roma tomatoes are not particularly juicy (this would make sauces more watery) nor does their size lend to easy slicing for use in sandwiches or burgers.  

Buy Roma Tomato Seeds on Botanical Interests

Buy Roma Tomato Seeds on Amazon

Ace 55 Tomatoes

This heirloom determinate tomato plant produces medium (about eight ounces), slightly oval-shaped five to six-inch in diameter tomatoes with thick walls that are perfect for sauce making. The tomato plant thrives in warm weather (as do all tomatoes!), has an exceptional yield, and is perfect for canning.

Buy Ace 55 Tomatoes on Botanical Interests

Buy Ace 55 Tomatoes on Amazon

Siberian Tomatoes

Siberian tomatoes have a wonderfully short growing season (60 to 70 days), so you can expect a quick harvest! Known for their exceptional resistance to cold weather (hence the Siberian in its name), they actually grow a little taller than your average determinate tomato varieties-up to 6 to eight feet tall. Siberian tomatoes are round and palm-sized, coming in at around 5 ounces each.

Buy Siberian Tomato Seeds on Amazon

Mountain Majesty Tomato

Mountain Majesty Tomatoes produce large, globe-shaped fruit (though sometimes a little flattened) known for their bright red color, which is consistent within its interior. They’re also celebrated for their firmness, which remains even when the tomato is fully ripe (other tomato varieties tend to go soft). The Mountain Majesty Tomato plant has thick foliage to protect its fruit from environmental factors. 

Buy Mountain Majesty Tomato Seeds on Amazon

Black Sea Man Tomatoes

This Russian-originating tomato looks ominous but tastes fantastic. Recognizable thanks to its unique red color tinged with brown and green, Black Sea Man Tomatoes are medium-sized but heavy (eight to 12 ounces) beefsteak tomatoes, and crack-resistant, as well. Their flesh is marbled and they are gifted with a rich flavor. Its shape is funky and a bit warped-looking-not at all round!

Buy Black Sea Man Tomato Seeds on Amazon

Amelia Tomatoes

The Amelia Tomato originated from Texas, where it was first introduced to consumers in 2004 at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. It’s a hybrid variety that is loved as a home garden plant both in the ground and in containers. The 20 to 30 pounds of tomatoes that a single plant produces in a season have great resistance against diseases (including spotted wilt virus) and cracking-but they could use a little support in carrying the heavy tomatoes, so consider using stakes.

Buy Amelia Tomato Seeds on Amazon

Cream Sausage Tomatoes

This determinate tomato variety doesn’t just have an odd name, it also has a strange appearance! Known for its sausage shape and bright yellow color, the busy plant doesn’t grow over three feet tall, and is known for being a very productive plant. Cream Sausage Tomatoes are juicy and sweet while retaining a slightly acidic taste, which means they’re great for making sauces-which isn’t surprising, since they are actually an heirloom variety of the Roma Tomato!

Buy Cream Sausage Tomato Seeds on Amazon

Marglobe Tomato

This reliably round and bright red tomato is known for its firmness and crack resistance, and tends to sprawl a little more than you would expect from determinate tomato varieties. It was bred over one hundred years ago from a Globe Tomato and a (now considered extinct) Marvel Tomato. It was one of the first tomato varieties to be successfully bred for resistance against Verticillium and Fusarium wilt.

Buy Marglobe Tomato Seeds on Amazon

Oregon Spring

The Oregon Spring Variety is a hardy plant and was developed by Oregon State University. It is known for producing fruit early in the season, and has great resistance against the cold, as well. 

Buy Oregon Spring Tomato Seeds on Amazon

Dwarf Purple Heart Tomatoes

Talk about another strange name! The Dwarf Purple Heart Tomato reminds me of the Black Sea Man Tomatoes mentioned above because of its unusually dark shading-though this determinate tomato tends towards a purplish hue rather than a brown or green. Vaguely recalling the shape of a heart, they are on the larger side of dwarf tomato varieties, but still stay smaller and neater than indeterminate tomatoes.

Buy Dwarf Purple Heart Tomato Seeds

Caro Rich Tomatoes

It seems like Caro Rich Tomatoes are bred both as determinate tomato varieties and indeterminate varieties. Whichever the case, Caro Rich tomatoes have an unusual yellow-orangish color and a slew of health benefits! Usually the pride and glory of carrots, Caro Rich tomatoes are wonderfully rich in beta-carotene, which supports the health of your eyes and vision. The fruits are round and grow to about three and a half inches big. 

Buy Caro Rich Tomato Seeds

Ida Gold Tomatoes

Ida Gold Tomatoes produce fruit in record-breaking time and were developed specifically for this purpose in order to thrive in short-season climates at the University of Idaho. Ida Gold Tomatoes put out small tomatoes with a unique orange color and a wonderful sweet taste. This determinate tomato thrives best in moderate subtropical temperatures, and is great to quarter and toss into your salad!

Buy Ida Gold Tomato Seeds

Atlas Tomato

Last on our list of best determinate tomato varieties, Atlas Tomatoes are a variety of beefsteak tomatoes. They produce big, heavy tomatoes (14 to 20 ounces!) which means they’re perfect for slicing and layering between bread! Easy both for growing in containers or in-ground, the Atlas Tomato has good resistance to diseases and an even greater fruit yield.

Buy Atlas Tomato Seeds

Determinate Tomato Recipes

As mentioned earlier, determinate tomato varieties are perfect for recipes that call for a lot of tomatoes, like making tomato sauce, paste, or soup. Here are some great recipes I found to inspire your use of tomatoes in the kitchen:

  • The Best Italian-American Tomato Sauce Recipe
  • Creamy Tomato Soup with Buttery Croutons
  • Homemade Tomato Paste

Now You Can Pick Your Own Determinate Tomato Varieties!

Tomatoes are a joy to grow at home, but you need to make sure to understand the difference between determinate tomato varieties and indeterminate tomato varieties well before choosing your tomato seeds! There are important genetic differences in the two that call for slightly different care tips. Plus, if you’re looking to grow tomatoes for culinary reasons, make sure to check how many tomatoes your recipes call for. Chances are you’ll need a lot all at once, which means your best bet is planting determinate tomato varieties. All in all, I hope this post has inspired you to pick the best determinate variety for you!

Want more tomato content? Then check out our tomato section!

Determinate & Indeterminate Tomatoes & Other Tomato Growing Terms – Bonnie Plants

There are a lot of tomato growing terms, from determinate and indeterminate to hybrid and heirloom. What do they all mean? Learn here.

When growing tomatoes and reading about them—on our website, store signs, and plant tags—you eventually encounter a lot of tomato growing terms. Determinate and indeterminate. Hybrid and heirloom. VFNT and SWV. What does all this mean? Learn tomato growing terms right here.

Determinate and Indeterminate

When selecting tomato varieties, you must choose between plants with different types of growth habits called determinate or indeterminate. All tomatoes are either one or the other.

Determinate varieties (including bush varieties) reach a certain plant height and then stop growing. The majority of their fruit matures within a month or two and appears at the ends of the branches. These are popular with gardeners who like to can, make sauce, or have another reason for wanting most of their tomatoes at once. It might even be that you’d prefer to harvest early and leave late summer for a long vacation.

Most determinate varieties need a cage, but there are some very stocky varieties, such as Better Bush, that have a very sturdy main stems; they don’t need much support, just a stake to keep them from toppling in wind and rain. Varieties especially suited to growing in pots, such as Patio and Better Bush, are determinate. Little or no pruning is needed.

Indeterminate varieties continue to grow and produce tomatoes all along the stems throughout the growing season. Indeterminate plants need extra-tall supports of at least 5 feet. Because indeterminate varieties throw out so many shoots, gardeners often prune them for optimum-sized fruit or train them on a very tall trellis. However, if you don’t prune, no harm done! You may have seen photos of 10- or 15-foot tomato vines. These are definitely indeterminate types.

Most gardeners grow both types, determinate for large harvests for canning and freezing and indeterminate to get fruit for salads and sandwiches throughout the growing season.

A few varieties are called semi-determinate or compact indeterminate because they are somewhere in between. For best results, give them support.

Symbols for Disease Resistance

Tomato names are often followed by capital letters that stand for resistance to certain diseases. This is very important because these diseases can wipe out a tomato crop. Bonnie Plant Farm offers varieties that have proven to be most productive with disease resistance a major consideration in our selection. Resistance to disease is indicated by these letters:

  • V – Verticillium Wilt
  • F – Fusarium Wilt ( two F’s indicate resistance to both races 1 and 2 )
  • N – Nematodes
  • ASC – Alternaria Stem Canker
  • TMV – Tobacco Mosaic Virus
  • St – Stemphylium ( gray leaf spot )
  • SWV – Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus
  • LB – Late Blight

Bush Goliath tomato was bred to be a shorter, stockier version of its parent, Goliath.
Early Girl, an indeterminate variety of tomato, will grow well over 6 feet.

Other Tomato Terms

Heirloom tomato – Any tomato that is at least fifty years old and is not a hybrid.

Hybrid tomato – A tomato bred by crossing varieties. Hybrids offer better disease resistance, higher yield, and other improved traits. Our hybrids are not genetically engineered.

Early variety – A tomato that matures in 50 to 60 days; these are prized for early harvests and late summer planting for a fall crop. Sometimes we refer to tomatoes that mature in more than 60 days as “early,” but only in comparison to their peers. For example, the earliest beefsteak type is only early compared to other beefsteaks. Beefsteaks are typically longer maturing than other tomato types because they are so big!

Beefsteak

Black

Classic

Determinate

Early Maturing

Growing Techniques

Heat Tolerant

Heirlooms

Indeterminate

Pink

Pots and Small Spaces

Resists Spotted Wilt

Small Fruited Salad

Specialty

Tomatoes

Vegetables

Yellow or Orange

Determinate or Indeterminate Tomatoes? | Piedmont Master Gardeners

  • March 20, 2021
  • /
  • Ask a Master Gardener

Question: What is the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes? Which kind should I plant? What planting guidelines should I follow?

What great questions! Many people may not understand that the determinate/indeterminate property of tomatoes affects the way plants look, behave and bear fruit.

There are literally hundreds of tomatoes varieties, which differ in color, size, disease resistance and time to maturity. Before you select specific tomatoes to grow, you will want to decide which of the two main types of tomatoes (determinate and indeterminate) to plant. You may even want to plant both types!

The distinguishing characteristic between determinate and indeterminate varieties is their growth habit.

Determinate tomato plants are also known as “bush” tomatoes because they grow in a bush-like manner. At first, the plant grows vertically, but then vertical growth stops. The remainder of the growth will be side shoots, and the maximum height is typically 4 feet or less. Most of the early-ripening tomato varieties are determinate and are generally less flavorful than indeterminate types. Crop bearing is usually over a 4- to 5-week period.

In contrast, indeterminate tomatoes are more vine-like and can reach heights of 6 feet or more. They are often more flavorful when compared to determinates and will continue to flower and produce fruit during the growing season and up to the first frost.

For a good overview of determinate versus indeterminate, read this article from the UCCE Master Gardeners of San Bernardino County.

Which should I plant?
The obvious advantage of the indeterminate plants is tomato production over a longer season. In contrast, many determinate varieties start producing earlier in the season. If you like to can, freeze, or dehydrate your produce, determinate tomatoes will yield a large quantity of fruit in a shorter time, which can be convenient.

Examples of determinate tomatoes: Rutgers, Roma, and Celebrity.

Examples of indeterminate tomatoes: Beefsteak, Goldie, most Cherry-types, and heirloom tomatoes.

Which to plant?
If you are short on space, determinate tomatoes are good for container gardening. However, if you have the room, you may want to select some of each! There are other considerations as you select specific varieties such as flavor profile, size, color, disease resistance; even whether you prefer to eat fresh tomatoes or cook with them. For an extensive database of tomato varieties including descriptions and images, visit the Rutgers University listing.

What are some of the planting guidelines?
Most of the cultural practices for planting tomatoes are the same for determinate and indeterminate varieties. Transplant after the danger of frost is past and the soil has warmed, which is approximately at the beginning of May in central Virginia. For example, the average last frost date for USDA hardiness zone 7a is April 15 to 25, but frosts can happen even later. Space plants 36 inches by 36 inches, if staked or caged.

This may sound a little strange, but when transplanting tomatoes, create a shallow trough and plant each tomato with only one or two sets of leaves above ground. This encourages strong root growth. If planted too deeply, the soil may be too cool. The average soil temperature should be 60-65 degrees F for transplanting into the garden. Tomatoes are heavy feeders, so use a starter fertilizer solution for transplants and then side-dress with fertilizer (adding fertilizer around the stem of the plant) one or two weeks after the first cluster of tomatoes begin to develop.

Determinate plants do well in tomato cages and need minimal staking. They also do not require heavy pruning or sucker removal for a good crop yield. In fact, pruning can significantly reduce the yield. In contrast, indeterminate tomatoes must either be caged or staked and do better with the removal of suckers (after two leaves on the sucker appear). For more information on pruning and staking tomatoes, read the publication Staking and Pruning Tomatoes in the Home Garden from the University of Georgia Extension.

Both types require regular watering. Water at the base of plant, rather than getting water on the leaves. If possible, use a soaker hose to water slowly, deeply and infrequently. This will encourage deep roots and lower the likelihood of disease.

Good luck, and get ready to harvest those wonderful summer tomatoes! Check back later for a future posting on dwarf tomatoes.

References

“Staking and Pruning Tomatoes in the Home Garden,” University of Georgia Extension, Circular 1150, 2019.

“Tomato Varieties,” Rutgers, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.

“Tomatoes,” Diane Relf et al., Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Publication 426-418, 2016.

“Virginia’s Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide: Recommended Planting Dates and Amounts to Plant,” Alex Hessler, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Publication 426-331.

“What’s the Difference Between Determinate and Indeterminate Tomatoes?” Shelley Stone-Schmidt, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, UCCE San Bernardino County Master Gardeners, 2015.

Epic Tomatoes: How to Select & Grow the Best Varieties of All Time, Craig LeHoullier, Storey Publishing, 2015.

The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible, Edward C. Smith, Storey Publishing, 2009.

Vegetable Gardening in the Southeast, Ira Wallace, Timber Press, 2013.

Should You Grow Determinate or Indeterminate Tomatoes?

When the warm days announce that it’s tomato growing season and you’re ready to choose which varieties to include in your garden, there are many characteristics to consider.

What will they taste like? How big will they get? What do they look like? Are they determinate or indeterminate?

If you get to that last question and your eyes glaze over, don’t worry. You’re not alone.

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I used to just ignore that particular information too – after all, the words “determinate” and “indeterminate” just don’t awaken the senses the way vivid flavor descriptions or unique color patterns do.

But I’m here to tell you why you might want to pay attention to those words from now on.

Whether your tomatoes are determinate or not can affect quite a few factors related to how you grow them – and having this knowledge can mean the difference between producing a good harvest, and a great one.

Before I get down to the details, here’s a quick overview of what I’m going to cover:

What You’ll Learn

  • Growth Habit Terms
  • Care for Determinate Types
  • Care for Indeterminate Types
  • Care for Semi-Determinate Types

Growth Habit Terms

Whether a cultivar is determinate or indeterminate refers simply to its growth habit – or in other words, how the plant behaves and develops.

And tomatoes aren’t the only ones that have these distinctions. Potatoes, cucumbers, and beans are among the edible crops that also exhibit determinate or indeterminate growth habits among different cultivars.

Here’s what these terms mean:

  • Determinate plants grow to a certain point, and then stop, with a shorter stature overall.
  • Indeterminate tomato plants keep growing and producing fruit all season.
  • Semi-determinate varieties keep growing through the season, but generally remain smaller than indeterminate plants, with a bushier habit.

Here’s a non-plant example to illustrate these terms. We human beings exhibit determinate growth in our life cycles.

We don’t just keep growing and growing – when we reach maturity, we stop growing taller.

Human hair, on the other hand, shows indeterminate growth, giving us the ability to grow super long locks – reminiscent of country music star Crystal Gayle – if we should so choose.

But what do these various growth habits mean for you and your garden? I’ll get to that shortly.

Now that you have a general idea of what these terms mean, you may be wondering how you can tell which category a particular cultivar falls into. A little bit of research is going to be key here.

Here’s how you can establish whether a variety is determinate, indeterminate, or semi-determinate:

  • If planting from seed, check your seed packets for this information.
  • If you’re browsing seeds online, the seller should supply this information in the description of the cultivar.
  • If you’re buying plants at a garden center or nursery, plant tags may be marked with this information along with the variety name.

Finally, if you’re already growing a tomato plant that has buds or flowers and you’re not sure what type of growing habit it may have, look for its highest stem or leader, which is the growing tip.

Are there leaves or flowers (or flower buds) on the growing tip?

If you see flowers or flower buds, it’s probably determinate. If there are leaves there, the plant is most likely indeterminate. I’ll go into this in a bit more detail below.

When you’re planting your tomatoes, it’s important to have a handle on their growth habit before you get them in the ground.

This will help you to provide them with the best care – and will enable you to reap the best harvests.

Whether your chosen variety is determinate, indeterminate, or semi-determinate will change the way you go about the following tomato gardening tasks:

  • Pruning
  • Removing suckers
  • Staking
  • Growing in containers
  • Harvesting
  • Canning

Or, at least it should change how you plan for and go about these things. Armed with the tips in this article, you’ll know what to do!

Ready to get down and dirty with the details of these different growth habits? Let’s start with the determinate cultivars.

Care for Determinate Types

Determinate tomato cultivars are also sometimes referred to as “bush” cultivars, because of their bushy shapes.

What causes that bushiness?

It all comes down to genetics. To put it simply, a determinate tomato plant has a self-pruning gene. The effects of this gene show up in the plant’s growing tip or shoot.

As mentioned above, indeterminate varieties have growing tips that end in leaves; determinate tomatoes have growing tips that end in flower clusters, and eventually fruit – there’s that self-pruning gene showing up.

When these flower clusters bloom, foliage growth is effectively halted, allowing the plant to instead put its energy into reproduction, or in other words, turning pollinated flowers into fruit.

Since the plant’s stems and foliage stop growing, the overall size of the plant stays smaller and more compact.

The plant is “self-pruned,” so to speak, because it can’t keep growing foliage from its flower clusters.

That means that when these plants are in your garden, they will reach a staked or caged height of four feet or less, depending on your cultivar.

These tomatoes have sturdy stems and require only minimal support, compared to indeterminate vining types. You may even be able to grow them without stakes, cages, or trellises.

Compact growth habit varieties – a subset of determinate types – may be grown without any support, and can produce just as heavy a yield as staked crops, without the grower having to invest in the equipment or the time involved in staking.

In my garden in northeast Utah, I don’t stake my determinate tomatoes.

The growth of most of my garden crops is limited by the extreme conditions here, and plants just don’t grow as vigorously – even my vining tomatoes don’t grow as tall as they would have in my home state of North Carolina.

However, most gardeners offer some support for determinate varieties, to help them bear what will be a heavy load of fruit when they reach maturity.

The Florida weave, also known as the basket weave system, is considered by many gardeners to be the best support for determinate tomatoes.

If you want to learn more about this trellis system, in which twine is attached to stakes and woven around plants to provide support as they grow, make sure you read our article on the Florida weave.

Florida weave trellis. Photo by Dwight Sipler, Wikimedia Commons, via CC BY-SA.

Determinate tomatoes aren’t going to keep growing endlessly, so they generally aren’t pruned throughout the growing season, apart from an initial pruning of the lower part of the plant to keep foliage off of the soil and to prevent the spread of disease.

Kathryn Fontenot at the Louisiana State University AgCenter Extension recommends working your way up from the soil, and removing suckers up to the first cluster of flowers.

Determinate varieties make great candidates for container gardening or growing in smaller spaces, thanks to their smaller stature.

And these cultivars have another benefit:

For short-season growers such as myself, the fruits of most (but not all) determinate cultivars tend to mature earlier than indeterminate ones – which can sometimes mean the difference between a tasty homegrown harvest, and no harvest at all.

If you are in the market for a short-season tomato, make sure to check the number of days to maturity for the variety, whether it’s determinate or not.

And if you are planning to start your plants from seed, be sure to build the additional days required into your calculations as well.

Determinate tomatoes produce most of their fruiting flowers at the same time. That means if you go look at your plants, all of the flowers should seem like they are pretty much on the same schedule.

And since the flowers bloom at the same time, the fruits will also all ripen pretty much at the same time – within a period of a few weeks.

This means the bulk of your harvest will come in over a short, concentrated period, making these varieties excellent for canning.

Determinate varieties are heavily used in commercial production of canned tomato products because of this convenient timing – and many determinate varieties are available to home gardeners, too.

One popular determinate variety that is widely available to home gardeners in both seed catalogs and nursery centers is ‘Roma.’

‘Roma’ is an open-pollinated paste variety. It’s determinate, so the fruits are ready to harvest pretty much all at once – making canning much easier to organize.

But if canning isn’t on your agenda, paste types – also known as plum or processing tomatoes – like  ‘Roma’ are also ideal for cooking, because they are meaty and less watery than the juicy slicers that you might like to serve fresh on a burger.

I have to say – paste tomatoes are my absolute favorites to cook with!

The fruits of this cultivar weigh about 6-7 ounces each.

‘Roma’

‘Roma’ matures late, and fruits will be ready to harvest about 80 days after transplanting.

Organic ‘Roma’ seeds are available for purchase in a selection of packet sizes from Eden Brothers.

You can read more about growing ‘Roma’ varieties here.

Care for Indeterminate Types

Also called vine, pole, or climbing tomatoes, indeterminate cultivars just keep growing and growing until something stops them – usually your first fall frost.

Gardeners with long growing seasons can take advantage of this trait, receiving small but frequent harvests from each plant after it reaches maturity and throughout the growing season.

Remember how our determinate varieties grow flowers on the ends of their shoots? Indeterminate types grow flower clusters along the sides of their stems instead, which allows the shoot to keep growing.

The plant’s energy keeps going into growing more foliage along with producing fruit, which results in smaller quantities of fruit over an extended period of time.

If your first fall frost tends to come early, like it does in my short-season garden, you may not have time to get much of a harvest from the later-maturing indeterminate varieties – so make sure you pick one that is appropriate for the length of your growing season.

If given the time though, indeterminate tomato plants often grow to be 10-12 feet in height or more.

Because of this extensive growth, these cultivars aren’t usually the best choice for growing in containers.

They can become too top-heavy for container gardening – and if the plant grows quite tall, its roots will grow extensively as well, requiring more water and nutrients than may be manageable in a container setup.

On the other hand, they are wonderful candidates for vertical gardening, since it’s easy to train them to climb upwards.

Whereas some determinate varieties can get by without support, these varieties need to have their rampantly growing vines managed. This is usually done with pruning and staking.

Climbing types are typically pruned to just one or two leader stems, and trained to climb a string or trellis.

Pruning and training these plants in this way also helps with airflow, an important tactic for keeping disease at bay in more humid climates.

With indeterminate varieties, pruning and removing suckers allows the plant to focus energy on fruit production for the remaining stems – putting less energy into foliage growth.

In fact, unpruned, overgrown plants may produce fruits that fail to turn red on the vine. Read our article on this topic to learn more about how to make sure this summer crop turns red in your garden.

Tomato sucker.

Speaking of red fruit – you’ll notice that indeterminate cultivars will often have flowers, immature fruit, and ripe fruit on the plant all at the same time.

Instead of producing all of their fruit more or less at once, as determinate varieties tend to do, indeterminate ones gradually produce smaller but more frequent harvests over the growing season.

These varieties are great if you want to have a steady harvest throughout your growing season – just make sure to grow several plants if you want tomatoes on your menu every single day.

That doesn’t mean you can’t also use indeterminate varieties for canning, though.

There are many delicious paste varieties that are indeterminate, such as ‘San Marzano.’

To can these cultivars, the trick is to grow several plants at once, so that you have enough fruit ripening at the same time for canning.

‘San Marzano’

Most heirloom and large-fruited tomatoes are indeterminate. But not all indeterminates are large or heirlooms! There are many small-fruited varieties that have this growth habit as well.

One of my favorite cherry tomatoes, ‘Chadwick Cherry,’  is an indeterminate cultivar. The fruits weigh about 1 ounce each, a bit larger than the average cherry tomato.

This late-maturing variety will reach a height of about five feet when staked, so it remains fairly manageable, and it’s suitable even for smaller spaces like a patio.

‘Chadwick Cherry’

It’s also disease resistant, and produces heavy yields about 85 days from transplanting.

You’ll find ‘Chadwick Cherry’ seeds for purchase in a selection of package sizes from Mountain Valley Seed Company via True Leaf Market.

Care for Semi-Determinate Types

Semi-determinate tomatoes might just be the best of both worlds – well-behaved, bushy plants that produce fruit all summer long.

These are actually a subtype of the determinate variety.

Remember that self-pruning gene? Semi-determinates have it too.

Like determinate cultivars, semi-determinate types produce flower clusters at the ends of their stems.

And yet, they continue producing fruit longer than determinate types, acting more like those with an indeterminate growth habit.

As far as support goes, they are treated largely like determinate types – both cages and the Florida weave will work well if you’re growing these.

A semi-determinate tomato crop in India.

While initial pruning of lower foliage and suckers below the first flower cluster is recommended, with semi-determinate cultivars, further pruning and removal of suckers is optional.

Since these plants are fairly compact and sturdy, they do well in containers.

Semi-determinate tomato cultivars tend to have a large amount of fruit come to maturity early in the summer, and then they continue to set fruit less abundantly throughout the growing season.

There are many semi-determinate cultivars available to the home grower, with a wide range of uses – from slicers for fresh eating to paste types for canning, to cherries for plein-air nibbling.

In my opinion, one of the tastiest semi-determinate varieties for fresh eating is ‘Cosmonaut Volkov.’

This cultivar from Ukraine is named in honor of Vladislav Volkov, a Soviet cosmonaut.

The fruits of ‘Cosmonaut Volkov’ are around 2-3 inches wide, orangish-red with green shoulders and a sweet and tangy flavor. They are one of my husband’s all-time favorites.

‘Cosmonaut Volkov’

This mid-season cultivar will be ready to harvest in 72 days after transplanting.

You’ll find ‘Cosmonaut Volkov’ for purchase in packs of 35-40 seeds from Territorial Seeds via Arbico Organics.

Oh, Behave!

Now that you know how your tomato cultivars are going to behave, you should have an easier time knowing how to give them excellent care in your garden, get bumper crop harvests, and be able to organize your canning and salsa-making projects accordingly.

Are you ready to grow some wildly vining indeterminate cultivars? Will you stick with the more well-behaved determinate types?

Or will you choose the middle path that leads to the semi-determinates? Let us know what you’re growing in the comments!

If you’re interested in expanding your knowledge of growing tomatoes, here are a few more articles that may be of interest:

  • How to Grow Cherry Tomatoes
  • Blossom End Rot: What to Do if Your Tomatoes Rot on the Bottom
  • How to Plant and Grow Tomatoes in Clay Soil
  • Top 10 Reasons to Love Your Tomato

© Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Product photos via Arbico Organics, Eden Brothers, and True Leaf Market. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock.

Determinate variety of tomatoes, what does it mean, the difference from indeterminate | NGS

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In March and April, we continue to sow tomato seedlings, and many summer residents face the problem of which variety to choose from all the variety that the market offers. The store clerk asks in a businesslike manner: “Would you like determinant or indeterminate.” We explain what these tricky words mean, how the varieties differ from each other and where and which tomatoes to plant as a result.

Determinate varieties are low-growing tomato varieties that are best suited for cultivation in Siberia. Above 50–60 centimeters, they will not stretch, while the fruits ripen very quickly, but such plants also have their drawbacks. They bear fruit once.

– These are the most favorite varieties of Siberians, because they are undersized, intended for open ground, tasty and strong. They do not even stretch during the seedling period. They are chosen most often,” said Lyudmila Shubina, agronomist, candidate of agricultural sciences. “Their fruits ripen on the vine even in harsh Siberian conditions.

Sowing dates for determinant varieties – from mid-April. The age of seedlings at the time of planting in the ground should be 45-60 days. It should be taken into account that the threat of return frosts in the Novosibirsk region remains until June 10, in other regions this figure may be shifted to an earlier date. Determinant varieties do not require pinching.

Among the varieties it is worth paying attention to “oak”, “Barnaul canning”, “fighter”, “parsley gardener”, “Siberian troika”, “Demidov”, “Siberian early”, “watercolor”, “strong”.

Indeterminate varieties are tomatoes that can reach a height of 2–2.5 meters if you do not prune them

Share 2.5 meters if you do not cut them. These are varieties with unlimited growth that bear fruit throughout the season. These are heat-loving tomatoes. The conditions of the south in Siberia are created for them in greenhouses.

– These are mainly hybrids of foreign selection. As a rule, in mid-August, their tops are already pinched so that 5–6 knotted brushes can form good fruits and ripen. During the season, they will produce a crop, – said Lyudmila Shubina. – Now until the end of March – the beginning of April, we sow these varieties.

Among the varieties you can try to grow “de barao”, “yellow icicles”, “black pear”. Seedling age – up to a maximum of 70 days, but best at 60 days.

– As a rule, those who like large-fruited varieties, not hybrids, choose “ox heart”. This is a very well-known late-ripening variety. Very tasty “de barao” – they are pink, red and even black, – the agronomist explained. – But most often they use high-yielding hybrids that are resistant to cladosporiosis. This is a fungal disease that completely burns the leaves, and our Russian varieties are not very resistant to it.

It is worth taking a closer look at such hybrids as Pink Magic, Pink Paradise, Pink Rise.

– These are all pink-fruited varieties, sweet in taste and quite productive. Leaves do not get sick. The “thick” variety, for example, is also excellent in pickling,” said Lyudmila Shubina, agronomist, candidate of agricultural sciences.

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It is necessary to remember that everything that is low goes into the open ground, and everything high goes into the greenhouse.

— If you plant a low-growing, early-maturing variety in a greenhouse, it will yield 2–3 kilograms per bush, and that’s it, it will take up space. And indeterminate varieties give up to 6 kilograms per bush, so they are planted in greenhouses. Moreover, they are more thermophilic, – said Lyudmila Shubina, agronomist, candidate of agricultural sciences. – But sometimes gardeners, in order to speed up the production of tomatoes, plant early-ripening determinant varieties in the greenhouse. But they have them closer to the door or along the edges. In our country, summer residents usually have semicircular greenhouses, and the edge spaces are not used effectively.

Therefore, it would be wise to plant 5-6 bushes of low-growing early varieties along the edges of the greenhouse, and give the rest of the space for under-growing varieties.

In spring, the main concern of a gardener is growing seedlings. The future harvest depends entirely on how strong and healthy the plants will be. That is why it is very important to do everything right now. In March, we continue to sow peppers, eggplants, we start planting tomatoes, we are engaged in flowers. We talk about the main mistakes in growing seedlings, and most importantly – how to avoid them.

By the middle of March, seedlings of many summer residents have reached such sizes that it becomes too crowded for plants in one pot. It is very important not to miss this moment and seat them in different containers. How and when to dive seedlings of peppers and eggplants, we tell together with the agronomist. Be very careful, otherwise you can ruin your work.

Any summer resident dreams of getting a rich harvest and is looking for ways to achieve his goal. How to feed seedlings? What should you pay attention to after picking? Why not chase fashion and try to make as much fertilizer as possible? We answer in this article.

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    Новости РЎРњР?2

    determinant and indeterminate – significant differences, features, advantages of your choice, varieties and hybrids of tomatoes – one of the most suitable criteria for choosing, hybrids of tomatoes What are determinate and indeterminate tomatoes?

    When you see the words “determinant” and “indeterminate” on packages of tomato seeds, in descriptions of varieties and hybrids, what does this mean? These terms describe certain properties of the growth of a plant, a tomato bush. In everyday life, gardeners who grow tomatoes call them “dety” and “indety”.

    Determinate tomatoes, properties and characteristics

    In Latin, “determinate” means limited. Tomato bushes of determinant type – have limited growth. Those. time and height of their growth are limited. Most determinant varieties and hybrids of this type have early maturation. Their main fruiting period is usually short – up to 3 weeks. They share the harvest. Their characteristic feature is that the growth of the main shoot ends with a fruit brush. Tomatoes of this type are well bushed. In everyday life they are called “bush”. It is believed that determinant tomatoes are all undersized. This is not true.

    Stem early determinate tomatoes

    There are so-called standard tomatoes – these are undersized bushes, with a thick, strong main stem, many side shoots. Their height does not exceed 40 cm – 50 cm. There are super-deterministic varieties and hybrids – “super children”, they rarely exceed 30 cm. They are suitable for growing in containers and flowerpots on windowsills, terraces, even in flower beds, they are very decorative. Pay attention to these tomatoes: Balcony F1 red and yellow. Standard tomatoes are grown in open ground with a garter to a support or in spreading fields. The varieties showed themselves perfectly: Sanka, Efemer, Roma, etc. Tomatoes of this type, until mid-August, they already fully yield, the tops are harvested, and in the vacant place it is possible to plan crops of other crops.

    Medium-sized and tall determinate tomatoes

    This type of tomato differs from standard tomatoes in higher bushes and a slightly longer fruiting period. Sometimes, they are incorrectly called “poludet”, rather referring to their height, between low standard children and tall indeterminate tomatoes. The height of the “half-children” depends on the variety, and can vary from 80 cm – 100 cm to 150 cm. Tall tomatoes are best grown on supports. Try the varieties: Honey Keg, Wild Rose, Emerald Apple, etc. When choosing seeds, pay attention to the type (determinant) and height of the bush of each of the varieties so that you can plan both the timing of fruiting and growing conditions (with or without a garter).

    Indeterminate tomatoes, properties and features

    This group of tomatoes differs from the previous one in that plants are able to grow and bear fruit under good conditions – a year or more. The height of the bushes is practically unlimited, but usually – from 200 cm (in open ground) to 300 cm (in greenhouse conditions). Under the conditions of Ukraine, indeterminate tomatoes can be planted in greenhouses in early spring, harvested all summer and autumn – as long as there is enough heat and light. In the open ground, indeterminate tomatoes also have an extended fruiting period. They are grown by removing side shoots (stepchildren). Fruit clusters are formed on the main shoot, in the gaps between the leaves, and never on the growing point. There are early varieties and hybrids that begin to yield as early as June, there are mid-early and late ones. Try the varieties: Black Prince, De Barao red, pink, orange, Moneymaker, etc. All Indians need a garter, so they are called “curly tomatoes” in everyday life.

    Differences between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes: questions and answers

    Timing of ripening of determinate and indeterminate tomatoes. Children and indetes – have different types of growth and formation of fruit clusters, but in both groups there are early and late varieties. The earliest are short children and super children.

    Fruiting period and yield – the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes. Determinate tomatoes have a rapid, but short fruiting period – a few weeks. Indeterminate – they form brushes sequentially, they ripen gradually, the fruiting period is extended for months.

    Color, size, taste of determinate and indeterminate tomatoes. Regardless of the type of growth, tomatoes can be giant beef tomatoes, and cherry tomatoes, any color, pulp density, taste characteristics.

    Differences between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes when growing seedlings. Under the same growing conditions, in seedlings of determinate tomatoes, the subcotyledon (stem from the ground to the cotyledon leaves) will be shorter than in indeterminate ones. Seedlings of determinants – looks more robust and stocky. And the seedlings of indeterminate ones are a little elongated and “fainting”. When buying seedlings from unfamiliar sellers, if you want to buy indeterminate tomatoes, be careful.

    Formation of fruit clusters, yield

    • Children form the first cluster no higher than 7 true leaves, usually after 4-5 leaves. This is also a sign by which seedlings can be distinguished. If you bought seedlings already blooming, then these are most likely determinant tomatoes. In the future, children give each next brush through 1-2 sheets (max 3). In total, a determinant tomato can produce up to 7 brushes (usually up to 5).
    • Indeterminate tomatoes form first cluster above 8-9sheet. Each next – through 3-4 sheets. Indet under good conditions can produce up to 10 or more clusters, potentially up to 50. The total yield of indeterminate tomatoes, especially in greenhouse conditions, significantly exceeds determinant varieties.

    The difference in the care of determinate and indeterminate tomatoes

    Bushes form differently. Indetes are formed into 1 or 2 trunks (main + stepson under the first brush), removing all stepchildren (side shoots in the axils of the leaves). Children, thinned out or grown without pinching. Low-growing tomatoes can be grown without a garter, hilling the bottom of the trunk so that the plants do not fall. Indetes – grow only with tying.

    Now you understand why an unknown variety with incomprehensible growth parameters will turn into a problem in your garden. Always try to be clear about the type of variety or hybrid you are growing.

    Determinate and indeterminate tomato varieties – what is it?

    Choosing the best varieties of tomatoes for your garden is no easy task. Shop windows are full of tempting pictures and almost every bag says that this variety is the most fruitful, largest and most delicious.

    And on bags of tomato seeds you can find such long and difficult words as determinant or indeterminate variety. What it is? Who cares? And most importantly, which variety is right for you? We will try to find answers to these questions.

    Indeterminate varieties of tomatoes

    So called varieties and hybrids of unlimited growth. If you are familiar with the situation when a tomato bush rests on the roof of a greenhouse, but continues to grow and tie brushes “to the last”, then you are dealing with an indeterminate (tall) variety.

    Such varieties in suitable climate can grow for more than a year, reach 2-3 meters in height and produce up to 50 bunches of tomatoes.

    Flowering of indeterminate varieties begins after 9-12 leaves, flower clusters are laid every three leaves. The recommended age of seedlings is 60-65 days, fruiting occurs in 105-130 days.

    Determinate varieties of tomatoes

    Unlike those mentioned above, these varieties and hybrids cannot grow indefinitely. They form a certain number of brushes (from 4 to 8) and stop growing.

    Determinate tomatoes, in turn, are divided into undersized (standard) and medium-sized.

    Standard tomatoes – low, with a thick stem, the earliest. The recommended seedling age for them is 40-45 days, fruiting begins in 75-90 days, but they give an average of three brushes per bush.

    Medium-sized tomatoes can reach a meter height. The recommended age of seedlings is 50-55 days, they enter the fruiting phase in 90-105 days, but give a larger yield (up to 8 brushes per bush).

    The first flower raceme in determinate tomatoes appears after 5-7 leaves, then racemes form every two leaves.

    Differences in growing indeterminate and determinate varieties of tomatoes

    The first picture shows determinate tomatoes, the second shows indeterminate tomatoes. So what are the best tomatoes? What to choose? The answers to these questions, as always, will depend on the purpose for which you grow tomatoes and how much work you are willing to invest in them.

    The main advantage of indeterminate varieties is extended fruiting. They give the harvest in parts throughout the season, and with proper care, you can get a bucket of fruit from each bush and even more. But these tomatoes require the mandatory formation of one stem, the timely removal of stepchildren and extra leaves, and a constant garter.

    Medium-sized determinant varieties begin to bear fruit earlier, yield more uniformly. It is enough to tie them up once and it is quite possible to form them into two stems (the rest of the stepchildren will again have to be removed). They are more “compact”, do not create a “jungle” in the greenhouse, and flower brushes are laid more often. Such varieties can also produce a crop up to a bucket from a bush, but only in the best scenario.

    Standard varieties and hybrids can please you with the first fruits already in June. They do not require any garters or pinching, grow well in pots – in general, require minimal labor. But there is also a minus: these tomatoes will give one small crop and stop there.

    Therefore, before buying this or that variety, think about what and how many tomatoes you need: just to treat yourself, for eating in the summer or for canning …

    or closed ground), without this in any way.

    For the northernmost regions, where it makes no sense to grow tomatoes in the open field, it is better to choose determinant varieties for greenhouses. In a short summer, they will just have time to give away their entire crop. In the middle lane, determinant varieties are recommended to be grown in open ground, and indeterminate ones – in protected ground. In the southern regions, both in greenhouses and on the street, you can safely grow indeterminate tomatoes.

    If you decide to try varieties from different “categories”, be sure to pay attention to such a thing as the recommended seedling age. In short, medium and tall varieties, it is different. This means that in order to obtain the maximum yield, it is better to plant seeds for seedlings gradually. From the estimated date of planting seedlings in a permanent place, you need to subtract the recommended age and add 5-7 days for seed germination. For example, if you usually plant tomatoes in a greenhouse in early May, then standard tomatoes should be planted for seedlings at the end of March, medium-sized ones in mid-March, and tall ones in early March. Do not forget that too early sowing seeds for seedlings deprives the plant of energy ahead of time, and too late – does not allow them to realize their full potential.

    We wish you success and great harvests!

    what kind of variety it is, the difference from the indeterminate species

    There are a large number of a wide variety of varieties of red vegetables on sale, and often in the description on the bag you can find such a thing as a determinant or indeterminate type of plant. What it is? For many novice gardeners, these terms are not entirely clear and, when choosing a new variety, they do not always take this into account.

    As a result, a planted unknown tomato can give a strong thickening or, conversely, an almost empty area. This most negatively affects the future harvest. Therefore, it is necessary to understand how the types of plants differ from each other?

    What is a determinate variety of tomato?

    Determinate means “having limited growth” and “indeterminate” means “unlimited growth”.

    What are the characteristics of tomatoes belonging to the first type? They have an ovary with fruits at the end of the shoot, which later stops its growth . The fruit continues to grow from the strongest stepchild in the lower leaf axil.

    Another type of tomato has no such restriction, their central top continues to grow without being restricted by the flower cluster.

    Distinguishing one from the other

    It is easy to distinguish these tomatoes from each other even before they have flowers and fruits. Four days after the shoots appear, the cotyledon knee begins to straighten out, and by its length it is already possible to indirectly judge which variety will grow in the future.

    For indeterminate varieties it is 3-5 cm, while for others it is 1-3 cm. However, if there is not enough light, such a seedling begins to stretch strongly and in this case it is difficult to determine what the bush will be like.

    As soon as the seedlings have the first flower cluster, it is already quite easy to identify the variety of the future bush. In indeterminate types, the first brush is formed after 8–9 true leaves and above, and in determinant types, after 6–7 leaves and below.

    If a tomato has been planted for a long time, has grown well and has several bunched bunches with fruits, it is already difficult to determine the number of leaves before the first ovary, because the seedlings often deepen and part of the stem may remain underground.

    The laying of the flower cluster in the indeterminate variety occurs after 3 leaves. Other types between racemes always have less than three true leaves. In addition, this variety always has a shoot ending in an ovary.

    Species

    This tomato variety has four varieties with their own characteristics: , but there may be gaps with three leaves. The first flower brush begins to be laid after 7-8 leaves.

  • Determinate – the formation of flower brushes in such tomatoes occurs every three leaves, but only if they have grown 5-6 pieces.
  • Superdeterminate – this species is considered early maturing, and flower clusters begin to be laid after 1-2 leaves, and as soon as 4 or 5 of them are formed, a shoot appears, limiting the growth of the tomato with a peduncle.
  • Super Super Determinant – These are mainly super early maturing and super dwarf varieties. They usually form 2-3 flower clusters in a row without any leaf gaps. Shoot growth is limited after 3-4 peduncles appear. The appearance of the first brush occurs after the fifth true leaf.

    • Advantages and disadvantages

    The positive aspects of this tomato variety include:

    • Early ripeness, because the laying of the flower cluster occurs through a smaller number of leaves than in indeterminate varieties, so the first fruit ripens quite early.
    • High early yield, since the ovaries are laid through a smaller number of leaves and there are quite a lot of them per meter of the stem, so the harvest is rich.
    • Harmonious return of the harvest, because several clusters can be tied at the same time.

    Negative points:

    • the overall yield is low, as the growth of the bush is limited by brushes, it can be completely completed, the plant stops growing in height and new ovaries stop forming;
    • due to the fact that clusters are formed quite often, quite a lot of mineral nutrition is necessary for the formation of the crop;
    • since the growth of the bush is limited by the peduncle, in order not to overload the plant with a large number of ovaries, stepsons have to be removed;
    • due to the fact that the bush is quite heavily loaded with ovaries, this reduces its resistance to various infections.

    Care

    Care requires compliance with the following requirements:

    • hilling regularity;
    • correct pinching process;
    • pinching stems to stimulate branching;
    • top dressing with various fertilizers carried out before the hilling process;
    • watering as needed;
    • management of pests and various diseases.

    Tying and pinching is carried out for all types of varieties. If you do not get rid of the stepchildren that form in the axils of tomato leaves in a timely manner, then the fruits in this case will ripen for quite a long time, and plant growth will noticeably stop.

    Stepchildren should be removed regularly so that the bush grows well. Plants need to be watered rarely, but systematically and quite plentifully . The soil should be dry before the next watering.

    Water droplets should not fall on the leaves, otherwise a fungal disease such as late blight may develop, leading to blackening of the plant and its death. Tomatoes need to be watered under the root, using a drip irrigation system.

    Protection of tomatoes from pests and diseases

    To protect the plant from diseases and fungal infections, it should be treated with special preparations, such as Tattu, Infinito, Alyette, Ridomil Gold.

    A very dangerous disease is blossom end rot, which causes blackening of the tops of the stem. In this case, shoots are sprayed with calcium nitrate during planting.

    The most dangerous pests are the Colorado potato beetle, aphids, winter cutworms, against which the following drugs are used: “ Fitoverm”, “Aktovit”, “Confidor “. You can also fight against aphids in the following way: send a strong jet of water to the place of accumulation of pests and rub the leaves with ashes.

    Best determinant varieties

    Which tomato varieties can produce a good harvest? The most popular are:

    1. Oak is a tasty and fleshy fruit with a bright red color. It ripens early and is resistant to diseases such as late blight. Its taste is pleasant and sweet.
    2. Yamal has a wonderful taste, ripens early and keeps well.
    3. “Honey cream” – the fruits of this variety are plum-shaped. In addition to their excellent taste, they are well suited for preservation, ripen early and have a long shelf life.
    4. Grotto is an ultra-early variety with a wonderful rounded taste. The fruits weigh a little – 50-80 years.

    Thus, we found out what a determinate tomato variety is and how it differs from another type. Such tomatoes have their positive and negative sides . They are grown both in greenhouses and in open ground.

    The taste of this variety is just wonderful, and the fruits are distinguished by their precocity. They are profitable to cultivate from an economic point of view, since they do not require much space and are quickly give a good harvest .