The term indeterminate and determinate refers to the growth habit of tomatoes varieties. A bush tomato is determinate, they will reach their mature height usually about 4 feet tall. They will set all their fruit at once and then stops growing. Determinate tomatoes are great to grow if you have a short growing season. You might prefer to grow determinate tomatoes if space is limited. Determinate tomatoes usually don’t need much pruning. Determinate tomatoes is a great plant to grow in container gardening and in small spaces. These types of tomatoes are best to use if making salsa’s and sauces. Indeterminate tomatoes are vining plants that continue to grow longer and give you a steady supply of tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes is an example of indeterminate tomatoes. Indeterminate tomatoes are great to grow if you have a long growing season and a lot more space in your garden. These tomatoes need a little more work, they need to be pruned and you will also have to stake or cage them. Indeterminate tomatoes will keep flowering and growing until the first frost kills the plant.
Determinate Varieties
Roma – small meaty tomatoes used for sauces, canning, and tomato paste and sun dried tomatoes.
San Marzano – these are semi-determinate and similar use as Roma tomatoes.
Bush Early Girl Hybrid – medium size, great for slicing, sauces and canning. Great for container gardening
Indeterminate Tomatoes
Beefsteak – large, thick flesh , one of home gardeners favorite tomatoes
Jet Star – low acid, crack – resistant tomato
Early Girl – medium size tomato, known for it’s quick and early harvest
Brad’s Atomic Grape – small, shaped like a plum tomato, sweet tasting
For my tomato support I use UCLEVER 6 pack plant support stake, plastic and stackable and easy to detach for storage.
