Tomatoes are one of the most popular plants to grow in your garden. While they are considered tropical fruits, they are fairly easy to take care of, can produce a high yield, and are used in tons of different recipes.
Tomatoes, however, typically come in two varieties.
Both have similarities. When caring for the different variations, growth patterns must be considered as each variety has individual needs that do not coincide. What works for a determinate tomato could be detrimental to an indeterminate. Additionally, when using garden methodologies such as square foot gardening, you will need to consider which type will fit best in your available space.
Types of Tomatoes
Most tomatoes are either determinate or indeterminate. Determinate/indeterminate are both varieties of tomatoes but are used to describe if the plant is bush or vining. Based on the variety, you will have to adjust your care to the specific growing pattern of the plant.
What is a Determinate?
A determinate tomato only grows to be a fixed size. This just means that once it grows to its mature height, it stops growing. Its fruit will also ripen around the same time, typically in a two-week to three-week period. Once that fruit has ripened, the plant is unable to produce more flowers. You will get a one-and-done harvest as the plant usually becomes stagnant after harvest.
Determinate tomatoes are considered “bush” tomatoes. They are smaller in size than indeterminate and generally work better in tight spaces or in containers. Their size ranges from anywhere to 4 to 5 feet tall.
Determinate varieties:
- Ace 55
- Bush Early Girl
- Bush Beefsteak
- Early Wonder
- Golden Girl
- Heinz
- Lunch Box
- Northern Delight
- Roma
- Rutgers
- San Marzano
- Tiny Tim
- Zebra Cherry
How do I take care of a Determinate?
A lot of people believe that, in order to avoid sickness and increase air flow, you have to prune tomato plants. While this may be true for indeterminate varieties, determinate tomatoes have a gene that allow it to self-prune.
Simply said, if you prune the suckers off of a determinate tomato plant, you are actually decreasing your future harvest as that branch will no longer be able to produce fruit.
You do, however, need to prune any stems that are located by the soil. This prevents the spread of disease caused by moisture.
Determinate varieties also have tips that end in flower clusters as opposed to indeterminate that end in leaves. Once these flowers bloom, the foliage growth stops, putting its remaining energy into producing fruit. These flower clusters, when pollinated, become tomatoes.
All tomatoes need staked or caged in order to prevent the plant from falling over under the weight of its harvest. Tomatoes, left untended, will lean over and root where they grow along the ground. Although this is not necessarily bad for the tomato, it does prevent air circulation and any dampness may cause fungal issues.
What is an Indeterminate?
An indeterminate tomato is a vining cultivar. Also called pole or climbing tomatoes, these varieties do not stop growing at a fixed size but instead will continue to develop until the weather gets too cold for it to be productive.
Indeterminate tomatoes will produce fruit throughout your growing season, typically every two to three weeks with sufficient pollination. You receive smaller qualities at any given time, but the plant will continue to produce until the first frost. These plants often reach the size of eight to twelve feet tall and are best grown in raised beds or in the ground where they can have more space to reach their full potential.
Varieties:
- Amish Paste
- Arkansas Traveler
- Black Krim
- Beefsteak
- Bonny Best
- Brandywine
- Cherokee Purple
- Dr. Wyche
- Garden’s Delight
- Harlequin
- Jersey Boy
- Jubilee
- Kellog’s Breakfast
- Paul Robeson
- Pink Oxheart
How do I take care of an Indeterminate?
Tomatoes that are indeterminate benefit from frequent and careful pruning. Because these plants will continue to grow and do not have a fixed height, suckers need to be removed to prevent disease. Normally, indeterminate tomatos will be staked and trained to climb upwards with a string or trellising system. They need to be pruned to one or two leader stems which will allow better air flow around the plant.
Unlike determinate tomatoes, stems of indeterminates end in leaves. Flowers clusters can be crowded in unchecked growth making pruning necessary if you are going for an optimal harvest. Pruning will also allow the plant to put more of its energy into producing flowers for fruit instead of foliage growth.
Interesting enough, neglecting to prune your indeterminate tomatoes can actually prevent your tomatoes from turning red. When a plant is putting its energy into growing, it is unable to ripen fruit left on the vine and those will remain green.
Since your harvest will happen sporadically, you can stagger planting or grow multiples of the same variation to ensure a consistent harvest.
What is a semi-determinate?
There is also a variety called a semi-determinate. These are actually a sub-classification of determinate tomatoes. They continue to grow throughout the season but are considered a bush variety. They produce fruit sporadically with more fruit available at the beginning of the season then the end. Much like determinate tomatoes, they require pruning only at ground level.
Varieties:
- San Marzano
- Celebrity
- Glacier
- Homestead
- Indigo Rose
- Super Sioux
Which is easier to grow?
Both varieties have their benefits and drawbacks. When looking at which type you should to plant, you need to consider is how much time you have available as well as how much space.
Determinates are less time intensive over the season as they need minimal pruning and do better if you have limited space. They can be used in container gardens or smaller gardens where space is a commodity. They will require more of your time at harvest if you plan on freezing, dehydrating or canning; since your entire crop comes in at once you are looking at processing everything at the same time.
Indeterminates require more of your time as you are looking at pruning suckers throughout the season. They do best when given more space and may be suitable for both in-ground beds and raised beds. Much like their foliage, their roots need space to grow so they are not suitable for container gardening. Since their harvest comes in irregularly, they do not require an extensive amount of time to harvest all at once.
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