I often get asked what the difference is between determinate vs. indeterminate tomatoes and which is better or easier to grow.
Can they be grown together? Also, which is better when you want to eat them fresh or can them?
Firstly I want to assure you that both kinds are lovely to have in your garden and both have a purpose and place in the garden.
Secondly, both determinate and indeterminate tomatoes have amazing flavors and can be enjoyed fresh, canned, preserved, and dried.
What does matter is WHERE you want to grow them and WHEN you want to enjoy the harvest.
Continue reading to discover the differences between determinate vs. indeterminate tomatoes, how to choose which is best for your garden, and a list of indeterminate and determinate tomatoes.
Hey there, fellow tomato enthusiasts! I’m super excited to share everything I know about determinate tomato varieties. As someone who’s been growing these beauties for years, I’ve learned a thing or two about picking the right type for your garden. Let’s dive into the wonderful world of determinate tomatoes!
What Makes Determinate Tomatoes Special?
Before we jump into the varieties, let’s get something straight – determinate tomatoes are like the compact cars of the tomato world. They grow to a certain size, set their fruit all at once, and are perfect for gardeners who want a big harvest at once. Here’s why we love them:
- They’re naturally bushy and compact
- Perfect for container gardening
- Great for small spaces and patios
- Ideal for canning and preserving
- Usually don’t need much staking
Popular Determinate Tomato Varieties for 2025
1. Roma Tomatoes – The Classic Choice
Roma tomatoes are like the Swiss Army knife of determinate varieties Here’s what makes them awesome
- Height: 2-4 feet
- Fruit size: 2-3 ounces
- Days to harvest: 75 days
- Best uses: Sauces, pastes, ketchup
- Flavor profile: Mild, balanced
2. Bush Early Girl Hybrid – The Speed Champion
If you’re impatient like me this one’s for you
- Height: 18 inches
- Fruit size: 6-7 ounces
- Days to harvest: Just 54 days!
- Perfect for: Container gardens
- Flavor: Slightly acidic
3. Carolina Gold Hybrid – The Golden Wonder
Want something different? Try this yellow beauty
- Height: 4 feet
- Fruit size: 10 ounces
- Days to harvest: 70 days
- Special feature: Crack-resistant
- Taste: Mild, sweet, low acid
Unique Varieties You Might Not Know About
1. Tasmanian Chocolate
This one’s a real conversation starter:
- Height: 2-3 feet
- Color: Mahogany red
- Fruit size: 8-12 ounces
- Perfect for: Edible patio gardens
- Flavor: Robust, balanced
2. Micro-Tom – The Tiny Wonder
Y’all won’t believe how small these are:
- Height: Just 6-8 inches!
- Fruit size: 1 ounce
- Days to harvest: 50-60 days
- Perfect for: Windowsills
- Taste: Sharp, bold, fruity
Best Varieties for Specific Conditions
For Hot Climates
-
Homestead
- Heat-tolerant champion
- 8-ounce fruits
- 80 days to harvest
- Robust flavor
-
Dixie Red Hybrid
- Southern garden favorite
- 10-12 ounce fruits
- Disease-resistant
- Sweet, juicy taste
For Cool Climates
- Subarctic Plenty
- Perfect for short seasons
- 2-2.5 ounce fruits
- Quick 45-50 day harvest
- Tart flavor
Container Gardening Champions
If you’re growing in containers, these varieties are your best friends:
-
Patio Plum
- 18-24 inches tall
- Perfect for pots
- Can be moved indoors
- Clusters of 3-5 tomatoes
-
Tumbler Hybrid
- Made for hanging baskets
- Up to 6 pounds of fruit
- 45-day harvest
- Sweet flavor
Tips for Growing Success
Here’s what I’ve learned about growing determinate tomatoes:
-
Spacing
- Give ’em 2-3 feet between plants
- Container plants need at least 5-gallon pots
-
Support
- Most need minimal staking
- Cage height: 3-4 feet usually enough
-
Pruning
- Remove suckers below lowest flower cluster
- Don’t over-prune – they need their leaves!
Common Problems and Solutions
Even the best gardeners run into issues. Here’s how to handle them:
Problem 1: Yellow Leaves
- Usually means nitrogen deficiency
- Add balanced fertilizer
- Check watering schedule
Problem 2: Blossom Drop
- Often caused by temperature stress
- Provide shade during peak heat
- Maintain consistent watering
Planning Your Garden
Here’s a handy table for planning your determinate tomato garden:
| Variety Type | Space Needed | Container Size | Days to Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dwarf | 2 feet | 5 gallon | 50-60 days |
| Standard | 3 feet | 7-10 gallon | 65-75 days |
| Large | 4 feet | 15+ gallon | 70-80 days |
My Personal Recommendations
After years of growing, here are my top picks:
-
For Beginners:
- Bush Early Girl
- Roma
- Patio Plum
-
For Experienced Gardeners:
- Tasmanian Chocolate
- Carolina Gold
- Black Sea Man
Whew! That’s a lot of info about determinate tomatoes! Remember, the perfect variety depends on your specific needs and growing conditions. Don’t be afraid to experiment – that’s half the fun of gardening!
Got questions about growing determinate tomatoes? Drop ’em in the comments below! I’d love to hear about your experiences and help you pick the perfect variety for your garden.
Happy growing, y’all!
Would you like me to explain or break down any part of this article further?
Differences in Trellis support and pruning
Determinate tomatoes are more manageable and require less maintenance -This may also be a deciding factor when choosing between the two varieties!
Due to their smaller size and short growing period, pruning sucker shoots is not recommended for determinate tomatoes. These will actually help increase yields, and you dont want to reduce the amount of potential healthy tomatoes.
Instead, you only want to prune some of the leafy stems at the bottom that can inhibit airflow and cause a humid environment that can cause diseases. If your plant becomes overcrowded during the season, you can remove some of the leafy shoots from the middle of the plant.
Determinate tomatoes have sturdy stems and dont usually require stakes to support them. However, some gardeners offer support like cages to support their heavy fruit load.
Indeterminate tomatoes need pruning to make more fruit and stay productive all season. They can also quickly sprawl all over your garden beds, making them more labor-intensive. Pruning is also good for airflow and preventing pests and diseases.
If you leave them unpruned, you can expect less fruit, and the tomatoes will be smaller in size. This is because the plant continuously grows new vines, so less energy is used to grow actual tomatoes.
Pruning and tying up indeterminate tomato plants will be a continuous task throughout the season. Still, the reward is more tomatoes throughout summer, and they are usually more flavorful.
Intermediate tomatoes need tall, strong structures or trellises of at least 5 feet since they can throw out many shoots and become quite a big plant!
They are typically pruned to just one or two leader stems and trained to climb a trellis.
Differences in when they set fruit
Determinate tomatoes will produce a large crop for a month or two, and then their productivity slows way down. So you will have a harvest only for a short time. The fruits form on the end of the branches and are usually denser than indeterminate plants.
But just because determinate tomatoes have a short fruit-bearing period doesnt mean your harvest has to end. You can plant a selection of early, mid-season, and late-season tomato varieties for a continual harvest throughout summer.
Indeterminate tomatoes do not have a limited period. They will produce tomatoes throughout summer until the first fall frost if they stay healthy. Growth will be stopped by cold weather or diseases. The fruits on indeterminate plants are spaced farther apart than on determinate plants.
Semi-determinate tomato plants are a third type that you may encounter. The characteristics of a semi-determinate plant are a mix of determinate and indeterminate.
This type of tomato plant is less tall than indeterminate type tomatoes but not as compact as determinate types. It can also produce fruit throughout the whole season but will be less productive than an indeterminate type towards fall. This type can work well in a small garden.
Determinate vs Indeterminate Tomatoes – Garden Quickie Episode 156
FAQ
What variety of tomatoes are determinate?
Determinate tomato varieties include Roma, Celebrity, Rutgers, San Marzano, and Amelia.
How can I tell if my tomato is determinate or indeterminate?
Determinate tomatoes are more compact, stocky, upright and have more densely-packed leaves. The older plants don’t sprawl and thus don’t need quite as much staking to keep them upright. Most tomato varieties are indeterminate – that’s the default – plants are taller, leggier and the foliage is more sparse.
Is a better boy a determinate tomato?
Better boy is indeterminate (vine) so a cage won’t really do much of anything for it. It needs to be staked. Cages are helpful for determinate (bush) tomato plants.
Are cherry 100 tomatoes determinate or indeterminate?
Supersweet 100 Cherry Tomato is an indeterminate cherry variety.