Determinate Tomatoes

Tomatoes are categorized into three main groups: determinate, indeterminate, or semi-determinate. This classification helps gardeners know how the plant will grow, how to trellis or stake the plant, and what kind of production of tomatoes there will be. Determinate tomatoes are very "determined" to produce one large crop of tomatoes all at once. This is very typical of tomatoes grown for making sauce. Because you get all your tomatoes at once, you will likely make sauces, salsas, or other culinary applications with your bumper crop of tomatoes. Determinate tomatoes also have a very specific growing structure. They tend to be more compact than indeterminate tomatoes and easier to trellis or stake. Of course, in the plant kingdom, there is always an exception to the rule. But generally speaking, these plants are bushier than their indeterminate counterparts. Because determinate tomato plants tend to give you all their tomatoes at once, they do not require as much pruning to keep them under control. Instead, you can lightly prune them for shape, airflow, and size. Commercial growers prefer these tomatoes as they are easier for streamlined harvest. There is a misconception that these tomatoes are not as flavorful as their indeterminate counterparts. On the contrary, you’ll find many, like our dwarf tomato varieties, produce delicious slicing tomatoes! When choosing tomatoes for your garden, consider whether you have the room, material, or time to trellis up a large vining plant like an indeterminate tomato. If not, choose a determinate tomato for your container, patio, or small space garden.