Determinate vs Indeterminate Tomatoes

If you’re new to growing tomatoes, understanding the differences between determinate vs. indeterminate tomatoes is paramount to your success.

Both have unique growth patterns and will be most productive when their precise needs are met. Join us for our top tips to help your tomato plants thrive — no matter which type you choose!

What are determinate tomatoes?

Determinate tomatoes, which include bush varieties, mature quickly and remain relatively compact. Here’s a closer look at these popular plants:

How to grow determinate tomatoes

Many determinate tomatoes grow well in pots, making them ideal for container gardening. Since they stay smaller than indeterminate types, most of these plants can survive with the help of a standard tomato cage. However, they may need additional support once they fruit, as their main stems can fail under substantial weight.

If you plant your determinate varieties in the ground, be sure you're spacing out your tomato plants appropriately.

How to prune determinate tomatoes

Determinate tomatoes require very little pruning. In fact, you won’t even need to remove those pesky suckers between stems. This is because these varieties stop growing after they’ve produced fruit. 

Harvesting determinate tomatoes

When you grow these tomatoes, you can expect a bountiful harvest within a short period of time. The succulent fruits tend to ripen within a span of two to three weeks, after which the plant will begin to die. You might choose determinate tomatoes if you plan to can or preserve a big batch at once. 

What are indeterminate tomatoes?

Unlike determinate tomatoes, indeterminate varieties continue vining, flowering, and producing fruit until weather or frosts kill them. These varieties can grow large, up to 10 to 15 feet, if left to their own devices. Let’s dig a little deeper into these tomato types:

How to grow indeterminate tomatoes

Indeterminate tomatoes love the heat and require full sun, and you can grow these varieties from seed or from starter plants. For seedlings, place the plants on their sides or at a 45-degree angle in a bright, sunny spot. This will encourage the plants to bend and reach up to the sun.

You may also start indeterminate varieties from seed, outdoors or in. Ensure you’re past the last frost of the season if planting outside. You may also use a seed starter tray and transplant the seedlings once they’ve grown to an appropriate size. Because they can grow extremely tall, indeterminates will need robust trellises or wooden stakes for support. 

How to prune indeterminate tomatoes

Vining tomatoes also require regular pruning. In addition to pinching back those pesky suckers, you may need to trim excessive stems and leaves to ensure the fruits receive enough sunlight and airflow to ripen fully. 

Harvesting indeterminate tomatoes

Indeterminate tomato plants reward growers with a steady supply of fruits all season long. However, these varieties often ripen a bit later in the season because of the way they grow. So, your plants may keep giving you fruit well into late summer or early autumn, so it’s important to be mindful of the nightly temperatures.

Pick the fruits when they’re fully ripe, and if there’s any danger of frost, harvest the fruits even if they’re green. You can always leave any green tomatoes you harvest on the windowsill or in a brown paper bag to continue ripening off the vine.

Selecting determinate tomatoes for your garden

As you plan out your ideal garden, here are a few fantastic determinate tomato varieties to consider:

San Marzano

San Marzano tomatoes are world-renowned for the robust flavor they lend to many traditional Italian dishes. Plum-shaped and measuring about 4 inches long, these fruits are an excellent choice if you love a hearty tomato sauce. There are many sub-varieties, so check out your options to find the right one.

Celebrity

Celebrity tomatoes are known for their great taste and disease resistance. Common problems, like tobacco mosaic virus, fusarium wilt, and nematodes, are less likely to destroy your crop with this variety. 

Floridade

Floridade is an excellent choice for a determinate tomato that flourishes in hot, humid climates. This heirloom tomato is firm and flavorful, allowing it to succeed as both a backyard variety and a farmer’s market favorite. 

Homestead

Homestead tomatoes are another optimal choice for gardeners in the Deep South. These plants thrive in the summer heat and mature in about 80 days. Best of all, they resist wilt and cracking as they mature. You can enjoy the meaty fruits fresh or cooked. 

Selecting indeterminate tomato varieties

Gardeners hoping to reap the rewards of their labor all summer long might enjoy these indeterminate tomato varieties:

Beefsteak

Heirloom beefsteak tomatoes are popular for their large size, often weighing up to a pound. They have hearty fruits with only small seed pockets, so you get plenty of flesh in each bite. Be sure to provide substantial stakes to keep them happy. 

Cherokee Purple

Cherokee Purple heirloom tomatoes have long been revered for their bright, balanced flavor and deep color. The fruits can weigh up to a pound, so thorough support is necessary. 

Brandywine

Once thought to be extinct, Brandywine tomatoes are a juicy, flavorful, heirloom that thrives in spring and fall, at least in Florida. As open-pollinated plants, they depend on a healthy population of pollinators in order to fruit. 

Cherry tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes are typically indeterminate. However, that’s the only thing many of these varieties have in common. Sweet, savory, tart, and nearly every color imaginable, cherry tomatoes are a great option for folks with limited space but a desire for lots of fruits. We suggest trying Sun Gold, Sweetie, and Yellow Pear varieties to taste the rainbow. 

Visit Whitwam Organics for everything your tomato plants need

Whether you’re weighing your options between determinate vs indeterminate tomatoes, searching for the perfect compost, or interested in maximizing your landscape, Whitwam Organics is here to help!

We’re committed to helping Florida gardeners find the right plants and learn how to let them flourish. Contact us today to learn more.