Determinate Tomatoes grow to their full height (3-4 feet) and set their fruit in 4-6 weeks. After that short growing season, they stop producing fruit and slowly begin to weaken, making them more susceptible to disease. Bush tomatoes are typically determinate, making them great for porches and patios as they don’t get as big as indeterminate tomatoes.
Determinates usually produce fruit earlier. Be mindful when planting your determinates that you won’t be on vacation or otherwise unavailable when they are supposed to mature.
Indeterminate Tomatoes on the other hand grow all season long and are often labeled vining tomatoes. As vining tomatoes, they will most likely need to be staked and pruned throughout their growing season. Unlike determinates which produce quickly and all at once, indeterminates will continue to produce fruit slowly and steadily until frost, so they need regular fertilizing to help them grow.
Indeterminate varieties have leaves that are spaced out more and look more like vines (with long, pliable branches). Check the flowers and fruit production. If the tomato plant is flowering all at once and producing all of its tomatoes at the same time, then it is a determinate tomato.
Determinates usually produce fruit earlier. Be mindful when planting your determinates that you won’t be on vacation or otherwise unavailable when they are supposed to mature.
Indeterminate Tomatoes on the other hand grow all season long and are often labeled vining tomatoes. As vining tomatoes, they will most likely need to be staked and pruned throughout their growing season. Unlike determinates which produce quickly and all at once, indeterminates will continue to produce fruit slowly and steadily until frost, so they need regular fertilizing to help them grow.
Indeterminate varieties have leaves that are spaced out more and look more like vines (with long, pliable branches). Check the flowers and fruit production. If the tomato plant is flowering all at once and producing all of its tomatoes at the same time, then it is a determinate tomato.