Indeterminate vs. Determinate - Page 2

kchd.. · July 26, 2016

I bought seeds for Edelrot, which is described as determinate, from a commercial vendor. The plant that I now have growing in the garden matches the description completely (early, red fruit, slightly ribbed shoulders, correct size) except this plant is growing like an indeterminate. It's huge, with vines > 6 ft long. I counted the number of leaves between trusses several weeks ago, and I remember thinking to myself... "this is an indeterminate." Not sure what to make of this, but it's a good tomato that is super productive and sets in my nasty summer heat. I plan to share seeds, but if the growth habit isn't determinate like it should be, I need to figure out what to label the seeds. I've been calling it "Edelrot, indet."

Any opinions? I'll re-count leaves btw trusses again this evening.

nniemiec · July 26, 2016

no question that being in chicago compresses the growing season for indeterminates. of all my plants, i'm still waiting for the 1st wave of ripened fruit...the weather was iffy until 3rd week in may.

nhardy · July 26, 2016

So great tasting shorter ripen varieties a must. Got space in ground & willing to manager 6ft plus, plant a lot of indeterminates. Not willing to stake 6ft plus, determinates are a great choice.

I grow my Toms from seed. I started 2 weeks earlier then I should. I had already repotted them up to harden them off late April. They stayed outside until nights that called for frost. Where I put them in the garage overnight then back outside in the morning. I got a cheap hand truck to help wheel them in & out.

xellos99 · July 26, 2016

I thought the disadvantage of determinate was they all ripen in a glut and then the plant is finished. With indeterminate they crop for many weeks or months giving a long supply of fresh toms.

Cole_Robbie · July 26, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by xellos99

I thought the disadvantage of determinate was they all ripen in a glut and then the plant is finished. With indeterminate they crop for many weeks or months giving a long supply of fresh toms.

The harvest window of determinates varies a lot by variety. Some commercially grown determinates were bred for a brief harvest window, but other determinate varieties will keep growing new flower clusters and setting fruit, at least for enough time to complete many grower's seasons.

NarnianGarden · July 26, 2016

I always wondered about the 'ripen all at once' part.. With the few determinates I have grown, they certainly did NOT give one huge crop - quite the opposite, once or two fruits a day

Not a chance to cook any sauce or fill the freezer with that method

gvillemom · July 26, 2016

I am growing both types this year because I like this mix. This is my first year growing both types of cherry tomato. I am not too impressed with the determinate cherry I got. The flavor is only ok, and the tomatoes ripen quicker on the counter than they do on the vine. Also, the indet. cherries are producing way more than the determinate. The biggest thing for me in considering which type of tomato is the space I have. I have a large raised bed garden with 3 cattle panels I use for trellising. I put my indet. on the fence panels and plant det. varieties in front of those and only stake them. It seems to work quite well for me.

July 26, 2016	#16
kchd.. Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: MS Posts: 211	I bought seeds for Edelrot, which is described as determinate, from a commercial vendor. The plant that I now have growing in the garden matches the description completely (early, red fruit, slightly ribbed shoulders, correct size) except this plant is growing like an indeterminate. It's huge, with vines > 6 ft long. I counted the number of leaves between trusses several weeks ago, and I remember thinking to myself... "this is an indeterminate." Not sure what to make of this, but it's a good tomato that is super productive and sets in my nasty summer heat. I plan to share seeds, but if the growth habit isn't determinate like it should be, I need to figure out what to label the seeds. I've been calling it "Edelrot, indet." Any opinions? I'll re-count leaves btw trusses again this evening.

July 26, 2016	#17
nniemiec Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: chicago Posts: 48	no question that being in chicago compresses the growing season for indeterminates. of all my plants, i'm still waiting for the 1st wave of ripened fruit...the weather was iffy until 3rd week in may.

July 26, 2016	#18
nhardy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: St. Louis Posts: 82	So great tasting shorter ripen varieties a must. Got space in ground & willing to manager 6ft plus, plant a lot of indeterminates. Not willing to stake 6ft plus, determinates are a great choice. I grow my Toms from seed. I started 2 weeks earlier then I should. I had already repotted them up to harden them off late April. They stayed outside until nights that called for frost. Where I put them in the garage overnight then back outside in the morning. I got a cheap hand truck to help wheel them in & out.

July 26, 2016	#19
xellos99 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: wales uk Posts: 236	I thought the disadvantage of determinate was they all ripen in a glut and then the plant is finished. With indeterminate they crop for many weeks or months giving a long supply of fresh toms.

July 26, 2016	#21
NarnianGarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Finland, EU Posts: 2,550	I always wondered about the 'ripen all at once' part.. With the few determinates I have grown, they certainly did NOT give one huge crop - quite the opposite, once or two fruits a day Not a chance to cook any sauce or fill the freezer with that method

July 26, 2016	#22
gvillemom Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Gordonsville, VA Posts: 29	I am growing both types this year because I like this mix. This is my first year growing both types of cherry tomato. I am not too impressed with the determinate cherry I got. The flavor is only ok, and the tomatoes ripen quicker on the counter than they do on the vine. Also, the indet. cherries are producing way more than the determinate. The biggest thing for me in considering which type of tomato is the space I have. I have a large raised bed garden with 3 cattle panels I use for trellising. I put my indet. on the fence panels and plant det. varieties in front of those and only stake them. It seems to work quite well for me.