Indeterminate vs. Determinate

nniemiec · July 12, 2016

I understand a little bit about the difference b/t the 2 types of tom plants - however, i"m interested to know why people choose indeterminate vs. determinate? Do indeterminates produce more etc..?

brownrexx · July 12, 2016

Determinate plants produce a lot of ripe fruit at the same time but indeterminate just keep growing and growing and producing.....

It probably depends on the length of your growing season whether this matters or not.

I grow varieties that I like and do not care if they are determinate or indeterminate. I grow both kinds.

NarnianGarden · July 12, 2016

I like both - but for cherry varieties, I think det. ones produce more... That's how it seems to me.
All of my det cherry/small fruited varieties are loaded with fruits, as well in my mom's place - whereas indet. tomato plants have a couple of fruits here and there... Lots of foliage and a couple of fruit trusses!
of course, they're not all like that. But I think that pruning definitely decreases the crop..

joseph · July 12, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by nniemiec

I understand a little bit about the difference b/t the 2 types of tom plants - however, i"m interested to know why people choose indeterminate vs. determinate? Do indeterminates produce more etc..?

I mostly grow determinate tomatoes: Because in my short growing season, I need as much productivity as possible as quickly as possible. Determinates tend to do that for me. About the only indeterminates that I grow are cherry tomatoes.

I also like that determinates don't sprawl all over my garden.

It's really clever to me to harvest every tomato as a ripe tomato, (which I often get on determinate plants), rather than tilling under half or more of the tomatoes that a plant produces because it didn't ripen fruit soon enough.

Gardeneer · July 12, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownrexx

Determinate plants produce a lot of ripe fruit at the same time but indeterminate just keep growing and growing and producing.....

It probably depends on the length of your growing season whether this matters or not.

I grow varieties that I like and do not care if they are determinate or indeterminate. I grow both kinds.

Not true per my experience.
Determinants keep fruiting all season long.
When an older stem/branch is terminated with the final truss, younger stems/branches kick in and produce fruits. That is why you are not supposed to prune branches (laterals , suckers)

Gardeneer

travis · July 12, 2016

I prefer semi-determinate, because of the tighter flowering patterns btw internodes, and compact indeterminate types because they do not over top my 6-foot cages until well into August or the beginning of september.

Cole_Robbie · July 12, 2016

"Determinate" just means that the vines end in flower clusters and not a vining tip. Some determinates have a brief harvest window, three weeks or so, and others will continue to bloom and set fruit all season. It just depends on the variety.

In my climate, determinates produce the most food in one space, because I have enough days to pull them out and plant something else.

Kazedwards · July 13, 2016

I don't really care as long as they produce good tomatoes. I know some determinate tomatoes will produce a big crop then croak like Jagodka.

-Zach

AlittleSalt · July 13, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by travis

I prefer semi-determinate, because of the tighter flowering patterns btw internodes, and compact indeterminate types because they do not over top my 6-foot cages until well into August or the beginning of september.

I like Semi-Determinates as well. It seems you get the best of both IND and DET types without a lot of pruning.

A very good example is the pink variety "Bradley". You'll find it listed as DET, Semi-DET and even IND at different sites, but what we have observed is it is the definition of Semi-Determinate. However, it doesn't seem to have a long shelf life. It does taste very good. It is an excellent tomato to make BLTs with.

Cole_Robbie · July 13, 2016

I really loved the taste of Bradley. I think it is a good example of "old-time" flavor.

zipcode · July 13, 2016

Determinates are more efficient. So more fruit per plant size, also more early fruit. But overall indeterminates are easier to maintain, less disease and a more steady production, unlike the periodic production of the determinates. There are definitely good tasting determinates out there, but the general selection is a lot smaller.

Kazedwards · July 25, 2016

What do you think determinate or indeterminate? It should be an indeterminate but I'm not sure due to the size of the plant and the stems end with flowers.

-Zach

Gardeneer · July 26, 2016

Zack , the true definition of DET is that eventually any given branch will terminate with the final truss and growing tip will disappear.(terminated) . Some dets grow long inter nodes, appearing as indterminate; Case in point : WILLAMETTE.
I am growing it for the second year next to Siletz (also DET) but it grows like indets in height like indet almost 6ft tall. .

zipcode · July 26, 2016

That picture doesn't say much. Sure, it seems to stop, but sometimes an indet will stop for unknown reasons (rarely). Just count the number of leaves between flower clusters, since there seems to be more than one at this point. If it's less than 3, then it's clear.

nhardy · July 26, 2016

Something to be looked at are days to ripen. Your in Chicago, I'd look for varieties under 75 days. I planted in the ground indeterminates. I'm frost free by May 11 here in St. Louis. I picked my first July 9 from the in ground full size tomatoes. It was listed as 62 days, which is my second season of tomatoes. Since waiting until July feels like an eternity, I plant cherry tomatoes which ripen early. They are my first season of tomatoes. I'm leaning to planting only determinates in pots only, big or small pots.

I work harder to keep my indeterminates growing upward. Most are 6 ft. now. They are still setting fruit & going strong. I built a tomato coop that help supports them & keeps the squirrel away.

Your end of the year will come before mine. With indeterminates, I also get green tomatoes at the end of the season before the first frost. I pick & arrange them in single layer into shallow boxes to my dark basement where they ripen into December. I put the boxes on the basement floor & visit them daily to bring up ripe tomatoes. It's my third season of tomatoes.

July 12, 2016	#1
nniemiec Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: chicago Posts: 48	Indeterminate vs. Determinate I understand a little bit about the difference b/t the 2 types of tom plants - however, i"m interested to know why people choose indeterminate vs. determinate? Do indeterminates produce more etc..?

July 13, 2016	#8
Kazedwards Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 368	I don't really care as long as they produce good tomatoes. I know some determinate tomatoes will produce a big crop then croak like Jagodka. -Zach __________________ -Zach

July 25, 2016	#12
Kazedwards Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 368	What do you think determinate or indeterminate? It should be an indeterminate but I'm not sure due to the size of the plant and the stems end with flowers. -Zach __________________ -Zach

July 26, 2016	#13
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,918	Zack , the true definition of DET is that eventually any given branch will terminate with the final truss and growing tip will disappear.(terminated) . Some dets grow long inter nodes, appearing as indterminate; Case in point : WILLAMETTE. I am growing it for the second year next to Siletz (also DET) but it grows like indets in height like indet almost 6ft tall. . __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

July 12, 2016	#2
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	Determinate plants produce a lot of ripe fruit at the same time but indeterminate just keep growing and growing and producing..... It probably depends on the length of your growing season whether this matters or not. I grow varieties that I like and do not care if they are determinate or indeterminate. I grow both kinds.

July 12, 2016	#3
NarnianGarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Finland, EU Posts: 2,550	I like both - but for cherry varieties, I think det. ones produce more... That's how it seems to me. All of my det cherry/small fruited varieties are loaded with fruits, as well in my mom's place - whereas indet. tomato plants have a couple of fruits here and there... Lots of foliage and a couple of fruit trusses! of course, they're not all like that. But I think that pruning definitely decreases the crop..

July 12, 2016	#6
travis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,984	I prefer semi-determinate, because of the tighter flowering patterns btw internodes, and compact indeterminate types because they do not over top my 6-foot cages until well into August or the beginning of september.

July 12, 2016	#7
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	"Determinate" just means that the vines end in flower clusters and not a vining tip. Some determinates have a brief harvest window, three weeks or so, and others will continue to bloom and set fruit all season. It just depends on the variety. In my climate, determinates produce the most food in one space, because I have enough days to pull them out and plant something else.

July 13, 2016	#11
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	Determinates are more efficient. So more fruit per plant size, also more early fruit. But overall indeterminates are easier to maintain, less disease and a more steady production, unlike the periodic production of the determinates. There are definitely good tasting determinates out there, but the general selection is a lot smaller.

July 26, 2016	#15
nhardy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: St. Louis Posts: 82	Something to be looked at are days to ripen. Your in Chicago, I'd look for varieties under 75 days. I planted in the ground indeterminates. I'm frost free by May 11 here in St. Louis. I picked my first July 9 from the in ground full size tomatoes. It was listed as 62 days, which is my second season of tomatoes. Since waiting until July feels like an eternity, I plant cherry tomatoes which ripen early. They are my first season of tomatoes. I'm leaning to planting only determinates in pots only, big or small pots. I work harder to keep my indeterminates growing upward. Most are 6 ft. now. They are still setting fruit & going strong. I built a tomato coop that help supports them & keeps the squirrel away. Your end of the year will come before mine. With indeterminates, I also get green tomatoes at the end of the season before the first frost. I pick & arrange them in single layer into shallow boxes to my dark basement where they ripen into December. I put the boxes on the basement floor & visit them daily to bring up ripe tomatoes. It's my third season of tomatoes.