Imagine a tomato plant that can grow in cool places, forms a small bush that doesn’t need to be pruned, and can be held up with simple stakes. The strong plant explodes with flowers 45 days after planting. Three weeks later, the huge trusses of tomatoes are ripe and ready to eat.
I have just described a determinate tomato, a type that deserves wider use in vegetable gardens. Not only are determinate tomatoes better in places where summers are short and cool, but they also do well in places where it gets too hot to grow tomatoes in the spring. Also, they come in handy in humid places like mine, where tomato diseases can kill full-season tomatoes just as they’re getting ready to ripen in late summer. Determinate tomatoes are great for preserving because they ripen all at once, usually within three weeks, no matter what the weather is like. The plants can then be pulled and composted, making room for an autumn crop of leafy greens.
The vast majority of garden tomatoes are either long-vined indeterminate (cordon) types or “vigorous determinates” (Roma and Celebrity are good examples of this group). These and other strong determinate types produce a big crop at first, but if you take good care of them, they will keep going. True determinates will not do this, because each stem tip ends in a fruiting cluster.
It is important not to pinch out the stems of a strongly determinate tomato because every one of them will bear fruit. Instead, help the plants grow into strong bushes; they can do this on their own with little help. It’s easy to grow many smaller determinate tomatoes in pots, and bigger varieties do well in ring-style tomato cages. This cannot be said of sprawling indeterminate varieties.
Determinate tomato plants, also known as bush tomatoes, are a compact type of tomato that grow to a predetermined height and set all their fruit at once, making them ideal for container gardening or small spaces. Determinate tomatoes are bred to grow no taller than 3-4 feet tall before setting fruit, allowing them to support themselves without staking. The main advantage of determinate tomatoes is that they ripen all at once, producing a large harvest within a short 2-4 week period. After the initial flush of fruit, some determinate tomatoes may produce a smaller second harvest before the first frost.
Key Characteristics of Determinate Tomatoes
- Compact plants reaching 2-4 feet tall
- Grow to a predetermined height before setting fruit
- Do not require staking or pruning
- Produce fruit within 2-4 weeks
- Yield one large harvest followed by smaller flushes
- Suited to containers and small gardens
- Earlier harvest than indeterminate types
Some of the most popular varieties of determinate tomatoes include:
Roma
The classic Italian plum tomato, Roma produces heavy yields of medium-sized, meaty red fruits ideal for sauces and canning Plants reach 2-4 feet tall
Celebrity
One of the most disease-resistant varieties, Celebrity bears clusters of 8-10 ounce glossy red tomatoes on compact 30 inch vines. An excellent slicer with great flavor.
Rutgers
A beloved heirloom since 1934, Rutgers produces good yields of 7 ounce uniform red globes with excellent flavor fresh, canned, or cooked Needs minimal staking.
Bush Early Girl
A determinate version of Early Girl, Bush Early Girl is a compact bush perfect for containers and small spaces. Prolific crops of 4-6 ounce tomatoes.
Park’s Whopper
The ideal patio tomato, Whopper yields extra-large 1 pound tomatoes on stocky 30 inch plants. A great choice for small space gardening.
Roma VF
An improved disease-resistant Roma type, Roma VF bears prolific yields of meaty 4 ounce red paste tomatoes perfect for cooking, canning, and sauces. Short vines to 3 feet.
Bush Beefsteak
For a patio-sized beefsteak, Bush Beefsteak produces harvests of 1/2 pound or larger tomatoes on dwarf 30 inch plants. Rich tomatoey flavor.
Mountain Spring
Extra-early maturity and compact habit make Mountain Spring a great short season choice. Prolific clusters of 6-8 ounce red fruits.
Bush Goliath
A dwarf tomato with huge harvests, Bush Goliath bears crops of 1 pound or larger red beefsteak fruits on 3 foot vines. A space saver.
Red Defender
Bred for disease resistance, Red Defender is a robust tomato that pumps out high yields of 8-10 ounce red globes even in hot humid climates. Great taste.
When to Choose Determinate Tomatoes
Determinate tomatoes are preferred by home gardeners who:
- Have limited space for a vegetable garden
- Want to grow tomatoes on a patio, balcony, or in containers
- Prefer getting a large harvest all at once for canning or freezing
- Live in an area with a short growing season
- Don’t want to stake or prune tomato plants
The compact habit of determinate tomatoes makes them a smart choice if your garden space is very limited. Growing determinate varieties in patio pots or containers allows tomato lovers with only a balcony or patio to grow tomatoes.
Container growing restricts root space, so determinate types are better suited than sprawling indeterminate vines. Use at least a 15 gallon container and pick a dwarf variety under 3 feet tall. Provide support with a tomato cage if needed.
The synchronous harvest of determinate tomatoes is perfect if you want to can or freeze a large batch of tomatoes all at once. Within just 2-4 weeks, determinate varieties will produce most of their crop for the whole season, allowing you to do some big batch preserving.
In short season northern climates, determinate tomatoes will ripen faster and more reliably than late-fruiting indeterminate types that may never fully ripen before frost. Look for extra-early determinate varieties that produce fruit within 60 days.
If you don’t want the chore of staking and pruning, determinate tomatoes are the easy choice. Their short bushy habit allows them to support themselves without trellising or pruning. Caging may be needed for the largest fruited varieties to prevent sprawling.
Disadvantages of Determinate Tomatoes
While determinate tomatoes have their advantages, there’s also some drawbacks to consider:
- Short harvest period
- Lower yields in long seasons
- Less disease resistance
- Fewer heirloom/specialty options
- Smaller fruit size
The main issue with determinate tomatoes is the short harvest window. While you get an abundance of tomatoes at once, the total yield over a whole season is lower than an indeterminate tomato. This can be frustrating if you want a steady summer long supply for salads or sandwiches.
In long warm season climates, determinate tomatoes often produce lower total yields than indeterminate varieties. The compact bushes only grow so big and don’t take advantage of a long season to keep flowering and fruiting.
Most determinate tomatoes lack the genetic disease resistance that breeders have introduced into many modern indeterminate hybrids. As a result, determinate heirlooms and open-pollinated varieties are more prone to disease pressure.
There are far fewer varieties of determinate tomatoes, so choices are more limited, especially for heirlooms, specialty types, and colors other than red. Most purple, black, striped, and cherry tomatoes are indeterminate.
Finally, determinate tomatoes tend to produce smaller fruits than beefsteak-type indeterminate tomatoes. However, with improved breeding, determinate tomatoes are now available with fruits up to 1 pound or larger.
Tips for Growing Determinate Tomatoes
- Choose compact varieties under 3 feet tall for containers
- Use cages or short stakes to support large fruited varieties
- Pick a sunny, sheltered spot protected from wind
- Amend soil with compost to improve drainage and fertility
- Water regularly to keep soil evenly moist, not soggy wet
- Use mulch to conserve moisture and reduce weeds
- Prune lower leaves to improve air circulation
- Fertilize weekly with a balanced tomato fertilizer
- Harvest promptly when fruits are fully colored but firm
With good growing conditions and proper care, determinate tomatoes will reward you with an abundant early harvest of juicy ripe tomatoes to enjoy fresh or preserved. Choosing the right determinate variety for your climate and space constraints can help ensure a successful tomato crop.
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More Delicious Determinate Tomato Varieties
Not all determinate tomatoes are extra earlies, and full-season varieties rated at 75 to 80 days to maturity offer easy-to-manage harvests from big, robust bushes. Purple-blushed ‘Black Sea Man’ is a delicious Russian heirloom with potato-leaf foliage that grows to 4 feet (1.2 m) or more. Another contender is Oregon-bred ‘Santiam’, which will set nearly seedless fruits even under stressful conditions. In hot summer areas where disease pressure is relentless, determinate ‘Amelia’ provides rare resistance to Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus, and its red fruits ripen ahead of summer’s worst insects.
This doesn’t mean that all of your tomato choices should be determinate varieties. What I mean is that you should use them more often when you want to grow a uniform crop of tomatoes in low-stress conditions. Space-saving and dependable, determinate tomatoes can be an essential component in a well-balanced tomato planting plan.
Best Tasting Early Determinate Tomatoes
People often say that determinate tomatoes don’t taste good, which isn’t fair because it doesn’t take into account the difference between determinates that mature quickly and produce a reliable crop and those that grow more slowly and fail because of weather, pests, or diseases. Indeterminate varieties don’t set big fruits either, and tomatoes are better at giving resources to small fruits than to big ones. Here are some determinate tomato varieties that will always taste great as long as it is sunny while the fruits are ripening.
Among fast-maturing varieties that start ripening about 60 days after transplanting, egg-shaped ‘Siberian’ sets a high standard for flavour, which is similar in many respects to Canadian-bred ‘ Beaverlodge’. Both are knee-high salad tomatoes, while the fruits of round ‘Glacier’ and ‘Sophies Choice’ are large enough to slice and dry, or to preserve as tangy tomato sauce. Bred to bear in Idaho’s short summers, beautiful orange ‘Ida Gold’, shown loaded with green fruits in the photo above delivers on all of a determinate tomato’s promises – early, easy, productive and tastes great.
Cherry tomatoes are well-represented among early determinate tomatoes, and a novel new yellow-gold bush cherry, ‘Patio Choice Yellow’, has been named as a 2017 All America Selections winner. Similar to the popular ‘Tumbling Tom Yellow’, ‘Patio Choice Yellow’ matures into a 2-foot mound of sweet golden cherry tomatoes when staked, or it can be grown in a hanging basket.
30 Incredible Tomato Varieties You Have to See to Believe!
FAQ
How do I know if my tomatoes are determinate or indeterminate?
What are some examples of determinate plants?
Are cherry tomatoes determinate?
Are determinate Tomatoes a good choice?
Determinate varieties of tomatoes are an excellent choice for gardeners who want a compact and manageable tomato plant that produces fruit over a short period of time. By understanding the characteristics of determinate tomatoes and following the proper care and maintenance guidelines, you can grow delicious tomatoes in your garden or containers.
Are determinate tomatoes red slicing?
The vast majority of determinate tomatoes are red slicing varieties rather than colorful heirlooms or cherries. However, you can find determinate tomatoes of various colors and shapes if you know where to look. It’s also important to remember that just because two tomato varieties look similar, they can be quite different!
What are the different types of determinate Tomatoes?
Plum Crimson The dark red determinate tomatoes grow fruits of up to 4oz. They are suitable fresh or added to pasta. Prescott These determinate heirloom tomatoes are suitable for higher altitudes and colder climates. They are used for canning and salads. Pride of Flanders These black determinate tomatoes were developed by Tom Wagner.
Are bush tomatoes a determinate plant?
Determinate tomatoes are often called “bush” tomatoes as they tend to stay smaller and more compact instead of growing very tall as indeterminate plants do. These plants need not be pruned for maximum yield like the indeterminate plants. What is an Indeterminate Tomato Plant?
Are Rutgers tomatoes determinate or indeterminate?
Rutgers: Though this is a determinate tomato, the plant produces a large early crop of flavorful, disease-resistant fruit, followed by several more flushes during the season. Most tomato varieties available in the garden trade are indeterminate, including heirloom, cherry, and dwarf tomato varieties.
How tall do determinate tomatoes grow?
While determinate tomatoes will be around 4-5 feet tall max. Determinate tomato plants tend to have leaves that are closer together on the stems, making them appear bushier and more full. Indeterminate tomato plants look more like vines and end up growing taller much faster than their counterparts.