Indeterminate and Determinate Tomatoes

Knowing the traits and uses of these varieties of tomatoes can help you a lot with your garden planning.

Too often, the beginning gardener purchases thin wire tomato cages to support their new tomato seedlings - without knowing that these seedlings will quickly outgrow and crush these poor cages!

Here are things to consider about each. The seed packet or label at the nursery will tell you what kind of tomato you have.

Indeterminate tomatoes require more extensive support, but they will produce over a longer period of time. Their many vines grow and throw blossoms for as long as the plant is alive. They get very large and can yield a ton of fruit - however, they can get a little overwhelming in size.

Determinate tomatoes only grow to about 3-5 ft and only have a single stem. The fruit ripens all at once, then it stops producing, and dies. They are great for containers and small gardens.

Depending on your needs, you may favor one type over the other.