TOMATO TERMINOLOGY

When choosing tomato varieties, you’ll encounter two main growth types: determinate and indeterminate. Here’s what you need to know:

DETERMINATE TOMATOES

Growth Habit: Stop growing after reaching a certain height. Harvest: Produce most of their fruit within 1-2 months, mainly at the branch ends. Best For: Gardeners who want a large, concentrated harvest for canning, sauces, or preserving.

Support Needed: Usually need a cage. Stocky varieties like Better Bush may only need a simple stake for wind and rain protection. Container-Friendly: Varieties like Patio and Better Bush and Red Robin grow well in pots.

Pruning: Minimal or no pruning required.

INDETERMINATE TOMATOES

Growth Habit: Keep growing and producing fruit along their stems throughout the season. Harvest: Continuous harvest, perfect for salads and fresh eating. Support Needed: Require tall supports (at least 5ft.) Can be trained on a trellis for better fruit size.

Pruning: Optional but can optimize fruit size. If left unpruned, the plant will still grow and produce. What Most Gardeners Do • Grow determinate varieties for large harvests for canning or freezing. • Grow indeterminate varieties for fresh tomatoes all season long.

SEMI-DETERMINATE

These fall between determinate and indeterminate. Provide support for best results.

HEIRLOOM TOMATO

A traditional variety that is at least 50 years old and not a hybrid.

HYBRID TOMATO

A variety bred by crossing different types to improve traits like disease resistance and yield. Note: Hybrids are not genetically modified (GMO).

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