Do determinant tomatoes need support?

Sunsanvil 6/11/2012, 7:45 am

We're experimenting with a couple determinant tomatoes in one of our boxes, devoting 4 squares to each of them.

I thought the point of determinant varieties is that they are a bush plant which doesn't need support like the vine type, but I see people growing determinants in pots with the typical "tomato cages". Is that just because they are in pots and don't want the plant to sprawl onto the deck (or whatever), or do I need to plop cages over mine (and if so, why did I need to give them 2'x2' of space each)?

Goosegirl 6/11/2012, 8:07 am

Even though determinates do not get tall and viney, they do get bushy and when fruit sets they get heavy and can fall over and tangle with everything else, get soil-borne diseases, bug damage when fruit sits on the ground, or breakage. Some get so heavy that if the cage is not strong enough they will STILL fall over! (Ask me how I know.....)

GG


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Do determinant tomatoes need support?

Do determinant tomatoes need support?

Re: Do determinant tomatoes need support?