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Google
Tomatoes: Determinate vs. Indeterminate?
3 posters
Page 1 of 1
Tomatoes: Determinate vs. Indeterminate?
I started my tomatoes from seed this year, and started a variety of types. I had them organized on a tray, so that I knew which was which, buuut, a curious dog upturned my entire tray, and now I don't know which were which. I'm alright with having a surprise as to which type of tomatoes I end up with on each plant, but until then, I would like to make sure I'm caring for/pruning them properly.
Is it possible to tell a determinate from an indeterminate plant just by looking at them? (This might be a silly question, but I am still very new to this)
Thanks in advance for any info!
Is it possible to tell a determinate from an indeterminate plant just by looking at them? (This might be a silly question, but I am still very new to this)
Thanks in advance for any info!
Ryley-
Posts : 26
Join date : 2010-04-26
Location : Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (Zone 3A)
Re: Tomatoes: Determinate vs. Indeterminate?
There was a post a while back on pruning and Chocolatepop gave the information you are asking for. Not sure I totally understand it, but this is what she said she found on the web.
Indeterminate and Determinate: Five to 10 leaf fronds emerge out of the primary shoot of a young tomato vine before a flower cluster emerges. That means there will be at least 4 internodes and up to 9 internodes (stem segments between leaf axils) before a flower cluster appears on the vine.
Indeterminate: Although indeterminate plants appear to have a single main stem, this is actually not the case. The growth of the primary shoot ("main stem") ends with the formation of the first flower. Upward growth continues because the last leaf initiated before the flower cluster (which actually grows to occupy a position above the cluster) produces a side shoot. This side shoot produces three more leaves before it terminates in a flower cluster. This process of initiating new growth from a side shoot of the last leaf initiated before the flower cluster continues indefinitely, giving the appearance of a mainstem with a flower cluster in the internode between every three leaf nodes. Examples: Big Boy, Better Boy, Brandywine, Big Beef, Sun Gold, many heritage types.
Determinate: In determinate cultivars the process differs in that the side shoot above the first flower cluster produces 0 to 2 leaf nodes and a flower cluster but no further vegetative shoots. This ends the upward growth of the plant, making the apparent main stem much shorter. Many side shoots arise from the primary shoot, giving the plant a bushy appearance, but each eventually terminates in a flower cluster as did the primary shoot. The simultaneous growth of many flower clusters on determinate vines promotes earliness and concentrates fruit maturity compared to indeterminates. Examples: Mountain Spring, Scarlet Red, Mozark, most modern commercial canners.
"Semi-determintes:" Shoots of semi-determinate plants produce several flower clusters to the side of an apparent main stem, like indeterminates, but eventually the shoot terminates in a flower cluster, as in determinate plants. Example: Celebrity (and for me, the Bradley tomato I've grown for several years now).
Re: Tomatoes: Determinate vs. Indeterminate?
I found some more information for you. It was in the book "Grow the Best Tomatoes" by story county wisdom. They say that:
Since I only have indeterminate, I haven't seen this but if you want to look up the Amazon.com book, they have a drawing in the book preview. The link is:
http://www.amazon.com/Grow-Best-Tomatoes-Bulletin-189/dp/1580171575/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
Determinate tomatoes produce fruit at the ends of their branches. They stop growing while they are fairly short. Indeterminate types, in contrast, produce fruit at intervals along their stems.
Since I only have indeterminate, I haven't seen this but if you want to look up the Amazon.com book, they have a drawing in the book preview. The link is:
http://www.amazon.com/Grow-Best-Tomatoes-Bulletin-189/dp/1580171575/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
Re: Tomatoes: Determinate vs. Indeterminate?
I found this information by doing a Google search for "determinate versus indeterminate tomatoes" (without quotes). You should be able to tell by looking at how the flower cluster comes off the stem -- is it centered (determinate) or off to the side (indeterminate):
http://hubpages.com/hub/GrowingTomatoes
Determinate:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indeterminate:

I linked to the images of both types, but visit the web page above for more information.
Patti
http://hubpages.com/hub/GrowingTomatoes
Determinate:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indeterminate:

I linked to the images of both types, but visit the web page above for more information.
Patti
Re: Tomatoes: Determinate vs. Indeterminate?
Thanks for the wonderful info!!!
That's exactly what I was looking for.
That's exactly what I was looking for.

Ryley-
Posts : 26
Join date : 2010-04-26
Location : Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (Zone 3A)

» To all those tomato experts...
» Determinate or Indeterminate?
» Volunteer tomato: indeterminate or determinate?
» Determining Determinate Indeterminate Toms
» Pruning indeterminate tomatoes
» Determinate or Indeterminate?
» Volunteer tomato: indeterminate or determinate?
» Determining Determinate Indeterminate Toms
» Pruning indeterminate tomatoes
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