Okay, very nooB question here...

Red-Leg 1/4/2012, 4:22 pm

I keep seeing references to "indeterminate", "determinate", and now "semi-determinate" with regards to tomato plants.

Can somebody provide a quick explanation of those terms, please?

Thanks!
Darren

**sfg4uKim** 1/4/2012, 4:45 pm

I found the site below to have a very good and concise explanation.

Tomato Types

LaborDay RN 1/4/2012, 4:49 pm

Hi! I found this info here here on this forum:
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3013-tomatoes-determinate-vs-indeterminate

Hope it help. And.....thank you for your service thanks

**Furbalsmom** 1/4/2012, 4:50 pm

Red-Leg

I admit I stole most of this description from my favorite seed company, Territorial Seed.

TERRITORIAL DESCRIPTION OF DETERMINATE AND INDETERMINATE TOMATOES

DETERMINATE/: Determinate varieties spread laterally (more bush like) and usually do not require staking, but may benefit from the support of a tomato cage. Determinate varieties ripen at once so are a good choice for gardeners who love to can.

INDETERMINATE Indeterminate varieties grow vertically (vine like) until the bitter end and need to be staked or trellised for best production. They produce fruit until frost, leaving you some green tomatoes at the end of the season

plantoid 1/4/2012, 6:41 pm

Keeping it simple ..
Determinite are ones that have set growing height you cannot control ...usually bush type toms.
They do infact have fruits appearing all the time if you don't nip out all the growth tips. So they so do ripen at differing times through out their fruiting lives .. at least the bush type ones I grow do.

Indeterminite are the vines , you choose how high you want them to grow by nipping out the tops when they have attained the height you require .

**camprn** 1/4/2012, 7:46 pm

barefoot wrote:So after reading the book, I am guessing you want to use indeterminate so you use less space correct?

LOL, that's my theory. I like the vertical growing. sunny

Guest 1/4/2012, 7:49 pm

If space is your top priority, yes.

If your objective is canning, the determinates will give you most of their harvest at once.

quiltbea 1/4/2012, 8:49 pm

Determinates are also great for growing in pots since most grow only from 2 to about 4 1/2 feet tall.

Okay, very nooB question here... 05-28-10

Above: my determinate tomatoes the end of May. With a mid-sized tomato cage or a short stake you can train them to grow vertically.

Okay, very nooB question here... 07-13-12

Okay, very nooB question here... 07-13-12

Above: same pots in mid July. I also had a couple of dwarf peppers in pots that were very productive. This year I intend to also put eggplant in pots. When they need more warmth at nite, I can put them inside. Here in Maine, putting some plants inside that require minimum temps in the 60s at nite rather than our usual 50s means more to harvest.

Luci Dawson 1/4/2012, 8:55 pm

Those sure are gorgeous pots, quiltbea. Where did you find them?

Red-Leg 1/4/2012, 10:47 pm

Thanks, everyone, for the succinct responses!

-Darren

quiltbea 1/5/2012, 10:02 am

Luci.....Turquoise is my favorite color. Last year at our Windham Walmart in Maine they had all sizes in this and yellow, green and royal blue ones so I stocked up with a dozen turq and a couple of green ones.

Luci Dawson 1/5/2012, 1:22 pm

quiltbea wrote:Luci.....Turquoise is my favorite color. Last year at our Windham Walmart in Maine they had all sizes in this and yellow, green and royal blue ones so I stocked up with a dozen turq and a couple of green ones.

Thanks, quitbea! I'll have to check out WalMart here soon to see if they'll be carrying them, too!

**walshevak** 1/5/2012, 7:45 pm

I hit the yellow, turquoise and red ones. Very Happy

Okay, very nooB question here... Dscn1610

peppers in yellow, tomatos in red and herbs in smaller turquiose.

Kay

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