Often, reading about different varieties of tomatoes, we face the terms such as determinate/indeterminate or semi-determinate. What is the meaning and difference between the three?
Determinate tomato - this type of tomatoes are often referred as 'bush' tomato, because they are generally shorter and do not continue growing in size throughout the growing season. Determinate varieties are generally shorter and more compact compare to indeterminate varieties. Pruning for this type of tomatoes is not recommended. Most of determinate plants grows up to 60-90cm (2-3ft) tall and requires little or no stacking. Tomatoes grow to a fixed mature size and ripen all the fruits in a short period (usually within 2-3 weeks). Once the first flush of fruits will ripen, the plant will start to diminish and set little or no new fruits. When the terminal buds set fruits, the plant stops growing and the fruits will be set at the end of the branches.
The major advantage of planting determinate varieties is early & fast harvest with a large amount of tomatoes all at one time.
Indeterminate tomato - often referred as 'vine' tomatoes, as they will continue growing and producing new blossoms even after the fruits are set. Indeterminate varieties produce fruit clusters along their stems. The plants will continue to grow and produce fruits until the frost kill the vine. Otherwise, they will produce stems, leaves and fruits as long as they are alive. Harvest may continue for several months. Indeterminate varieties require strong stacking to support heavy plants.
Majority of tomatoes are indeterminate.
Semi-determinate plants, as the name suggest are in between the determinate and indeterminate. The plants are usually larger compare to determinate varieties but smaller than indeterminate plants growing 90-150cm (3-5ft).
