How much do you know about tomatoes? Sure, you see all of the different varieties in the grocery store, but what about the plants themselves? For example, did you know that some tomato plants produce all season long, while others only grow a set amount of fruit (because technically, tomatoes are a fruit) and that’s it?

Indeterminate Tomato Plants

Indeterminate tomato plants grow new fruit all season long. You’ll be able to harvest fresh tomatoes throughout the summer, with the plants dying off after the first frost of the year.

These types of plants tend to be a bit vining, with branches growing (and going) everywhere. They also get heavy, due to the amount of tomatoes that they grow over the course of the season, even as you continue to pick them.

Some of the most popular tomato plants fall into this category, including:

• Beefsteak
• Big Boy
• Cherokee Purple
• Various Cherry Tomatoes
• Various Grape Tomatoes

Why Choose an Indeterminant Tomato Plant?

If you get a kick out of watching your plants grow like cray, enjoy finding new ways to keep them propped upright, and want fresh tomatoes all season long, then they’re a good option. You just need to be prepared to stay on top of their growth and have enough room for them to expand.

Determinate Tomato Plants

On the other hand, there are determinate tomatoes. These plants are more bushy and tend to behave themselves (i.e. not grow out of control.) They also produce all of their fruit at once, towards the end of the growing season, so you’ll have a lot at the same time, making it great for canners. The number of tomatoes that you see on the plant once it starts flowering are all that you’ll get.

Which tomatoes are determinate? Here are the most common:

• Roma
• Patio Plum
• Gold Nugget
• Mountain Princess
• Black Sea Man

Why Choose Determinate Tomato Plants?

Determinate tomato plants allow you to have all of the tomatoes that you want, in a small amount of space. Since these plants are “bushy,” they’re ideal for container gardening and fit nicely in grow bags. Plus, if you enjoy making your own sauce and love to can tomatoes, a determinate plant will give you a lot to work with, all at once.