Being a beginner gardener is not easy, but with the proper help and information, you can become a real pro. But sometimes even a pro can be out of ideas.
So, if you are not sure which type of tomato you should grow, then this article might help you out.
In my previous article, I talked about indeterminate tomatoes. In this article, I will write about the determinate tomatoes and how to grow them, and I will present to you the 10 most popular determinate tomato varieties as well.
What Is a Determinate Tomato?
Just like the name states, determinate tomatoes will grow to a “determinate” size. These varieties will grow as a bush, to a fixed mature size and are smaller than the indeterminate tomatoes.
The fruits usually ripen in a short period of time, so, if you plant determinate tomatoes, you will have lots of red tomatoes at the same time. After all the fruits are harvested, the determinate plant will not produce more of them but will die slowly.
If you wish to make tomato paste or tomato juice, then growing determinate tomato varieties would be the best choice.
If you lack in space in your garden, or you have only a terrace to grow tomatoes, then determinate tomatoes are best for this, as they don’t need as much space as the indeterminate varieties.
Growing Determinate Tomatoes
Depending on the circumstances, for example, the available space, or the reason why you want to grow tomatoes, you can decide whether to grow indeterminate or determinate varieties. But both types need the same amount of care and love.
Let’s speak about the basics of how to grow determinate tomatoes.
Pruning
Many people say that determinate tomatoes don’t need pruning. This is not exactly the truth. However, you don’t prune them the same way as you would do with the indeterminate varieties.
Pruning a determinate tomato from the suckers would reduce the chance to have a big yield because as I stated earlier, determinate tomatoes will stop growing at a certain point.
If you remove suckers, then you remove potentially fruitful branches. However, you still have to prune and remove some of the leaves.
Removing the bottom leaves will increase the airflow and will diminish the chances of diseases. Good airflow helps the tomato plants getting dry quicker, so the humidity won’t cause fungal or bacterial diseases.
Also, the branches and leaves which are touching the ground and especially which are yellow must be removed. If you think that the middle of the plant is too crowded, you can remove a few leaves to ensure better airflow there as well.
Supporting
I mentioned earlier that determined tomatoes are smaller than indeterminate ones, so, a tall trellis would be unnecessary.
However, determinate tomatoes need support as well because they will still grow bushy and thick.
Staking any kind of tomatoes is a great help, so these will not fall over, however, this type of supporting will not help the branches which have lots of fruits on them. The branches might collapse and break under the heaviness of the fruits.
Cages on the other hand are more popular and better support for the tomato plants. Some of them can be adjusted as the plant grows and these can support the branches as well, not only the main stem.
But with a bit of attention, both supports can be a great choice.
Harvesting
If you are not prepared properly, harvesting determinate tomatoes can be a bit overwhelming. These plants produce lots of ripened fruits at once.
So, you should have a good plan like a good tomato paste or tomato sauce recipe at hand, otherwise, you will end up with too many tomatoes that you cannot eat.
10 Most Popular Determinate Tomato Varieties
Some of the determinate tomato varieties are small as a cherry, some of them have a proper size and can be used as slicer. However, there are many types and flavors.
Here are 10 of the most popular types of determinate tomatoes.
1. Glacier
Glacier tomato is an heirloom variety and is cold-tolerant tomato; it may survive even a light frost. That is why its name is Glacier.
This variety is an early fruit producer, however, unlike the other early varieties, this will continue to produce fruits for the entire season.
This variety grows 30 inches/ 0,7 m tall, so it is perfect to grow it in containers in small gardens or terraces. It has potato-leaf foliage and grows as a bush, but still needs some support especially when full of fruits.
The fruits are red slicer, globe-shaped and are around 2 to 3 oz/ 50 g to 85g. Their flavor is sweet and tasty.
2. Bush Early Girl
This type of determinate tomato is a hybrid variety and relative to the well-known Early Girl indeterminate tomato. However, this produces more tomatoes than many other varieties.
Even if you grow it in a pot or a growing bag, you will have many tasty and juicy fruits (average 100 tomatoes each plant).
Bush Early Girl matures in 54 days after planting and will grow 3 feet/ 1 meter tall and wide. Its fruits have a deep red color and about 6 to 7 oz/ 170 g to 200 g.
This variety usually is resistant to verticillium wilt (V), fusarium wilt races 1 and 2 (F), nematode (N) and tobacco mosaic virus (T).
3. Legend Tomato
Legend Tomato is resistant to cool weather and is a very early variety. This variety is resistant to the late blight fungus.
Legend Tomato can also be grown in larger containers because it grows 48 inches/ 1,20 m tall and it matures in 68 days after planting.
The fruits are full-sized, glossy and red after ripening. This variety is perfect for canning, salads or sandwiches, as it has a unique balance of sugars and acid, so, its taste is memorable.
4. Monica Roma
Monica Roma grows well in containers and produces lots of meaty, delicious and flavourful tomatoes. These are perfect for salsa, pastes and sauces, but also canning.
The blocky shaped tomato fruits are red and their size varies between 5 to 8 oz/ 140 g to 225 g. Usually, the size of the plant is not taller than 5 feet/ 1,5 m and no wider than 2 feet/ 0,6 m.
Monica Roma tomato variety is resistant to verticillium wilt (F), fusarium wilt (F), Alternaria stem canker (ASC), grey leaf spot (St) and bacterial speck (PST).
5. Patio Tomato
Patio Tomato, just like its name says, you can grow it in small gardens, patios and terraces. It grows only 2 feet/ 0,6 m tall, so, you can easily grow it in a container.
It grows small, but don’t think it will not produce fruits. Patio Tomato matures in 70 days after planting and can produce 50 or even more fruits each plant over an 8-week harvest period.
The fruits are red, tasty and their size is around 3 to 4 oz/ 85 g to 115 g. The foliage doesn’t need too much support, but it is helpful to have a stake or a small cake that will support the branches during rainy and windy weather, especially when there are lots of fruits on.
Patio Tomato is resistant to fusarium wilt (F), Alternaria stem canker (A) and grey leaf spot (St).
6. Plum Regal
Plum Regal is a hybrid determinate tomato variety and it is resistant to late blight and other diseases like fusarium wilt, early blight and spotted wilt virus.
The fruits are red and weight 4 to 6 oz/ 110 g to 170 g and their shape is similar to a plum. The plant itself will not grow bigger than 4 feet/ 1,2 m tall and matures in 80 days after planting.
Being resistant to many diseases, this variety is perfect for home gardeners or organic growers, as this will not need special treatment with chemicals.
The tomatoes are very tasty and superior in flavor, and the yields are high, so, these are great for sauces or salsa.
7. Sunrise Sauce
Sunrise Sauce is perfect for small spaces like your terrace or balcony because it grows 30 to 36 inches/ 0,7 m to 0,9 m tall.
It matures in 50 to 60 days and produces a high yield. The fruits are bright orange and their taste is sweet and juicy, are meaty, easy to peel and can be cooked down quickly. Their weight is 4 to 6 oz/ 110 g to 170 g.
This variety is very tasty when is consumed fresh, but the real tomato flavor becomes more intense when it is cooked.
Sunrise Sauce is also resistant to fusarium wilt and verticillium wilt.
8. Better Bush Tomato
Better Bush Tomato variety is a hybrid and grows as a bush, very compact and strong. These can grow up to 5 feet/ 1,5 m tall and are maturing in 68 days after planting.
You can grow Better Bush Tomato in containers and small gardens, however, it needs staking or caging for extra support because one plant can produce between 90 and 120 tomatoes.
The fruits are red, medium-sized (around 8 oz/ 220g) and they are really tasty. These are best in sandwiches, slicing and salads.
Being a hybrid, this variety is also resistant to verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt and nematodes (N).
9. Little Bing Cherry Tomato
As its name states, this is a cherry tomato variety. If you are short in space, or you want tomatoes as a snack, this would be the best variety for you.
The plant itself is small (18 to 24 inches/ 0,4 m to 0,6 m) and matures in 60 to 65 days, but it produces lots of small (1 oz/ 28 g), red fruits which can ripen over a few weeks.
Little Bing Cherry Tomato is perfect in salads, as a healthy snack or in your favourite dish.
10. Baby Boomer Hybrid
Baby Boomer Hybrid is another cherry tomato that is perfect for your patio or balcony. It grows 20 to 25 inches/ 0,5 m to 0,6 m tall and 24 to 26 inches/ 0,6 to 0,9 m wide.
This variety is small in growth, but it matures in 50 to 55 days and one plant can produce around 300 small fruits.
These fruits are red, small, cherry-type fruits, which weight around 1 oz/ 28 g and they have great tomato flavor.
Baby Boomer Hybrid is resistant to fusarium wilt and verticillium wilt.
Wrap Up
As a gardener and tomato lover, I would suggest you find the tomato variety which suits you better so you can have the best results in growing it.
Don’t forget, that all tomatoes need full sun to ripen properly and they all need care and love. Also, it doesn’t matter if it is a small plant or a large one, for the best results, tomatoes need to be supported by cages or at least a stake.