You’re shopping for tomato plants at the garden center and you see the word “determinate” on the plant tag. You might also see the word “indeterminate” on a different tag on a different plant. Today we’ll be talking about what the “determinate” word means when it comes to tomato plants.

The Meaning of Determinate

Think of the word “determinate” to mean “predetermined.” What we mean is this plant will grow to a genetically predetermined height. Once it gets to that height, it just stops growing. When it stops growing upward, it starts growing outward, and by “outward” I mean putting its energy into producing fruit, or the actual tomatoes. Many determinate tomatoes grow to just 3 or 4 foot tall, which is a totally manageable height when it comes to tomatoes. Determinate tomatoes are often called bush tomatoes because their form and habit often resemble a bush.

Benefits of a Determinate Tomato

Determinate tomato plants are quite different from “indeterminate,” which I will describe in a future post. But for now, here’s what you’ll find are the best aspects of these tomatoes.

• It’s easier to manage their growth than tomatoes that grow indeterminately (we’ll get to that definition later). You’ll still need supports but it’s way more manageable.
• Determinate tomatoes will form and ripen fruit within a two-week period. If you want to can your tomato harvest, these tomatoes will concentrate your harvest in a determined time interval.
• Once the tomatoes are harvested, your plant will die off. Use this space for something else in your garden.
• If you garden in containers, these tomatoes have a smaller growth habit and will be easier to grow in such a small space.
• These tomato plants do not require as much pruning, which means less work on your part.

Stay tuned for the explanation of what “indeterminate” means when it comes to tomato varieties. Meanwhile, now you know where and how you can position that “determinate” tomato in your garden.