Determinate tomatoes are the scrappy, short guys of the tomato world. These compact, bushy varieties have been bred to grow to a certain height, set all their fruit within a short window, and then call it a day.
This means they require a little different treatment from their indeterminate cousins. If you get it wrong, you’ll end up with disappointing tomatoes and a sad tomato sandwich.
With that in mind, here are five things you should never do to determinate tomatoes:
1. Don’t Top Them
Topping determinate tomatoes is a cardinal sin. I’m pretty sure it’s in the bible somewhere. Once a determinate tomato sets its terminal flower cluster, it’s done growing. If you top it earlier in the season, you’re robbing yourself of the fruit you would have harvested. Unlike indeterminates, they don’t keep chugging along all summer.
So, unless it’s the very end of the growing season and you’re pushing the ripening timeline, keep your pruners in the gardening shed.
2. Don’t Over-Prune or Remove Suckers
Determinate tomatoes need those suckers! Trust me, they’re not just freeloaders. They, too, will set flowers and fruit. Pruning them too aggressively, like you might with indeterminates, means fewer flowering sites and a smaller harvest.
A little pruning here and there is fine for airflow and disease prevention, but don’t go Edward Scissorhands on them!
3. Don’t Over-Fertilize with Nitrogen
Determinate tomatoes already have a set growth habit; it’s what they were bred to do. If you give them too much nitrogen, they’ll pump out lush green foliage at the expense of flowers and fruit.
You’ll get a beautiful bushy plant and…not much else.
Use a balanced fertilizer such as Espoma Organic Garden-tone.
4. Don’t Stake Them Like Indeterminates
These guys don’t need tall cages or extensive trellising, and save your string training for indeterminate tomatoes. Determinate varieties benefit more from a short, sturdy cage or a low stake. Tall stakes can be overkill, and cages may crowd airflow, which can lead to disease. Likewise, tall cages can encourage too much overgrowth, which isn’t natural for them. Keep it simple and supportive, just enough to keep the tomatoes off the soil.
5. Don’t Expect a Second Harvest
Once that big harvest has set, don’t baby the plant thinking it’ll produce a second round of tomatoes—it won’t. Determinates have a genetic timer. After they’ve set their fruit, that’s it. Enjoy them, preserve the yield, then yank up the plant and start something else in its place, like a fall crop.
If you respect their natural rhythm, determinate tomatoes are generous, manageable, and perfect for canners and sauce makers who want a big harvest all at once. Just don’t treat them like their vining cousins—or you’ll be left wondering why your ‘Roma’ peaced out in July.
What Are Determinate Tomatoes?
Determinate tomatoes, often referred to as “bush tomatoes,” are varieties bred to grow to a fixed, mature size. Unlike indeterminate tomatoes, which continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the season, determinates follow a more predictable growth and fruiting cycle.
They grow to a certain height—typically between 3 to 5 feet—produce all their flowers within a few weeks, set fruit in one big flush, and then stop. Once the harvest is over, the plant’s lifecycle is mostly complete. This means you can remove it and plant fall or cover crops in its place.
Determinate vs. Indeterminate: What’s the Difference?
The primary difference comes down to growth habit and fruiting pattern. Indeterminate tomatoes are like marathon runners—they’ll keep growing, flowering, and fruiting until frost stops them. This makes them ideal for gardeners who want a steady stream of tomatoes all summer long. They require regular pruning, tall staking, and more garden maintenance.
There are several great reasons to grow determinate tomatoes:
Perfect for Preservation: Because all the fruit ripens around the same time, they’re ideal for making sauces, salsas, or canning. You can plan for one big processing day rather than having to deal with a trickle of ripe tomatoes every few days, which is great when you’re canning in 80+ degree heat.
Smaller Size, Smaller Space: Their compact habit makes them ideal for raised beds, containers, or small-space gardens. You don’t need sprawling trellises or 8-foot-tall cages to support them.
Low Maintenance: If you’re a lazy gardener like me, they’re great. You don’t need to keep up with pruning suckers or managing a giant jungle of tomato vines. Once they’re supported properly, they tend to take care of themselves.
Earlier Harvest: Many determinate varieties mature earlier in the season, which is great if you’re in a region with a shorter growing window.
They may not be the best choice if you’re hoping for a steady tomato supply all summer long. But if you’ve got plans to put up jars of marinara or roast trays of tomatoes for freezer storage, determinates are your best friend.
Popular Determinate Tomato Varieties
If you’re considering planting determinate tomatoes, here are a few popular varieties to try:
Roma: One of the most well-known determinate tomatoes, prized for its thick flesh and low moisture content, perfect for sauces and paste. I’ve grown this one for years.
Bush Early Girl: A fast-maturing variety with a compact habit, producing medium-sized fruit early in the season. It’s my favorite patio tomato.
Celebrity: Known for its disease resistance and reliable production, Celebrity offers large, flavorful fruits in a tidy growth pattern.
San Marzano Determinate: A variation of the famous San Marzano, ideal for sauce but in a more compact plant. This is my favorite variety for sauces. You can’t beat the flavor.
Marglobe: An heirloom favorite with smooth, round fruit and excellent disease resistance.
Choosing the right variety depends on your space, taste preference, and what you plan to do with your harvest.
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