By Barbara Pleasant, April 14, 2017
Imagine a tomato that thrives in cool growing conditions, grows into a compact bush without the need for pruning, and can be supported with simple stakes. Within 45 days of planting, this plant bursts into an abundance of blossoms that quickly develop into large clusters of ripe tomatoes, ready for harvest just three weeks later.
What you’re picturing is a determinate tomato, a variety that offers several advantages for gardeners. These tomatoes are ideal for regions with cool, short summers, but they also excel in hot climates where growing conditions end early in the season. In humid areas, like my own, determinate tomatoes are incredibly valuable since they ripen all at once, often avoiding the diseases that can affect late-season varieties. Additionally, they are excellent for preserving because they produce a uniform crop within a short period, allowing gardeners to harvest, then clear the plants to make space for fall crops like leafy greens.
Why Choose Determinate Tomatoes?
Most garden tomatoes fall into one of two categories: indeterminate varieties, which grow long vines and produce fruit throughout the season, or vigorous determinate varieties, which include tomatoes like ‘Roma’ and ‘Celebrity’. While vigorous determinates can produce large initial crops and continue yielding with proper care, true determinate tomatoes have a more predictable growing pattern. Each stem tip of a determinate tomato ends with a fruiting cluster, meaning the plant will stop growing once it has set its crop. This makes them especially reliable for gardeners who prefer a manageable harvest.
Determinate varieties are easy to grow, requiring minimal support. Smaller determinate types do well in pots, while larger varieties thrive in ring-style cages. This is in stark contrast to sprawling indeterminate types that require more extensive care.
Flavorful Early-Season Determinate Varieties
Some gardeners criticize determinate tomatoes for lacking flavor, but this critique often overlooks the benefits of fast-maturing varieties that offer reliable crops. These tomatoes tend to prioritize producing small fruits over large ones, which can improve their flavor profile. As long as the weather remains sunny during the ripening phase, the determinate varieties listed below are known for their excellent taste.
- Siberian – A fast-maturing variety that ripens in just 60 days, ‘Siberian’ produces egg-shaped tomatoes with excellent flavor, similar to the Canadian-bred ‘Beaverlodge’.
- Glacier and Sophie’s Choice – Both of these round tomatoes are large enough to slice, dry, or turn into a tangy sauce, making them perfect for various uses.
- Ida Gold – Known for thriving in short growing seasons like those in Idaho, ‘Ida Gold’ is an early-maturing orange tomato that offers a productive harvest with great taste.
For cherry tomato lovers, Patio Choice Yellow is a standout. This new variety, which won the 2017 All-America Selections award, produces a mound of sweet golden cherry tomatoes. Whether grown in a hanging basket or staked in a garden, it’s perfect for compact spaces.
More Delicious Determinate Varieties
Not all determinate tomatoes are early-season, and some take longer to mature but still offer a great harvest. Here are a few full-season options:
- Black Sea Man – A Russian heirloom with purple-tinged fruit and potato-leaf foliage, this variety grows to over 4 feet tall and provides a delicious, robust flavor.
- Santiam – Developed in Oregon, ‘Santiam’ produces nearly seedless fruit and thrives even in stressful conditions.
- Amelia – In hot climates with high disease pressure, ‘Amelia’ is a rare determinate variety resistant to Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus, with fruit that ripens before the peak of insect activity.
Why You Should Consider Growing Determinate Tomatoes
While not every tomato in your garden needs to be a determinate variety, incorporating them into your planting plan can be incredibly beneficial. If your goal is to grow a uniform crop with less hassle, determinate tomatoes are a great choice. Their space-saving growth habit, coupled with their dependability, makes them a valuable addition to any garden.
By including a variety of determinate tomatoes in your garden, you’ll be able to enjoy consistent yields, with minimal stress, and a great selection of delicious tomatoes for fresh eating, cooking, or preserving.