Definitions… What’s it all about?

When we first start to grow tomatoes, we all hear a bunch of terms thrown around - cordon, indeterminate, bush, cherry, beef, dwarf etc. And rarely do people take the time to explain these, let alone to tell us which type to grow where or when, in what environment, or how to get the best fruit for our space. Worse still, posts on social media platforms claiming to be from “experts” regularly mislead novice growers with inaccurate diagrams, poor explanations and misinformation. These issues contribute hugely to people losing heart with growing, due to the wrong type of care. My aim here is to demystify some common terms, and maybe dispel some common misconceptions along the way!

“Determinate”

Determinate plants are often referred to as "bush tomatoes". They have a pre-destined height and spread locked into their genetics. They will grow to a certain point, then set and ripen the majority of their fruit at the same time. If you are lucky, you might get more than one "flush" of fruit in a season. These plants are often refered to as bush tomatoes, because they should be allowed to grow as much as they like, often taking the form of a low bush. Since each stem will only grow to a certain height, it’s best to allow as many stems to grow as possible. If you were to prune a determinate tomato, you would be removing the growth that will provide you with a good crop of fruit, since one stem may only provides one or two trusses.

Depending on the size and spread of your determinate variety, you can employ various tactics for support, like string, canes, tomato cages, or a combination. Some tightly compact plants do not need support, and the smallest varieties can be grown in hanging baskets or raised pots and allowed to cascade instead.

If growing in a polytunnel or greenhouse, individual stems can be supported on strings like an indeterminate. A combination of strings can be used to support trusses. This can be a bit messy, but is effective for the largest determinates, like Chef Raul Bocuse.

Hanging basket above tower planter

Determinates can be large or small, tightly compact or sprawling, but is rare that determinate varieties reach more than 4ft, and can often top out under 3ft. For this reason, they should be grown in a space where they can be allowed to grow laterally rather than vertically. Determinate varieties come in lots of different sizes, and some are small enough to make excellent choices for hanging baskets. The bigger determinates usually still need support of some sort - tomato cages, or multiple canes are ideal - as they can become a bit unruly.

Chef Raul Bocuse, supported with strings

Smaller determinates like Rose Pink Thai Egg do well, unsupported or perhaps with one cane, in a large pot. If you find the plant is tumbling to the ground, the pot can be raised on a block.

The smallest determinate varieties, like Spanish Dancer, Guinel Yellow and Favorie de Bratgne are very happy in a hanging basket. To save space, why not grow one above a stacking tower planter of micro dwarfs?