In a world of 30,000+ heirloom tomato varieties, it is easy to get overwhelmed, or over-excited, by the prospect of choosing what to grow each season. This guide aims to shed some light on which types are the most suitable for different situations.

The majority of tomato varieties sold commercially are indeterminate but these plants are large, sprawling beasts which need organising, pruning, and do best in a greenhouse or polytunnel in the UK. Not everyone has the time or space for this. If you do, there is a whole world of varieties awaiting you! If you have a smaller garden and a sunny wall, you can absolutely grow indeterminates outside, and for best results I would advise growing with just one or two leaders (see the pruning guide). They do well planted in multiple ways - in the ground, in a large pot (one plant in 15lt+ is ideal) or in a grow bag, but bear in mind that really, there is only enough compost in a standard growbag for one plant, contrary to how they are advertised. People also grow them hydroponically, and this can be extremely succesful. If you choose to grow in pots or grow bags, it is really important to feed your plants regularly, as the nutrition in the compost is limited, and will run out after only a month or two.

The last decade has seen a huge amount of varietal development, especially with a focus on breeding varieties that people can grow in smaller spaces. I am absolutely passionate about quality and range being available for everyone, whether their only growing space is a balcony, a patio, or a 4 acre field! Your space limits your choices, definitely, but it shouldn’t limit the quality of the produce you can grow. This is why I decided to stock as many dwarf and determinate plants as I can!

Dwarf and determinate varieties grow, generally, between 30cm (micro dwarfs) up to 1.20m for some of the larger determinates. If you are limited on space, I would advise choosing a few dwarf plants, or even some cascading determinates for hanging baskets. They are great for so many reasons - they are space-saving, the grow densely and require minimal support, and you don’t have to prune them!

Micro dwarfs can even be grown through the winter, as they easily fit on windowsills. In the summer they will be very happy in a windowbox, stacking planter or a balcony rail planter. They come in plenty of varieties, and the range is constantly expanding due to a few dedicated breeders around the world.