This week I learned the difference between Determinate and Indeterminate tomatoes. I really wish I had this knowledge before we planted all those tomatoes, but I guess now I’ll have the information forever.
Here’s what I learned:
Indeterminate tomatoes
~are vining tomatoes and take up lots of space
~need lots of support
~have fruit that matures at different rates
Examples include:
Italian Heirloom
Brandywine
Early girl
Yellow Pear
Determinate tomatoes
~are bushy and take up less space
~don’t require much support
~have fruit that matures all that the same time (in about a two week window)
Examples include:
Yellow Taxi
Siberia
Golden Nugget
Celebrity
I also learned about suckers (also known as side shoots). I’ve read the these suckers can produce fruit, but in my experience, they are the branches on tomatoes that don’t hold any fruit, only leaves. They can easily be popped off the plant, giving the fruit more nutrients as well as access to light and ventilation. I use the term “pop” because it sounds like a knuckle popping when you do it. If you get to the suckers early, you can simply pinch them off. Also, remember that is is not necessary to pinch off any suckers. Apparently some people prefer to, and others don’t.
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| On your left is a sucker (note the “knuckle”). On your right is a fruiting branch |
I chose to pop off the suckers because our tomato jungle was completely out of control. I could not see in the bed to know whether or not there was any fruit, let alone know where I was watering when I shoved the hose in any break in the foliage possible. So, I went out and starting pooping off branches. It probably took a total of 3 hours (in three different shifts, with Tool Lady helping) to get the plants to a “healthy” state, but now I can actually see what’s happening in there! Magic!
Now, I don’t want you to think that our tomatoes are now sitting completely naked. They’re not. They still have plenty of leaves…we probably took every third leafy branch…and they sure look a lot happier now!
