What are determinate tomatoes: we understand the concept and get acquainted with the best representative varieties

Tomato is the favorite vegetable of most gardeners. It is universal in use: tomatoes make delicious salads and side dishes, they are consumed fresh or as preparations for the winter. Among the varieties of tomatoes, determinate varieties stand out. Let's look at what they are and how they differ from other tomatoes.

What are determinate tomato varieties?

Determinate variety - what does it mean? The answer is simple: this is a tomato variety characterized by limited growth of the main stem. The history of this concept goes far back: translated from Latin, the term “determination” means “limitation”.

In addition to growth, determinate tomatoes are distinguished by the fact that after the ovary of 3-5 clusters, the bushes no longer grow. They are also better suited for open ground than other representatives of tomatoes.

Important! As a rule, determinate tomatoes ripen earlier than other varieties.

How are they different from indeterminate

Indeterminate tomatoes are not limited in growth; they can reach two or more meters in height. This plant is most suitable for growing in a greenhouse. Also, indeterminate tomatoes are uniform in shape and size, while determinate varieties produce more fruit of different sizes. Indeterminate varieties require more attention when caring: they require obligatory gartering and pinching.

Features of cultivation

The peculiarity of determinate tomatoes is that it is more profitable to grow them: with a large harvest, they take up less space. This is an important nuance, especially if the land plot is small.

Another point that needs to be taken into account is simple crop care. You just need to form a bush, growth will stop on its own. The only special skill that arises is the need to tie the wrists. This is necessary to prevent the plants from falling to the ground.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of these varieties are as follows:

• take up little space, especially when it comes to planting tomatoes in a greenhouse;
• in addition to practical benefits, they also perform a decorative function: neat bushes will decorate any plot of land;
• Determinate tomatoes are unpretentious in care, which means that you will save time and your own efforts;
• high productivity;
• Even a novice gardener can form new bushes;
• ripen many times faster.

Flaws:

• short fruiting period;
• sometimes stepsoning is required;
• poor resistance to diseases and pests.

Best representatives

We present to your attention the top 15 best determinate varieties of tomatoes:

1. Iditarod Red are round tomatoes of a rich red color with a pointed tip. The pulp is dense, juicy, with a pleasant sweetish taste. The weight of one tomato is about 100 g. The seeds are sown 55 days before planting in the ground. Does not require pinching. Tomatoes are good for preparing various dishes: salads, side dishes, soups, preparations for the winter.
2. Explosion. This hybrid variety appeared quite recently. It gives an excellent harvest in any region of Russia. Tomatoes especially take root well in greenhouse conditions.Due to its commercial appearance, it is often grown not only for personal consumption, but also for sale. The weight of one tomato is about 250 g, up to 3 kg is collected from one bush. The taste is high.
3. Sanka. This variety is especially popular among gardeners: it is valued for its high and stable yield. The height of the bushes is no more than 60 cm. The variety is early ripening: the first tomatoes appear within 90-100 days from the moment of planting. Vegetables are dense and meaty. In open ground conditions, the weight of one does not exceed 100 g, in a greenhouse - 150 g. The tomatoes ripen at the same time, the yield is friendly. Sanka is universal in use.
4. Alsou. This variety needs solid support, as the plant has a weak stem. The tomatoes themselves are very large: the average weight varies from 600 to 1000 g. The variety has increased resistance to diseases, including late blight, the main enemy of tomatoes. Gardeners harvest up to 9 kg of tomatoes from one bush. Alsou can be grown in any climate zone. It is unpretentious in care, the main thing is to remove weeds on time and follow the watering regime.
5. Boni MM. Bushes about 0.5 m high will delight you with round red tomatoes. The weight of one is about 80 g, the surface is slightly ribbed, the flesh is tasty. Boni MM does not like excess moisture, otherwise the vegetables may crack. Disease resistance is high. Has a positive attitude towards preventive measures, especially mineral fertilizing with the addition of nitrogen-containing substances.
6. Turbojet. A small bush - only 40 cm high - is covered with fruits. The weight of one is about 70 g. Despite the light weight, it is better to tie the plant up, since there are a lot of tomatoes. Turbojet is not afraid of harsh climatic conditions and grows well anywhere.The variety also tolerates drought and lack of sunlight well. The purpose is universal; due to their small size, vegetables are perfect for canning and pickling.
7. Alpha. The advantage of this plant is that it can be immediately planted in open ground, bypassing the stage of growing seedlings. The variety is early ripening: the first tomatoes appear within 85 days from planting. Potatoes, cucumbers and cabbage are considered the best predecessors. Alpha can be stored for a long time and not lose its taste and external qualities. Disadvantages include a tendency to crack.
8. Valentina. It is recommended to grow this determinate variety in open ground. Tomatoes ripen within 100-105 days from the moment of sowing. The height of the bush reaches a maximum of 0.66 m. Tomatoes have a pleasant orange-red color. The shape is elongated, plum-shaped, the weight of the fruit is about 90 g. Summer residents collect about 3 kg from one bush. It has good keeping quality and transportability. The disadvantage is the need for tying.
9. Bobcat. The plant came to us from Holland. The commercial quality is excellent - the tomatoes are suitable for long-term transportation. It is recommended to grow Bobcats in open ground, mainly in the south of Russia. The color of the tomatoes is orange-red, the leaves are dark green. They are distinguished by strong immunity to diseases, long-lasting and stable harvests. Bobcat is actively used for making juices, pastes, and ketchup.
10. Mystery. The bushes are strong and do not need garters. The bush reaches a height of about 40-45 cm. The riddle belongs to the ultra-early varieties. One fruit weighs about 150 g, has a beautiful rich color and dense structure. Riddle is suitable for preparing a wide variety of dishes; it is valued for its pleasant sweet taste.Among the disadvantages is the mandatory removal of stepchildren.
11. Petrusha the gardener - the result of the work of Siberian breeders. There is no need to plant the variety, which makes caring for it much easier. High yield and immunity to disease. Tolerates bad weather and lack of moisture well. The height of the bushes is about 60 cm, the fruits have an interesting elongated shape and a raspberry-red color. Gardeners advise growing tomatoes in open ground.
12. Danko. This variety is characterized by beautiful heart-shaped orange-red tomatoes. Bushes of about 0.5 m form neat beds. Care requires regular, timely watering and weed removal; the plant also takes well to organic fertilizers. The yield of the Danko variety is average, the level of keeping quality and safety during transportation is low.
13. Crimson Giant It was not named so by chance; large tomatoes were liked by many. The bushes are taller than average - about 75 cm. Tomatoes ripen early, so they are not afraid of late blight. Productivity is high, tomatoes are tasty, suitable for fresh consumption and as an addition to other dishes.
14. Roma – elongated fruits of pale red color also have a good taste. No garter required. Most often, the variety is grown for canning and pickling, since the small fruits fit completely into a jar. Roma has average immunity to pests, so it is important, if necessary, to fertilize the bushes with organic matter or mineral fertilizers.
15. Summer resident – an excellent variety for open ground. The yield is stable and tolerates low temperatures well. The fruits ripen early - this is the advantage of the variety. The height of the bushes is about 0.5 m. The tomatoes themselves are medium-sized and can ripen at room temperature.

Which variety to choose

There are a great many varieties of determinate tomatoes. Some will delight you with a unique taste, others with a long shelf life, and others with ease of care. And yet, in order not to get confused in the variety of varieties, we advise you to follow a few rules:

• choose the vegetable that is suitable for growing in your region. Russia is a big country, and tomatoes that get along well in Krasnodar can produce a completely different harvest in Tyumen;
• Before purchasing a particular variety, study information about it on the Internet or in print. Surely you will find something interesting;
• Ask your familiar summer residents and gardeners. Perhaps the advice of people who have already encountered determinate varieties will help you make your choice;
• carefully read the information on the seed package;
• trust only trusted manufacturers.

The choice of variety depends solely on your preferences. Decide what is most important in the future harvest. For example, if you value ease of care, then the Turbojet variety is best for you, and if you want to make delicious tomato juice, Bobcat. If you want to get a universal tomato, choose the Riddle variety, and if the main thing for you is high yield, think about Alsou tomatoes.

Important! Don't forget about where you plan to grow tomatoes: in a greenhouse or in open ground.

How to determine the type of tomato by plant

As we have already found out, tomatoes differ significantly in the degree of growth and development and are divided into two large groups: indeterminate and determinate. The latter, in turn, also include several species.Let's look at each of them and identify the distinctive features of plants.

Indeterminate

Such tomatoes are not limited to a flower cluster at the central top, so their growth does not stop. They can reach a height of 2 to 4 m depending on conditions, soil and care.

Differences in the bushes can be noticed already at the seedling stage. On the 4-5th day after emergence, the cotyledonous knee “straightens”. In indeterminate varieties it is significantly longer (3-5 cm versus 1-3 cm). The first fruit cluster in such tomatoes begins to form after the ninth leaf or higher (against the level of the fifth leaf in determinate ones). The most popular varieties: Andreevsky Surprise, Babushkin Secret, Budenovka, Dulya, Mazarin, Amateur's Dream and others.

Read also:

Top 20 best super early tomato varieties for open ground.

High-yielding and unpretentious tomato "Benito".

Features of caring for yellow-fruited tomatoes.

Semi-determinant

This group is located between determinate and indeterminate varieties; it is characterized by an intermediate type of branching. When the stem reaches a meter in height, it bifurcates and one part stops growing. In total, the bush can stretch up to 1.5 m.

The first fruit cluster is laid at a height of 7-8 leaves. As a rule, they are formed with an interval of two sheets, but there are gaps of three or more. There are 9-11 brushes in total on the bush.

Such tomatoes are characterized by early ripening. Their marketability is high, as is their resistance to diseases. These tomatoes are usually grown in greenhouses. Popular varieties include Kupets, Baron, Ivet, and Red Arrow.

Determinant

In such tomatoes, the growth of the central apex is limited by the flower raceme: an ovary with fruits is formed at the end of the shoot, and then it stops growing. Further development occurs due to the stepson located in the axil of the leaf closest to the apex. During fruiting, the distance between the fruit clusters of tomatoes is three leaves or less (if 5-6 of them have already grown).

Particularly popular are varieties such as Raketa, Nevsky, Bely naliv, Demidov, Honey-sugar, etc.

Superdeterminant

This species includes early ripening varieties. Flower brushes are formed after 1-2 leaves, no more than 4-5 of them are formed on each plant, after which a flower ovary appears, which limits the growth of tomatoes.

The harvest matures in approximately 80 days. The height of the bush, as a rule, is no more than 70 cm, but there are exceptions: in favorable conditions, tomatoes can grow up to 1-1.2 m.

Among the most popular varieties are Alpha, Valentina, Don Juan, Vzryv, Maximka and others.

Ultradeterminate (super-superdeterminate)

These tomatoes include the earliest ripening, dwarf and productive varieties. Stem growth stops after the formation of 4-5 clusters. They can form 2-3 in a row without intervals. The first brush appears immediately after the fifth true leaf. Tomatoes do not require stepsons, because the fruits are set on the stepsons.

Ripening period is from 80 to 90 days. Since the crop ripens quickly, it is not subject to late blight. Tomatoes are small or medium-sized and contain a lot of juice. Their shape and size are approximately the same. The most common representatives: Far North, Betta, Dwarf, Antoshka.

Standard

Early ripening, high-yielding tomatoes are classified as industrial varieties.The first fruit cluster is formed over 4-5 leaves, then new ones are laid every 1-2 leaves. The fruits appear at the end of June.

Externally, the bush resembles a dwarf tree. Thanks to the thick, powerful stem and small-sized roots, tomatoes do not require gartering or special care. Stepchildren are practically absent, so there is no need to remove them.

Standard varieties are distinguished by their unpretentiousness: they are resistant to temperature changes and store well. Some of them can be grown on the balcony. For example, Antoshka tomatoes.

Conclusion

Determinate varieties have many advantages. Therefore, it doesn’t matter whether you are a beginner gardener or an experienced gardener. Getting your tomato harvest will not be difficult. The main thing is to carefully consider the choice of variety, study its advantages and disadvantages. It is important that they do not need special care, and their taste is no worse than that of other tomatoes.