Tomatoes: What is a Determinate and Indeterminate Tomato?

Tomatoes come in two basic forms. There are determinate tomatoes and indeterminate tomatoes.

Determinate tomatoes typically grow to a specific height, stop growing and all the fruit sets at once. There are many types of determinate tomatoes. They are great for early fruit. They are outstanding in containers and small gardens. Its worth planting one or two determinate tomatoes in your garden. They will mature while your indeterminate tomatoes grow.

Indeterminate tomatoes typically grow continuously and set fruit all summer long up until the first frost. Indeterminate tomatoes will continue to grow and need a lot of maintenance. They are more work but continue to fruit all season long.

Determinate tomatoes require less staking and tending vs. their counter-part. They both have places in your garden. Any tomato plant you buy will have the words determinate or indeterminate on the label. This is also true for seed packets.

NEW KNOL: When to Start Tomatoes Indoors and Plant Outdoors

Check out my Knol on When to Start Tomatoes Indoors and Plant Outdoors.


A good question was asked. The short answer is 6-8 weeks. But there are some basic questions you need to ask yourself and some basic guidelines to help plan your planting. Check it out.

A Unique Tomato: Micro Tom grows 5 to 8 inches

I ordered a bunch of unique tomatoes this year. One of them is Micro Tom. Why? Why not? Check out the description from the catalog I purchased them from. It grows 8 inches. I think this will be perfect for baskets and containers.


I will be doing a photo log of many tomatoes and will start writing Knols reviewing tomato varieties. Micro Tom will be one of them. I also have a variety from the Galapagos Islands.

World's smallest tomato variety,' developed by Drs., J.W. Scott and B.K. Harbaugh at the University of Florida. Grows 5 to 8 inches tall in a 4 inch pot bearing flavorful miniature tomatoes about the size of salad croutons. Plants are truly diminutive and wonderful for patios, windowsills or garden borders. Determinate. 85 days from seed.

Planting Peas: Good for Tomatoes

Peas can go in the ground now. It's 3/12. I planted my peas seeds yesterday into the large containers I use to grow tomatoes. The tomatoes won't go into the ground for about 8 weeks. Thats plenty of time for the peas to grow.

The benefit of planting peas is that they fix nitrogen to the soil. Not a lot, they tend to use what they make. But some none the less.

The technical process has to do with rhizobia.

The rhizobia chemically convert the nitrogen from the air to make it available for the pea plant.
They have symbiotic relationship with the pea plant roots. I turn my pea plants right into the ground. Decay and time, help release back the nitrogen into the soil.

Go plant your peas. 1 inch deep, 2 inches apart.

March 1st: Time to Start Cool Weather Seeds Indoors

You can check my Knol on cool weather crops or do a search for cool weather vegetables above.
Now is the time to start the following seeds indoors, in the Maryland area. Remember cool weather crops not only like, well cool weather, the can take some light frost.

Root crops have to go in the ground. That is carrots, radishes, beets, onion sets and turnips should be planted in the ground. Transplanting them from seed trays isn't effective.

Peas should be planted directly in the ground, although if the seed tray is larger, they can do well as a transplant. They need to be in trays that are at least 3 inches wide.

The following seeds can be started in your standard 9 section cello tray.

Lettuces
Collard Greens
Cabbages
Chard
Oregano
Parsley
Basil (though they don't like the cold)
Chives
Broccoli
Kohlrabi
and finally any other greens

You can do this on a south facing windowsil.