Indeterminate VS Determinate Tomatoes

Most people have heard the terms Indeterminate or Determinate when talking about tomato plants, but what exactly do those terms mean?

So I decided to answer that question just in case some of you guys are wondering.

Determinate Tomato plants are compact and quite bushy. They also are known for producing most of their fruit around the same time which means harvesting all the fruit in around 2 to 4 pickings. This is a great for home gardeners who want to can their tomatoes and need a large harvest all at one. 

Now indeterminate are quite the opposite. For one they set fruit along the vine stem and continue to produce all season up until a frost kills them. They make excellent choices for small farms who want to market them or for someone who enjoys having an extended growing season of tomatoes for fresh salads or sandwiches. Some indeterminate tomato varieties which I call "viney" need some extra support. Bush varieties can be staked or caged and do best that way. 

So I hope this helps anyone wanting to know the difference and helps them to decide which is best for their garden!