Determinant tomatoes - what does it mean?

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

In large supermarkets, tomatoes are beautifully packaged and always have a short description containing information about determinate and indeterminate tomatoes. This information is misleading for many buyers, as they do not know what it is. This article will help you figure it out.

Determinant tomato variety: what is it?

This concept means that the growth of tomato bushes is limited. When they talk about an indeterminate plant, they mean that it is not limited in growth. Determinate tomatoes are characterized by the formation of an ovary at the very end of the shoot, after which its growth stops. But fruit development continues on strong stepchildren that grow from the axils of the leaves. An indeterminate species has no restriction. The tip of the central shoot continues to grow. The flower brush can't limit it in this.

What is the difference between the two types of tomatoes?

What does this mean, determinant tomatoes, we have already figured it out. But how can they be distinguished from indeterminate ones? It can be donebefore the formation of flowers and fruits in plants. After the appearance of the first shoots, you need to wait until the cotyledon knees straighten out. By their length, you can find out which tomatoes are determinant. This will happen in about four days. In varieties of tomatoes of this species, the length of the knee will be one to three cm, in the other - three to five. But under the condition of insufficient lighting, the seedlings will strongly stretch upwards, then it is difficult to determine the type of future plant.

This can be done when the first flower clusters begin to tie. In determinant tomatoes, the formation of the first ovaries occurs at the level of six or seven true leaves and below, in another type - after eight or nine. If the plants were planted a long time ago, they managed to grow up and several clusters with fruits formed on them, it is almost impossible to determine the type of plant, since it is not known how many leaves there were before the formation of the first ovaries, since when planting seedlings very often its stems are too deep.

Types of determinant tomatoes

Depending on the type of tomatoes, they are recommended to be grown in open soil or in a greenhouse. The affiliation of a crop to a particular species affects the yield. Determinate tomatoes are:

• superdeterminant;
• determinant;
• semi-determinant;
• standard.

Super Determinate Tomatoes

In such plants, the first inflorescences on the main shoot are located above the seventh or eighth leaf. As soon as two or threeinflorescences, the bush stops growing. In this regard, the yield of tomatoes is low. But they ripen very early, for this, tomatoes need only 50-60 days. The advantage is resistance to diseases of the species and simultaneous fruiting.

Determinant Tomatoes

The culture is characterized by a small height of the bush, about 70 cm. The formation of the first inflorescences occurs on the main shoot above the eighth or ninth leaf. In the future, the laying of brushes occurs through two sheets. Plants complete their growth after they have about five clusters, so the yield is higher than the previous species.

Determinate tomatoes are considered the most common among vegetable growers, any conditions are suitable for growing. In temperate regions, it is recommended to grow them in open soil, in cold areas - in greenhouses. Low-growing bushes of some varieties of this species also need to be pinched and tied up. This is primarily necessary in order for the garden to look neat.

Semi-determinant tomatoes

The formation of the first inflorescences occurs above 10-12 leaves, but they are formed on the main shoot and several side shoots. Tomato ripening occurs late, fruiting is extended in time. Tomatoes can be harvested throughout the growing season.

This species is distinguished by undersized bushes, the height of which barely reaches 30 cm. It is grown mainly as a pot culture, on the windowsills of apartments. Such tomatoes are adapted to domesticconditions, show good fruiting, give high yields of both small and large tomatoes with excellent taste.

The main feature of this type of tomato is that the main crop has time to ripen before most diseases enter the active phase of development. The greatest danger to tomatoes is late blight. He is able to destroy the plant completely.

Stamp varieties

This crop is a variety of determinate tomatoes and is suitable for busy summer residents, as it does not need special care. Tomatoes have a developed bush and a powerful stem. This is the peculiarity of standard tomatoes. They are grown on an industrial scale for the purpose of processing and selling to the population. For this, large areas are used and many vegetable growers are attracted. Plants do not need to be tied up, as their thick stem is able to withstand many fruits. The crop can be harvested after 75 days, by which time the tomatoes are fully ripe.

Indeterminate tomatoes

Their growth should be limited, as the plants have a large height. If this is not done, they can grow up to four meters. Considering that the Siberian region is characterized by a short summer, plants above two meters in height simply do not have time to stretch out, therefore, at this level, their tops should be removed. The southern regions of the country are more suitable for this type of tomato.

The virtues of tomatoes

The positive characteristics of determinant varieties can beattributed to:

• Early ripening of fruits, which occurs before various diseases begin to massively spread. Tomatoes do not have time to be amazed by them.
• Early harvest time.
• Amicable ripening of fruits due to the simultaneous tying of several brushes.

Disadvantages of the view

Determinate tomatoes are popular among gardeners, but they also have negative characteristics:

• Small yield due to the limitation of the bush in growth, as the formation of new ovaries stops.
• Frequent formation of brushes requires more nutrients, which have to be constantly fed to plants.
• Due to the limitation of plant growth by peduncles, many stepchildren are formed, on which ovaries are formed. The plant, due to its small growth, cannot withstand such a load, the shoots can break. To prevent this from happening, stepchildren should be removed periodically.
• Tomatoes of a determinate species are loaded with a large number of ovaries, the bushes are thickened, and this can lead to the spread of a fungal infection.

Determinant varieties of tomatoes for greenhouses

Tomatoes of this species are not very productive, so most often they are grown in low greenhouses or high greenhouses, where the roof level is significantly reduced. But in this case, they should be placed around the entire perimeter, since indeterminate tomatoes are planted in the center, which are harvested for several months. Examples of determinate tomatoes in a greenhouse are presentedbelow.

Bourgeois F 1

This hybrid is the result of the work of breeders from Odessa. The south of the country and the middle lane are suitable for cultivation. Grows well in greenhouse and open soil. 105 days are enough for full maturation. The bushes are tall, from 80 to 120 cm. In the south, their height can reach one and a half meters.

The fruits of the first harvest are larger, their weight is 400 g, although the average weight is 200 g. They have a good ratio of sugar and acid, thanks to which the variety is used for making delicious juice and canning. Average yield: 7-12 kg of fruit per square meter of land. The hybrid is recommended for personal farming, it is not suitable for industrial cultivation, since there is no guarantee of a high yield. These tomatoes have many virtues:

• Fruits have a high keeping quality.
• Culture is resistant to temperature changes.
• Plants tolerate drought well.
• Tomatoes are resistant to species diseases such as blossom end rot, black leg, verticillium.
• Culture has a universal application.

Openwork F 1

The hybrid ripens, like the previous one, in the same time frame. This is a standard plant of a determinate species, its height is 90 cm. It is grown in garden beds and in greenhouses. Beam ovaries are formed on the shoots, in which five fruits are formed, the average weight of which is 280 g. Each branch can have four bunches. In order for the fruits to grow large, three ovaries are left in each bunch, and oneach branch has two bundles. Throughout the season, you can collect 12 kg of fruit per square meter of plot area. Tomatoes are eaten fresh, used to make juice and tomato paste.

Olya F 1

This crop is one of the best varieties of determinate tomatoes for commercial cultivation using greenhouse conditions. The fruits ripen early, the plants are resistant to cold, practically do not get sick. Each node forms up to three brushes with nine ovaries, often located on the shoot, through one or two leaves. Fruit weighing 135 g has a sweet and sour taste. Tomatoes are the same size, their diameter is 65 mm. The yield is very high: 25 kg per square meter. Tomatoes are delicious, eaten fresh and processed.

Staging

Stepchildren are called shoots that are formed from buds located between the stem and leaves at their very base. These shoots grow endlessly. Foliage appears on them, ovaries and new stepchildren are formed. This will continue until the bush is completely thickened. The only way to stop the process is to remove stepchildren. This is best done when their length reaches five to seven centimeters. How to pinch determinant tomatoes? This procedure is simple, it is as follows:

• When removing stepsons, leave stems three millimeters long so that new ones do not form.
• This procedure is carried out on sunny days, in the first half, so that the wounds have timetake a puff.
• Stepchildren should always be cut off: as soon as they appear and before harvesting. If they have grown large, they should still be removed so that they do not take away food from the fruit.
• Thanks to pinching, fruits ripen faster, fruiting increases in time, and tomatoes increase in quality.

Care

Tomatoes, like all other cultivated plants, need care, which is as follows:

• The bushes should be hilled, at the same time the soil around the bushes is loosened, which creates free access of oxygen to the roots.
• Perform pinching, which reduces the likelihood of the spread of a fungal infection.
• Fertilize with fertilizers of different composition depending on the periods of growth.
• Water plants when required. If the weather is hot, more often.
• Protect tomatoes from diseases and pests.