Find Out Which Tomato Types To Grow

Once a home gardener has decided to grow some tomato plants the next decision is to decide what tomato type or types should be grown. It is not surprising that there are various tomato types because by looking at tomato pictures that is obvious, but did you realize that there are over 9,000 varieties of tomatoes!

But don't be concerned because there are some basic types that will help the home gardener make early decisions. Then once the type has been decided the grower will choose the variety to grow in that type. The reason why a grower should decide on the tomato type they want to grow before they start preparing any gardens or pots is because depending on what they want to grow it will depend on where and how they grow them.

'Determinate' and the 'Indeterminate' tomatoes are the two predominant types.

Determinate tomatoes.

The determinate type of tomato plant is small and bushy and the tomatoes grow at the end of branches coming from between the leaf and stem of the plant. Because the fruit grows in a cluster at the end of small branches the plant does not grow tall and lanky, but rather spreads out and becomes bushy. This is the reason why determinate tomatoes do not get pruned. In earlier years there was a problem with determinate plants not growing enough leaves to shade the tomatoes but with most varieties this is no longer a problem. In fact these plants now grow quite tall compared to their earlier days of development.

Another feature of the determinate tomato plant is that the fruit ripens quicker than does the indeterminate varieties.

Determinate types are perfect for container tomatoes and many of them are of the smaller varieties.

This is a list of some of the popular determinate plants grown by home gardeners:

- Better Boy

- Bush Beefsteak

- Manitoba

- Super Bush

- Northern Delight

Indeterminate plants.

It is often argued that the indeterminate varieties provide the most flavorful fruit. It is on these vines that the larger varieties of tomatoes grow, varieties like Beefsteak.

Here is a list of some of the most popular indeterminate tomatoes:

- Black Krim

- Brandywine (there is also Yellow Brandywine and Red Brandywine)

- Cherokee Chocolate

- Beefsteak

- Italian Roma

- Amish Gold

- Amish Red

- Black Zebra

Two other methods of determining tomato types is to categorize them as 'hybrid' and 'open-pollinated'. Heirloom tomatoes are considered to be open-pollinated which means they have the ability to cross-pollinate amongst themselvees. Hybrids were developed to produce plants that were more disease resistant and more uniform in shape. Many of the commercially grown tomatoes are hybrid.

From my lists you see that once the tomato type has been established the next decision is to decide on what variety in that type is going to be planted. This can become quite difficult if you look around and are growing by seed, but if you are buying from a garden shop then the selection will be much more limiting. But the benefit of buying seedlings is that you know they have been grown in your area and will suit your climate.


Copyright (c) 2010 Kaye Dennan