Determinant tomato variety, what is it?
Looking at a packet of tomato seeds, one can see the type of plant growth in the description, which can be determinant or indeterminate. For novice gardeners, these terms are not always clear and are not taken into account when choosing a new variety. A previously unknown tomato sown in a garden without taking into account the type of growth can give either a strong thickening of the plants, or an almost empty area, which negatively affects the overall yield. Therefore, the question arises: an indeterminate and determinant tomato, what is it? Let's consider these two concepts in detail.
The meaning of the term determinant variety
The term “determinant” itself comes from the word “determination”, which in Latin means limitation, therefore “determinant” means “limited”, and “indeterminate” means “unlimited”.
With regard to the type of tomato growth: determinant - having limited growth, indeterminate - unlimited growth.
What are determinant tomatoes limited to? The growth of the central apex is limited by the flower brush. This happens as follows: at the end of the shoot, an ovary with fruits is formed, and then it stops growing. Further growth of the tomato comes from the strongest stepson in the lower axil of the leaf.
Indeterminate tomatoes do not have this limitation. The growth of their central apex occurs without limitation by the flower brush.
Read also the article: how to pinch tomatoes in the country?
What is the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes?
Indeterminate tomatoes are easily distinguished from determinate tomatoes even before the flowers and fruits appear.
Seedlings
When shoots appear after 3-4 days, the cotyledonous knee straightens out and by its length it is possible to indirectly determine the type of future bush. In indeterminate varieties, it is longer (3-5 cm) than in determinant varieties (1-3 cm). However, with a lack of light, the seedling can stretch out a lot and then it is quite difficult to determine which bush will be. In the photo, a seedling of an indeterminate tomato, the hypocotal knee is rather long.
Seedling
When the seedlings reach the age of appearance of the first flower brush, you can easily determine the type of future bush. Indeterminate tomatoes form the first cluster after 8-9 true leaves and above, determinant ones - after 6-7 true leaves and below. An example of an indeterminate variety is visible in the photo, already 9 true leaves, but not a single flower brush.
Mature plants
When the plant has long been planted, has grown well and has several tied clusters with fruits, it is difficult to determine the number of leaves before the first ovary, since seedlings could deepen and part of the stem remained underground.
Indeterminate varieties lay flowers through 3 leaves. Determinate tomatoes always have less than 3 true leaves between the clusters.
On a plant of determinant varieties, you can always find a shoot, the growth of which ends with an ovary; indeterminate varieties will not have such a case. The only mistaken acceptance of an indeterminate tomato for a determinant one may be the case when, during the formation of the plant, the shoot is pinched immediately behind the flower brush and it seems that the shoot on it has finished growing. Therefore, it is necessary to be careful and count the leaves between the ovaries as a check.
In the photo you can see how indeterminate varieties grow.
It is believed that indeterminate tomatoes have tall bushes, and determinant ones form low-growing plants. This statement is partially true, but there are exceptions.
There are greenhouse tomatoes that form tall plants, but are determinant tomato varieties, forming clusters in less than 3 leaves. These are the majority of modern greenhouse hybrids. There are also standard indeterminate tomatoes that have a low-growing bush, for example, the well-known late-ripening variety Volgogradsky 5/95.
A diagram of the different types of bush is shown in the diagram.
The standard type of bush has nothing to do with branching, the formation of brushes and has corrugated leaves and a thickened central stem, which keeps the plant upright, even with a large number of fruits and does not require a garter. An example of a standard determinant tomato variety, the photo of which is located below, shows how compact this bush is.
Varieties of determinant tomatoes
The group of determinant tomato varieties is 4 plant varieties that differ in the degree of limited growth and have their own characteristics:
- Semi-determinant. These tomatoes can often be confused with indeterminate and are an intermediate type of plant branching. They limit their growth after the formation of 10-12 flower clusters, but they are laid every 2 true leaves, but there are also gaps with 3 leaves. Therefore, it is believed that semi-determinant varieties lay ovaries through 2-2.5 leaves. The first flower cluster is laid after 7-8 leaves.
- Determinant. In these tomatoes, the formation of brushes occurs strictly less than 3 leaves, and after 5-6 of them have grown, the shoot ends its growth with a flower brush. The laying of the first peduncle occurs after 6-7 true leaves. In the photo of determinant varieties of tomatoes, it can be seen that after the ovary there is no longer a top on the bush, and growth continued from the axillary bud of the leaf below.
- Superdeterminate. These varieties are early maturing. Flower brushes are laid after 1-2 leaves, and after their formation in the amount of 4-5 pieces, an shoot appears, limiting the growth of the plant with a peduncle.
- Super super determinant. These include super-dwarf and ultra-early ripening varieties. They can form at once 2-3 flower clusters in a row without gaps from the leaves. The shoot limits its growth after the formation of 3-4 peduncles. The first brush appears after the 5th true sheet and after 1 sheet the next one can form.
Pros and cons of determinant tomato varieties
The positive features include the following:
- early maturity, since the flower cluster is laid through fewer leaves than in indeterminate ones, the ripening of the first fruit occurs earlier.
- high early yield, due to the setting of ovaries through a smaller number of leaves than indeterminate varieties, then a larger number of them are laid per meter of stem and the yield efficiency is higher.
- a more harmonious return of the harvest than that of indeterminate varieties, since several brushes are tied at once almost simultaneously.
The disadvantages of these tomatoes are as follows:
- the total yield is lower, since growth is limited by the brushes, the bush can completely end and the plant stops growing in height and form new ovaries.
- requires increased mineral nutrition, due to the frequent formation of brushes, more fertilizers are required to form the crop.
- require less work on the formation of the plant, due to the limitation of growth by the peduncle, it is necessary to remove more stepsons and not overload the plant with ovaries.
- predisposition to diseases, in a plant more loaded with ovaries, and this is the usual state of determinant varieties, resistance to infections decreases, therefore increased use of chemical remedies is required.
We hope the article revealed the features of different types of bush, as well as the pros and cons of determinant tomato varieties.
Formation scheme for determinant tomatoes
Formation scheme of indeterminate tomatoes
Very helpful article. Summer residents, even with many years of experience in growing tomatoes, sometimes, having received a new variety, are lost, they do not know how to pinch it correctly. In order not to spoil the bush, you can take such a simple rule. For street varieties of super-early, early, determinant, it is necessary to leave 7 tied brushes on the bush where the summer is long, in Siberia 5 is enough. Then the tomatoes will fill up and turn red at the root. Remove the rest of the stepsons and inflorescences so as not to pull food and increase the set fruits. In the greenhouse, if it is not known what kind of formation, remove the stepson when a new one has already come out above. Then you will do without a big wound, and you will not be left without a crop. Ultra early ripening should be pinned especially carefully. I have already said above that the main thing is to tie the right number of brushes. If you accidentally missed the stepson from the root and he grew big, then it is better to dig him in. When it takes root, cut off the upper part, and additional roots will work for the harvest of the main bush. On a neglected, not removed in time stepson, you need to leave one brush, and then cut off the stem with a sterile knife. Once grown, let the brush pour.
Thanks for the useful information!
Hello, what to do with my tomato
Is this a disease or what?))
Please tell me
Thank you very much .. I lived my life, but I did not know what determinant tomatoes are… very useful article.