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What type of tomatoes to grow
Choosing the variety is important. You need to decide what characteristics are the most important to you, as well as the climate and disease susceptibility in your area. No one variety will perform best across all planting seasons and regions. Issues such as fruit firmness, size, shape, flavour and plant growing habits need to be considered.
You also need to decide whether you want a ‘jointed’ tomato variety or not. In other words, do you want a tomato variety that retains its stalk when picked or one that comes away cleanly from its stalk when picked. Many commercial organic and gourmet tomato growers choose ‘jointed’ tomato varieties because the tomato with its stalk attached looks attractive to the buyer. However, most home gardeners and non-organic commercial growers choose ‘jointless’ varieties.
The next choice is whether you want a ‘determinate’ or ‘indeterminate’ variety. A determinate variety grows to a bush about 1 metre (3 feet) high. At this stage it stops growing and sets a concentrated crop of tomatoes which can be picked over a few weeks.
Indeterminate varieties keep growing and can reach a height of up to 5 metres (15 or more feet) when fully mature. The fruit from these can be picked over a period of 12 to 20 weeks. These varieties are frequently used by greenhouse producers. Many cherry tomato varieties are indeterminate.
There are also ‘semi-determinate’ varieties which grow to about 1.5 – 2 metres (4 – 6 ft) and set fruit over a longer period than determinate varieties. These are the best suited to home gardens. They generally require staking and the tomatoes are harvested over 2 – 6 weeks.
Detailed information on hot climate and cold climate varieties as well as 100 popular varieties provided in How to Grow Juicy Tasty Tomatoes.
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