Determinate And Indeterminate Tomatoes: What's The Difference?

Varieties of tomatoes are available in two main types of growth habits: determinate and indeterminate. The classification boils down to several factors unique to each kind of plant. While the term "growth habit" sounds like an optional feature or undesirable action you might want to break — like sitting on the floor eating ice cream at midnight (But we don't judge! You do you.) — this term actually refers to the way the plant grows. In this case, some tomato varieties grow as bushes, and others grow as vines. The growth habit should be listed on the plant tag or seed package, so you should always know what you're getting.

While the vast majority of tomatoes fall solidly in one category or the other, there are also some semi-determinate options. These cultivars are too viny to be bushes but too bushy to be vines. With over 10,000 varieties of tomatoes, it makes sense that every single option cannot be absolutely one growth type or the other. Since determinate tomatoes have particular qualifications, it is generally accepted that even semi-determinates are actually indeterminate varieties that grow shorter vines. But now that we are all thoroughly confused, let's clarify when to choose each type of tomato.