Vegetables

December 2012

This year we planted our garden as usual. Most years we have average size tomato plants that produce a few small tomatoes. This year we have the biggest plants we have ever seen with hundreds of tomatoes that are still growing this late in the season. We have no idea what type we bought but we would like to get them again next year. What type of tomato plants would you suggest to get these same results next season?

There are a lot of options when it comes to tomatoes. There are two basic types—determinate and indeterminate. Determinate types are like the patio or bush tomatoes—the plants are smaller, have a stronger stem and tend to produce all their tomatoes at one time and that is pretty much it for the season. This year you for sure bought an indeterminate—they continue to grow and produce as long as there is a growing season. They have a weaker main stem and require staking. My personal favorite is the Traveler tomato. Other indeterminate include Better Boy, Brandywine, Bradley, and Early Girl. One of the more popular varieties in the trade is Celebrity and it is a determinate variety. There are plenty of great tomato varieties out there, but you definitely want an indeterminate variety.

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