Tomato Season is an exciting time around here. We have a large collection of tomatoes available to purchase and plant for mid to late summer enjoyment. During the course of the season we will have over 100 varieties.
Tomatoes group nicely into types according to growth habit and production.
Determinate types grow in a compact, bush form, requiring little staking. Fruit forms on the ends of the branches; most of the crop ripens at the same time. One or more successive plantings will ensure an extended harvest period. Determinate types are often the choice of those who want a large supply of ripe fruit at once for canning. Great choice for containers. Determinate types include Ace, Celebrity and Italian Roma.
Indeterminate varieties continue to grow and produce fruit all season until the first frost. Tomatoes in all stages of development may be on the plants at one time. The plants set fruit clusters along a vigorously growing vining stem. Under optimum conditions, some can grow over 15′, but in most home gardens they reach about 6′. Some indeterminates have a bush form with stockier vines, which set fruit clusters closer together. Indeterminate types include Beefsteak, most cherry tomatoes, and San Marzano (paste).
Tomatoes can also be also grouped by use (slicing, cooking & cherry) and size.
- For slicing, use tomatoes that are large and juicy.
- Cooking (paste/sauce/Roma/plum) tomatoes are drier (concentrated flavor), with fewer seeds, making them ideal for a sauce but also excellent for slicing.
- Cherry (salad) tomatoes are bite-sized and come in several shapes like oblong, pear-shaped or round.
