There are tons of different types of tomatoes… determinate, indeterminate, cherry, paste, beefsteak, dwarf, and more. Which one(s) should you grow?

Determinate Tomatoes

Determinate tomatoes reach a determined height and ripen all fruit quickly before dying off. If you’re looking for one abundant harvest, this is the type of tomato for you. For the most part, they have a bush habit and only reach 4 feet tall or less. My favorite determinate tomato, which may actually be semi-determinate, is the Celebrity Hybrid. This variety produces perfect looking, tasty tomatoes throughout the season and does not grow above 4 feet tall.

Indeterminate Tomatoes

Indeterminate Tomatoes grow to, as the name suggests, an undetermined size (sometimes approaching 10 feet tall under the right growing conditions) and ripen fruit throughout the season. The majority of tomatoes that I grow fall under this umbrella, often approaching 8 or 9 feet tall before frost, disease, and/or pests kill them off. Some of my favorite indeterminate tomatoes include Sungold hybrid and Black Cherry. You’ll need more space and more supports, in the form of garden stakes, tomato cages, or trellises.

Cherry Tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes converted me from a tomato hater to a tomato connoisseur. There is nothing better than a sweet, Sungold Tomato on a hot, summer afternoon. As the name suggests, these tomatoes are usually the size of a cherry. While they are great for both fresh eating and cooking, these usually don’t even make it inside of the house. Grape tomatoes are slightly larger, and they tend to be slightly less juicy. I prefer roasting grape tomatoes and topping with cheese and bread crumbs to put over pasta.

Paste

As the name suggests, paste tomatoes are best for making a thick, rich tomato paste or sauce. These tomato varieties have a more meaty flesh and less seeds and gel. Some of the paste varieties I’ve grown in the past are Amish Paste, Roma, and the famous San Marzano tomatoes. These varieties plus a few sprigs of basil, a pinch of salt, and a few cloves of garlic will create the best tomato sauce you’ll ever try.

Beefsteak

Beefsteak tomatoes tend to be much larger and juicier than other tomatoes. Most varieties that I have come across are indeterminate or semi-determinate. Many heirlooms like Black Krim, Cherokee Purple, and Brandywines are beefsteak tomatoes. Enjoy on sandwiches, burgers, or fresh with fresh mozzarella or in cucumber tomato salad.

Dwarf Tomatoes

These are new to me. While the plant, itself, is shorter than non-dwarf varieties, they could produce anywhere from cherry-sized to beefsteak-sized fruit. I’m trying out Tiny Tim cherry tomatoes in my house and Lemon Ice Dwarf tomatoes outside in a pot this year. These would be great options for those with very little space, as they only grow 1-4 feet tall and don’t bush out as much as other, non-dwarf varieties.

What does the Renaissance Dan grow?

The Renaissance Dan, even though he has very little space, grows mostly indeterminate tomatoes. I grow everything fairly close together, but I prune most down to a single stem and train them upright by using garden stakes or the Florida weave method. I still include determinate and (for the first time) dwarf varieties because I want to try (and eat!) it all and inspire those with even less growing space to try them out.

Get Growing!