What is a determinate tomato and are there reasons why one may want a list of them? If you would like to learn about all the terms, you can read our guide to tomato terminology here.
The tomatoes listed here are called determinates, or bush tomatoes. Bush tomatoes are specifically bred to grow to a compact height, generally not exceeding 4 feet in height.
Also, they stop growing upon reaching a certain compact height, and additionally, they crop very quickly with all the fruit maturing in a period of one to two months. Thus, you receive all the tomatoes in a short period and then the bush ceases to produce any further tomatoes for the season.
Indeterminate tomatoes, also referred to as cordon or vine tomatoes, continue growing and bearing fruit during the summer. Because of this, they either need to be staked for support, or can be left to sprawl on the ground. They will continue to grow bigger and bigger over time. They keep producing tomatoes, thus they can be harvested over an extended period of time.
If you would like to cultivate smaller plants over a shorter season, bush or determinate tomatoes would be suitable for you.
Comment below if we missed any of your preferred varieties as we would like to work on expanding our list.
42 Days
These openly-pollinated determinate tomatoes yield a maximum height of 2 feet and the fruits are low in seeds.
A
Ace
The red determinate tomatoes are slightly flattened and weight 8 oz each.
Ace 55
Known for its low acidity, these determinate tomatoes are prolific bearers.
Alaska
These semi-determinate tomatoes have an upright bush habit. They were bred in Russia and are adapted to cold climates.
Amber Colored
These semi-determinate tomatoes from Ukraine are noted for their sweetness.
Anahu
These determinate tomatoes are known to be sweet and were bred by De. Jim Gilbert from Hawaii. They have a deep red color.
Andes
French bred, these semi-determinate tomatoes are distinguished by their long, pointed shape which is ideal for sauces.
B
Backa
These determinate tomatoes are from Yugoslavia and are utilized in the preparation of sauces, sandwiches, or for canning purposes.
Banana Legs
Banana legs are determinate tomatoes that have light yellow coloration and a fruit size of four inches.
Beaverlodge Slicer
Beaverlodge Slicer tomatoes are an early maturing crop from the Beaverlodge Research Center in Canada. They are better suited for cooler regions and mature in 54 days.
Black Sea Man
These medium-sized determinate tomatoes are from Marina Danilenko and have a characteristic of marble flesh.
Burbank Slicing
Introduced by Luther Burbank, these determinate tomatoes have high amino acid content.
Bush Beefsteak
These determinate tomatoes are bred for short growing regions and are red in color. The plants grow to a height of three feet.
Bush Early Girl
These self-supporting indeterminate tomatoes are bush-type with fruits measuring four inches across.
C
Campbell 33
These determinate tomatoes are deep red in color and suited for salad and sandwich preparation.
Cream Sausage
This very productive strain of cream tomato sausage was introduced by Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds in 2004.
Czech’s Bush
These red determinate tomatoes originated from Czechoslovakia and are known to be juicy in taste.
D
Dwarf Pink Passion
Derived from the Dwarf Tomato Project, the determinate tomatoes are a hybrid from Roza Vetrov and Anna Banana Russian. Their taste is balanced sweet.
Dwarf Purple Heart
Determinate tomatoes created from the Dwarf Tomato Project are a cross of Dwarf Wild Fred and Brad’s Black Heart. They exhibit purple-black coloration.
E
Early Annie
These determinate tomatoes are economical as they can be canned and have a low seed count. Maturity period is 60 days.
Early Wonder
This variety of determinate tomatoes was released by Campbell’s tomato seeds in 1950. They are adaptable to container growing.
Ethiopia Roi Humbert
These red determinate tomatoes are ideal for canning and snacking. The plant height can reach 2 inches.
F
Fargo
The yellow-orange semi-determinate tomatoes are uniquely pear shaped and are excellent for use in specialty salads.
Florida 47
These determinate tomatoes are grown on small bush plants. Their dark red color is matched by fruits that can weigh 10oz.
First Pick
This variety of indeterminate tomatoes was traced to France and is adaptable to colder climates. The deep red fruits are attractive.
G
Gill’s All Purpose
The semi-determinate tomatoes are a hybrid of Wasatch Beauty and Pepper tomatoes. They can be prepared by canning, juicing, or slicing.
Gold Nugget Cherry
The determinates range in color from yellow to orange. They are suitable for snacking.
Golden Girl
The golden variety contains cherry tomatoes that are determinates. They resist Verticillium and Mosaic viruses.
Golden Fresh Salsa
The plum-shaped golden salsa tomatoes are determinates. They are firm and suitable for chopping into salsa.
Green Sausage
These determinate tomatoes have a distinctive long, pointed shape and are green with yellow stripes.
Gremlin
The tomatoes are red and pear-shaped. They’re classified as determinate tomotaoes.
Green Thumb
Determinate yellow-orange Tomatoes are high altitude crops. They are slow to ripen.
Grushova
This variety of Siberian heirloom tomatoes are determinate and have 2 to 3 inch fruits.
H
Hard Rock
These tomatoes are also known as determinate. They are blocky shaped.
Healani
These determinate tomatoes are bred for hot water resistance. They are tolerant of tobacco mosaic virus.
Heinz
These red determinates mature in 76 days and are suited for canning.
Health Kick
The red tomatoes are produced by the determinate varieties until frost and need a minimum of six hours of sunlight. They are rich in antioxidants.
Heinz 1350
Strains are specially selected to be mid-season determinates, as they are used for sauced and canning. Their growth regions include Eastern Canada and Northeast U.S.
Heinz 9129
Slightly larger than fellow Heinz varieties, the determinates are used for canning and sauces.
Hy-Brix
As their name suggests, these hybrid semi-determinate tomatoes are made for early harvest. The fruits grow up to 1/2oz.
Homestead 24
The determinate tomatoes thrive in hot and humid areas. They are also resistant to cracking.
I
Italian Roma
The determinates bear elongated fruits that are larger than Roma tomatoes. These tomatoes also have a higher sugar content.
K
Kewalo
Kewalo tomatoes are a bred of the University of Hawaii. Kewalo is also known for their sweet flavor and bred to resist viruses and bacteria.
L
Lady Finger
These determinate tomatoes are high in sugar which makes them ideal for thick flavorful sauces.
Legend
These round determinate tomatoes grow to an impressive 8oz, and are known to be resilient to blight.
Lunch Box
These determinates are comparable in size to plums and are only slightly larger than egg-sized at 3oz.
Lime Green Salad
The determinate tomatoes are suitable for growing in containers as they stay small and do not grow very large.
Long Keeper
These semi-determinate tomatoes have been available since 1979, and they are good for winter storage.
M
Marglobe
This variety is juicy, and the determinate tomatoes have orange-red skins. They are good for canning.
Manitoba
These determinate tomatoes have red coloration and are suited for small gardens in the cooler regions.
Mariana
This cultivar is a large Roma type, and the determinate tomatoes are plum-shaped. They have resistance to some common viruses.
Martino’s Roma
With a distinct Italian profile, the determinate tomatoes are known to fall off when fully ripe.
Milano Plum
The determinate tomatoes have a sweet flavor. They are suitable for sauces.
N
Napoli
These are sauce and soup tomatoes and have a very tangy taste.
New Big Dwarf
These determinate tomatoes were released in 1919 and were bred from Ponderosa and Dwarf Champion.
New Hampshire Red Pickling
These determinates are small but their fruits are pear-shaped and weigh up to 0.7oz.
New Yorker
These determinate tomatoes are suited for the cooler regions and have a maturity time of around 63 days.
Northern Delight
These determinate tomatoes are sweet and provide early harvests suited for cool seasons.
P
Pearson Improved
The determinate wines can be cultivated in arid regions. The tomatoes have good color and are used for canning.
Pellicore
The semi-determinate tomatoes have a cluster growth habit. Their individual fruits can weigh up to 10oz.
Picus
The determinate variety produces red fruits that are 4oz in weight and plum shaped. The plants reach a height of 4 feet.
Plum Crimson
These dark red tomatoes are also known as Crimson Tomatoes and are determinate cultivators. They are good fresh or cooked in pasta and the fruits are about 4oz.
Prescott
These heirloom tomatoes are determinate and bred for high altitude and cold climate growing regions. They are good for fresh consumption and canning.
Pride of Flanders
Tom Wagner developed these black cherry tomatoes, now classed as Principe Borghese. The were released around 2000 hence the novelty profile.
Principe Borghese
These Italian tomatoes are suited for drying purposes. They are determinate and produce plum-shaped fruits.
R
Rambling Red Stripe
These red cherry tomato hybrids are larger than the standard size and are formed in clusters with slightly deep green stripes.
Red Robin
These cherry tomatoes bear fruit after 54 days of planting and have a sweet flavor. They are to be consumed fresh after harvest.
Rosella Crimson
This pink determinate cultivar has a balanced flavor profile. It is a cross of Budai Torpe and Stump and is one of the results of the Dwarf Tomato Project.
Rounghwood Golden Plum
These are semi-determinate yellow-orange tomatoes. They were created by William Woys Weaver and are appropriate for salads.
Roma
These determinate tomatoes are good sauce makers. Their fruits weigh 2 to 3 ounces.
Rosso Sicilian
These bright red tomatoes are able to grow to six ounces. The fruits are determinate and are used for sauces.
Rutgers
These determinate tomatoes are a cross of Marglobe and J.T.D. They are the product of other pedigreed tomato lines.
S
Scarlet Red
These are also determinate with a slightly flattened shape so they can easily be sliced. Weighing 12 ounces, they can be used as fresh tomatoes.
Shady Lady
These red determinate tomatoes produce fruits that weigh 10oz. They have resistance to Fusarium Wilt Race 1 and Alternaria Stem Canker.
San Marzano
The semi-determinate tomatoes mature in 85 days. Their seeds can be obtained commercially.
Sasha Altai
These determinate tomatoes were received as gifts in Siberia in 1989 from a gentleman named Sasha. They are regarded as some of the best early season producers worldwide.
Silvery Fir
These Russian-origin determinate tomatoes grow on 24 inch tall plants.
Sophie’s Choice
The first type of tomato is best grown in colder regions like Edmonton, Canada, which was the first location to cultivate them.
Speckled Siberian
Red determinate tomatoes are divided into three categories, the first being frost resistant. They yield small fruits which are desirable for salad dishes.
Sprite
These determinate tomatoes have thin skins and are excellent for fresh consumption or salad preparation before the first frost.
Sub-Arctic Plenty
This frost tolerant determinate cultivar with an upright growth habit is suited for colder climates.
Surrender’s Indian Curry
These red determinate tomatoes with exotic flavor have regular leaves and were developed by Surender Katta, an Indian gardener.
Sweet Israeli
These sweet red Israeli tomatoes are bushy with regular leaves and classified as determinate.
Sweet Tangerine
This variety is recognized for its productive nature and early ripening in comparison to other yellow tomatoes. The overall yield is quite substantial.
T
Tasti-Lee
This one is perfect for salads, as the sweetness and low acidity make it easy to enjoy.
Taxi
These are particularly recommended for regions with hot and humid climates. Their use is extensive in both slicing and sandwiches.
Ten Fingers of Naples
These beautiful red tomatoes have a rich flavor characteristic of Italian elongated varieties. They are great canned.
Tiny Tim
This cultivar was developed at the University of New Hampshire, taking only 45 days to reach maturity.
Tribeca
The deep red determinate tomatoes weigh 10oz each and have normal sized leaves.
Tondino di Manduria
The semi-determinate tomatoes are from southern Italy and are best suited for hotter, dryer climates.
Torbay
The pink determinate tomatoes are fresh eating varieties and grow to a maximum size of 8oz.
Tumbler
Tumbler can produce small fruits, which are around 8 ounces. They are quick to grow, maturing in just under 50 days.
Tygress
The round determinate tomatoes are relatively disease resistant, growing on 3-foot tall plants.
W
Window Box
These are oval 3-ounce red fruits which are planted in the fall. The determinate vines grow oval tomatoes.
Wisconsin Chief
Developed by the University of Wisconsin, these semi-determinate tomatoes have multi-purpose uses and are less red than the Wisconsin 55 cultivar.
Z
Zebra Cherry
These are determinate tomatoes which are red with dark green stripes. They are salad tomatoes and their fruits are 1-1/2 inches.