Dumb tomato question

[desertgirl]

Now that I know the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomato varieties (thanks!!), I have a garden filled with both. So when the determinates have bloomed all of their fruit (and won't bear anymore), what does one do with them? Is it for sure that they won't make any more maters?? I hate to waste water on something that isn't going to earn it's keep by giving me salsa!!

 

[seedcorn]

when they are done, pull and compost. Plant something else in it's place.

 

[HunkieDorie23]

I have grown both and maybe it is because we have a shorter growing season but mine usually produce until frost. I am not sure what they do in NM. Sorry. They tend to slow down later in the season but so do my indet. I think it's the growing shorter days and the growing colder soil temps.

This year I am growing Rutgers, Mountain Princess, and Marglobes. I am also growing Hungarian Hearts, Amish Paste, Super Itilian Paste, Money Makers and Yellow Pear. So mine is about half/half.

 

[lesa]

If you don't see anymore flowers- you don't have a chance of getting anymore fruit. As Hunkiedorie says, with a short growing season this isn't a problem- but for you it might be. If you pull the plants out, you might be able to get a cool weather crop planted...Good luck!

 

[ducks4you]

I have grown both and maybe it is because we have a shorter growing season but mine usually produce until frost.

Me, too. Romas are indeterminate--those are the ones I'm referring to--and they produce until frost for me, too. So do my determinate ones. Are you sure that they have stopped flowering? You might check.

 

[HunkieDorie23]

Alright, now I curious, how long does the average determinent tomato plant produce? I guess I have dumb tomato questions too.

 

[lesa]

Hunkiedorie, I have harvested tomatoes right up to the first frost- some are still green. If I didn't live in zone 4, I imagine they could keep producing for quite a while longer...In NM, if you keep them watered??

 

[obsessed]

I have a small garden and wounlnt take the chance for wasted space (although I was a ton of space due to lazyness).

I'd pull them and place something in between. But what you can do is a few weeks before you pull plant some new seeds or take some cuttings and viola new plants.

 

[HunkieDorie23]

Hunkiedorie, I have harvested tomatoes right up to the first frost- some are still green. If I didn't live in zone 4, I imagine they could keep producing for quite a while longer...In NM, if you keep them watered??

I know the last picking is soooo colorful.... from small green, yellow, orange and light pink. Although, I had read somewhere that the Amish pull all their tomato plants (roots and all) from the garden and hang in their root cellar with tomatoes on them and they continue to ripen and in some cases produce for a short while. I have nevered tried this but it sound like it might work.

 

[PotterWatch]

Can someone direct me towards a source that will tell me what kind of tomatoes I have? I have never heard of determinate or indeterminate tomatoes. I would love to know what kind mine are.