Neither is inherently "better"; the right choice depends on your space and goals. Determinate tomatoes are best for canning, freezing, or small patios, as they stay compact and ripen all their fruit at once. Indeterminate tomatoes are best for fresh eating and steady, all-season harvests, as they keep growing and producing until frost.
Just know that most varieties of tomatoes are indeterminate varieties unless otherwise specified. If you're buying tomato starts, the determinate tomato plants will be bushier and usually have leaves closer together, which adds to the bushy look.
Regardless of what you might read or see in nursery promotions, planting tomatoes in October or November is not a fruitful experience, literally. The night temperatures are too low for the flowers to set fruit. Tomatoes planted in August or early September will grow quickly in the warm soil, warm nights and long days.
Never plant fennel, brassicas (like cabbage, broccoli, and kale), potatoes, or corn near tomatoes. These plants can stunt tomato growth, compete aggressively for nutrients, or spread devastating diseases and pests.
Beefsteak tomatoes are predominantly indeterminate, meaning the vines continuously grow and produce large, meaty tomatoes throughout the entire season until killed by frost. However, some specific determinate (bush) beefsteak varieties exist.
Pizzutello
Coffee grounds provide tomato plants with slow-release nitrogen for leafy growth, trace minerals like potassium and magnesium, and beneficial organic matter. They also help improve soil drainage and can slightly deter pests like slugs and snails.
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is used to control fungal diseases, deter pests, and slightly reduce soil acidity. However, it must be applied with caution; overuse can cause dangerous salt buildup and damage plant tissue.
The best overall companion plant for tomatoes is basil. It thrives in the same growing conditions, repels pests like mosquitoes and thrips, and is widely believed to enhance the flavor of the tomatoes themselves.
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Gardeners bury an egg in the planting hole because it acts as an organic, slow-release fertilizer. As the egg decomposes, it releases essential nutrients like calcium, nitrogen, and phosphorus directly to the tomato roots, which helps build stronger stems and prevents blossom end rot.
Grape Tomatoes
Several grape tomato varieties work great in hanging baskets or tall pots they can trail from, similar to cherry tomatoes. One of my favorites is Mighty Sweet – it can be staked and pruned; but if it isn't, the vines can grow 6+ feet long before you know it.
The biggest concern with heirloom tomato production is disease. Unlike modern hybrids, which have generally had disease resistance bred into them, most old-fashioned varieties have minimal resistance. As a result, heirlooms may not produce for as long a time period as disease-resistant varieties.
For acid reflux, the best tomatoes are low-acid, high-sugar varieties, which taste sweeter and are much easier on your stomach. Non-red heirloom tomatoes (yellow, orange, and white) are naturally lower in acid.
Tomato plants fruit from June until the first frosts, thriving in the warm, light conditions of summer. However, the ripening process slows down as the days become shorter, so fruit that develops from September may not ripen before the first frosts arrive. Tomatoes ripen most quickly in a warm, light environment.
To increase flowering in tomatoes, ensure plants get 6–8 hours of direct sunlight and maintain temperatures between 65∘F and 85∘F. Use a fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium but low in nitrogen, and self-pollinate flowers by gently shaking the stems.
Aromatic herbs like basil and rosemary repel a number of different tomato pests, and basil seems to keep tomato plants healthy and productive. "Bad" tomato companions include corn, potatoes, broccoli, fennel, and cabbage.
For optimal health and yield, put only one tomato plant in a 5-gallon bucket. While tempting to add more, a single plant needs the entire 5 gallons of soil for its extensive root system and nutrient uptake to thrive, particularly for large determinate or indeterminate varieties.
To deter "tomato worms" (tomato hornworms), plant fragrant herbs and flowers nearby to confuse the egg-laying moths or attract natural predators. Top choices include basil, marigolds, borage, dill, and calendula.
The best homemade tomato fertilizer is a nutrient-rich, liquid compost tea. It delivers a gentle, balanced boost of essential macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). To make it, steep a shovelful of aged manure or compost in a 5-gallon bucket of water for 24 hours, strain the liquid, and water your plants.
Hydrogen peroxide can be highly beneficial for tomato plants if used correctly. It is a cheap, effective, and readily available remedy used to control fungal diseases, manage pests, and aerate waterlogged soil. However, because it is a strong oxidizer, using too much can damage your plants.
To grow bigger tomatoes, maximize the fruit's size by pruning excess branches, restricting the plant to just one or two main stems, and plucking off early blossoms. This diverts the plant's energy into sizing up the remaining tomatoes rather than spreading resources across too many fruits.