Determinate Tomatoes ... Yeah Right!

[gunslingor]

So what is this about romas growing 4 to 6 feet, and producing all their fruit at once. They seem to be behaving exactly like my indeterminate really.

Fruit is still growing, some tiny tomatoes some large and ripening. I'm really trying to figure out if I need to or should start new seedlings trying to get one more crop before winter, and when I need to chop these down and get the new in the ground?

Romas - harvesting ripe romas while it's still flowering at the top? When will these stop?


Will these beasts keep producing till winter or should I plan to start over and when? Most fruit is still small, but many are starting to ripening. Some are 8 feet. Roma vf.

Harvesting ripe romas while flowering at the top? So these won't be done for another 40 days?

All at once?

 

[NMRuss]

Kinda makes you think about seed quality.. were the parent plants grown in complete isolation or kinda isolated?

 

[gunslingor]

32 plants, 14 gurneys roma vf, 14 eden roma vf, a few others, martinos roma. All the same. I'm pretty sure this determinate indeterminate thing is just a tendency under certain ideal conditions. I have indeterminate that decided to top themselves. Cherry are indeterminate yet do better without running. Roma seems fairly random.

Probably caused by light, I only get about 6 to 8 hours when the sun is directly on the plants.

 

[NMRuss]

Semi-determinate? Maybe?

 

[gunslingor]

Think I should start seedlings or just let these keep going?

 

[NMRuss]

Ive never had the luxury of having to make that decision. The only time I ever cull any tomato is if it gets curly leaf virus. Its usually early in the season and I have a few starters left over to take their place. To start from scratch at this time for me is mind boggling!

 

[Anniekay]

I used to buy determinate plants but they do the same with me. If I have to cage or stake them I don see the point. If they keep on fruiting well, might as well keep them going and see what happens.
That said, I plant, typically, a few more seeds in May to plant out in late June/ July because it stays warm here through the first part of October.

 

[gunslingor]

Thanks... yeah georgia doesn't get cold till like February lol.

 

[Chuckers]

Romas - harvesting ripe romas while it's still flowering at the top? When will these stop?

"Determinate" Roma/RomaVT plants are actually semi-determinate, though they are sold as "determinate" usually. That means they are still bush plants but they keep producing throughout the season until your area becomes too cold, like an indeterminate.

 

[gunslingor]

"Determinate" Roma/RomaVT plants are actually semi-determinate, though they are sold as "determinate" usually. That means they are still bush plants but they keep producing throughout the season until your area becomes too cold, like an indeterminate.

Hmm... so no need to replant then? I only seem to be able to make 4 jars of sauce at a time so far... kinda a painfully slow assembly line of ripening, prepping, saucing, canning. I guess the new tomatoes will keep growing up the plant right? Already some are a bit top heavy.

Are there any real determinates?

 

[Chuckers]

Hmm... so no need to replant then? I only seem to be able to make 4 jars of sauce at a time so far... kinda a painfully slow assembly line of ripening, prepping, saucing, canning. I guess the new tomatoes will keep growing up the plant right? Already some are a bit top heavy.

Are there any real determinates?

I make sauce from Romas and I can tell you that if you keep the tomatoes in a cardboard box in a cool/dark place (not necessarily a fridge) they keep for a couple weeks. You may lose a few, but it's worth doing that as opposed to constantly making small batches.

Yes the toms will grow on new growth, so at the top. I grow all my romas using 45-50" tomato cages so I never have the top heavy problem.

BTW: Regarding indeterminate: I have seen a few shady sites selling indeterminate Roma tom seeds, but I have never in my gardening life ever came across a Roma tom plant that is indeterminate. I suppose they might exist, but I'll only believe it when I see it. Personally I think some of these sites are selling some other indeterminate plum variety and calling them "Roma". I could be wrong, though. Lots of shady seed sellers out there. Lots.

 

[gunslingor]

I make sauce from Romas and I can tell you that if you keep the tomatoes in a cardboard box in a cool/dark place (not necessarily a fridge) they keep for a couple weeks. You may lose a few, but it's worth doing that as opposed to constantly making small batches.

Yes the toms will grow on new growth, so at the top. I grow all my romas using 45-50" tomato cages so I never have the top heavy problem.

BTW: Regarding indeterminate: I have seen a few shady sites selling indeterminate Roma tom seeds, but I have never in my gardening life ever came across a Roma tom plant that is indeterminate. I suppose they might exist, but I'll only believe it when I see it. Personally I think some of these sites are selling some other indeterminate plum variety and calling them "Roma". I could be wrong, though. Lots of shady seed sellers out there. Lots.

Thanks for the tip. My counter top might thank you too.

Need somekind of stacking tomato box.

I search Google for determinate... many results were indeterminate, like San marzano. I searched early as well... tbh, best I can tell its all marketing bs, I can't find any definitively determinates. These romas came from both gurney and burpee, I can't "determine" when they will be done, lol. Also growing a Marino Roma. Pic, short fella:

Name the disease!

Voted girthiest of the year!

Voted tallest of the year, pushing 8 feet, bigger than my 30 indeterminate growing on a better trellis behind:

Plant ovaries, yum!

Family of 32 packed into 5 gallon 1 bedroom apartment.

 

[Chuckers]

These romas came from both gurney and burpee

You're lucky. I bought Roma VT seeds from Burpee last year and they were not Roma lol. Some small round slicer. Good tomato, but not Roma.

 

[big rockpile]

I buy from Eden.

big rockpile

 

[gunslingor]

16 plants are from eden and 16 from gurneys, can't tell the difference.