
Indeterminate varieties keep growing indefinitely until frost, and continue to set new flowers and fruit throughout this time.

Determinate varieties are typically earlier than indeterminate varieties, but they have a short and defined production season.

These varieties stop growing once they set a terminal bud, usually when they are around 4’ tall. Determinate tomatoes have a bush growth habit. The growth habit determines the most appropriate pruning system for that variety. Tomato varieties are classified as having either determinate or indeterminate growth habit. Further, keeping tomato plants off the ground reduces common fungal diseases like early blight, Septoria leaf spot, and anthracnose, and improves fruit quality.

Pruning, or selectively removing some of the tomato plant growth, can improve harvestable yields and prolong the harvest season.
