Hey Neighbor! We’ve got a great show tonight, Peiter from Seminis is back! We’re talking all things indeterminate tomatoes – debunking tomato growing myths, how to treat them, pruning tomatoes and so much more! Seminis is a HUGE player in the indeterminate seed breeder for the home gardener. Let’s grow together and get dirty, ya’ll!

The Difference Between Determinate & Indeterminate Tomatoes

Determinate tomatoes grow their tomatoes all at once and grow in a “bush”, while indeterminate tomatoes grow fruit throughout the season and grow through vining. 

Indeterminate Tomatoes

Better Boy Tomato

Better Boy Tomato is one of the most-popular tomato varieties grown across the country, and for good reason! This hybrid, indeterminate tomato variety produces heavy yields of bright red tomatoes that can weigh up to 1 lb each. Better Boy is widely adapted and performs well across the country in any growing zone. It is also resistant to nematodes, making it a great option for home gardeners and small-scale farmers. Solanum lycopersicum. 75 days to maturity.

Better Boy Tomato is the perfect slicing tomato variety. Plants produce a significant amount of foliage that protect the fruits from sun scald damage. Fruits are extra-large and have that perfect tangy and acidic tomato flavor. In addition to slicing, this is also a great variety for canning and preserving.

Tomatoes are in the nightshade family along with peppers and eggplant. Plants in the nightshade family are susceptible to blossom end rot, which is a result of a calcium deficiency. To prevent or alleviate this problem, apply pelleted gypsum at the base of the plant at bloom set. Tomatoes do best when transplanted, as the germination time can be longer than most vegetable seed. They grow very well in our heavy-duty seed starting trays. Plants should be started 4-6 weeks before the intended outdoor planting date.

If conditions outside are favorable, transplants may be planted directly from our 162 cell trays. If conditions are still too cold for planting tomatoes, transplants may be “stepped-up” to 4″ pots to allow more room to grow. Tomatoes can produce heavy fruits and will require some form of support to keep the plant upright. This ensures that plants and fruits stay off the ground, reducing the possibility of disease and keeping fruits clean.

Better Boy Tomato Planting Information

Planting Method: transplant

When to Plant: after last frost

Planting Depth: 1/4″

Seed Spacing: 2′

Row Spacing: 3-4′

Days to Maturity: 75

Disease Resistance: Verticillium Wilt, Fusarium Wilt, Root Knot Nematodes

Big Beef Tomato

Big Beef Tomato is a hybrid, indeterminate tomato variety that produces large, beefsteak tomatoes. This variety is considered the gold standard for big, fresh market tomatoes in many areas of the country. Big Beef has an excellent disease-resistance package that includes resistance to root knot nematodes and tobacco mosaic virus. Solanum lycopersicum. 75 days to maturity. TREATED.

Big Beef Tomato is an All America Selections winner for its plant vigor, consistent fruit size and excellent flavor. Indeterminate plants produce fruits that average 12 to 16 ounces. Compared to other indeterminate varieties, the fruits ripen early on vigorous vines. This variety is also known to continue to set fruit in cooler conditions, producing delicious tomatoes until the first frost in many regions.

Tomatoes are in the nightshade family along with peppers and eggplant. Plants in the nightshade family are susceptible to blossom end rot, which is a result of a calcium deficiency. To prevent or alleviate this problem, apply pelleted gypsum at the base of the plant at bloom set. Tomatoes do best when transplanted, as the germination time can be longer than most vegetable seed. They grow very well in our heavy-duty seed starting trays. Plants should be started 4-6 weeks before the intended outdoor planting date.

If conditions outside are favorable, transplants may be planted directly from our 162 cell trays. If conditions are still too cold for planting tomatoes, transplants may be “stepped-up” to 4″ pots to allow more room to grow. Tomatoes can produce heavy fruits and will require some form of support to keep the plant upright. This ensures that plants and fruits stay off the ground, reducing the possibility of disease and keeping fruits clean.

Big Beef Tomato Planting Information

Planting Method: transplant

When to Plant: after last frost

Planting Depth: 1/4″

Seed Spacing: 2′

Row Spacing: 3-4′

Days to Maturity: 75

Disease Resistance: Verticillium Wilt, Fusarium Wilt, Root Knot Nematode, Alternaria Stem Canker, Gray Leaf Spot, Tobacco Mosaic Virus

Purple Boy Tomato

Purple Boy Tomato is a hybrid, indeterminate variety that offers exceptional flavor coupled with disease-resistance to perform in the harshest conditions. It offers the great heirloom tang that you’ve come to expect from varieties like Cherokee Purple, but with more plant vigor so that it can be grown later into the warmer months. Solanum lycopersicum. 80 days to maturity.

Purple Boy Tomato produces tomatoes with a deep purple color inside and out. Unlike its heirloom counterparts, fruits will be more uniform and symmetrically-shaped, making them easier to slice and prepare for that delicious tomato sandwich. It is resistant to Tobacco Mosaic Virus and Root Knot Nematodes, making it widely-adapted for a wide range of growing conditions.

Tomatoes are in the nightshade family along with peppers and eggplant. Plants in the nightshade family are susceptible to blossom end rot, which is a result of a calcium deficiency. To prevent or alleviate this problem, apply pelleted gypsum at the base of the plant at bloom set. Tomatoes do best when transplanted, as the germination time can be longer than most vegetable seed. They grow very well in our heavy-duty seed starting trays. Plants should be started 4-6 weeks before the intended outdoor planting date.

If conditions outside are favorable, transplants may be planted directly from our 162 cell trays. If conditions are still too cold for planting tomatoes, transplants may be “stepped-up” to 4″ pots to allow more room to grow. Tomatoes can produce heavy fruits and will require some form of support to keep the plant upright. This ensures that plants and fruits stay off the ground, reducing the possibility of disease and keeping fruits clean.

Purple Boy Tomato Planting Information

Planting Method: transplant

When to Plant: after last frost

Planting Depth: 1/4″

Seed Spacing: 2′

Row Spacing: 3-4′

Days to Maturity: 80

Disease Resistance: Root Knot Nematodes, Tobacco Mosaic Virus, Verticillium Wilt, Fusarium Wilt

Lemon Boy Tomato

Lemon Boy Tomato is a hybrid, indeterminate tomato variety that produces bright yellow fruits with the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors. This variety is the yellow version of the popular Better Boy tomato variety. It has an excellent disease-resistance package including resistance to gray leaf spot and nematodes. Solanum lycopersicum. 75 days to maturity.

Unlike other gold tomato varieties, Lemon Boy Tomato has a bright yellow color like a lemon. It also i