Determining if it's determinate or indeterminate without knowing the variety

[Lamboluke]

Like an idiot with two of the four varieties I'm growing I put a label in the pots with a white board marker and not permanent. Thus the variety name has rubbed off.

I can't recall the names as I have several unopened packets.

I was wondering if there was a way of identifying a determinate or indeterminate tomato visually without knowing the variety.

If not I'm a bit snookered.

Thanks

[Bigmallly]

The only way I can distinguish them is that determinate (bush) varieties tend to have a thicker main stem.

[Scarlet]

^^^thats what I wasgoing to say. Put some photos up...we all love a guessing game.

[Thelma Sanders]

When they get to make a truss of flowers, there will be no shoot to continue upward growth.

Side shoots will then grow to make further trusses of flowers - none of them will make growth above the
flowers.

[Lamboluke]

Thanks for the replies. I'll grab a photo of the two tomorrow and Bob it up to see what you think.

[danmow]

What stage of growth are they in?

[Jonnyt]

My indeterminate Shirley F1 have thicker stems than my bush toms so personally I don't think that's an indicator at all

[Scarlet]

I never grow F1's but out of the 30+ varieties that I have got growing I can pick out the bush varieties easily enough by stem thickness and overall look of the plant.

[Alison]

I'm not convinced the stem thickness is always a reliable indication either. Looking at my plants there is considerable variation in thickness.

[Rocketron]

Like an idiot with two of the four varieties I'm growing I put a label in the pots with a white board marker and not permanent. Thus the variety name has rubbed off.

I can't recall the names as I have several unopened packets.

I was wondering if there was a way of identifying a determinate or indeterminate tomato visually without knowing the variety.

If not I'm a bit snookered.

Thanks

I can confidently say it won't be one of those.

[Elfeda]

The only way I can distinguish them is that determinate (bush) varieties tend to have a thicker main stem.

Thats good info BM, will try checking this as I too had to miss the labels on the way

[Lamboluke]

Sorry if it's on its side, it's the right way up on my phone.

I've compared it to the others which are labeled up and it's got similar charicstistics of a gardeners delight which I have labled up thankfully!

Any takers?

[Valleyman]

My vote is for indeterminate. In fact I'd put a fiver on it.

It has lots and lots of healthy top growth. At that size a determinate would have typically have ceased it's climb upward and be throwing out numerous side shoots by now. All my determinates set a single truss with no leader stem in sight. Then the side shoots start growing very fast. Must faster than the side shoots you pinch out of a indeterminate.

[Scarlet]

My vote is for indeterminate. In fact I'd put a fiver on it.

Me too!... .

[Lamboluke]

Cheers folks!