"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
...
> notbob wrote:
>> On 2009-05-04, Janet Bostwick > wrote:
>>
>>> There are two kinds of tomato plants -- determinate and
>>> indeterminate -- describes how they grow. Determinate grow to a
>>> height of about 3 feet. Indeterminate will grow until frost kills
>>> them. They grow in length and width. Mine grow to about 10 feet in
>>> height. I would think that you would want to get the determinate
>>> kind for growing in one of these planters.
>>
>> How do we ....wait for it!.... determine which is more appropriate?
>
> Hee hee. Well, determinate tomatoes ripen at the same time, while
> indeterminate tomatoes produce through the season. If you're going
> to be canning them, determinate are better.
>
> nancy

Snort! There's one in every crowd! You all are very lucky my husband
doesn't post to this group. He is an expert one-liner, play on words
person. No matter how I prepare and think about it, he always gets me with
a zinger. You're right about the determinate producing generally at the
same time. It isn't as though you get up one morning and bingo, they are
all there and all ripe. The season is more like green beans, you get
tomatoes for several, maybe more weeks. If you are going to grow
indeterminate in this kind of container, I would suggest pruning the plant
as it grows, otherwise you can have a tremendous weight and also the water
consumption will keep you standing on guard to keep it watered sufficiently.
Maybe prune out the leader as it gets to the length you want and then keep
track of the side shoots. The container may keep an indeterminate in check
growth wise, simply because of root space and food in the soil -- I don't
know. Check here to see what I mean. It's the pics entitled October
tomatoes. All tomatoes are indeterminate. Check out the cherry tomato
plant.
http://janetbostwick349.fotopic.net

Janet