I've never grown determinates before. The breed was claimed to be California golds and was a determinate variety. But I'm confused. Just like my indeterminates, there is a flower node every branch. I thought with determinates they let out a bunch of flower nodes all at once? I'm not sure if I should stop picking the flower nodes. It's ussually my custom until around a month from now as the tomatoes are too small to fruit. Thanks

The only difference is determinate tomatoes mostly ripen all at once while indetermine ripen over a long period of time. I've never noticed a difference in how the plants look or where the flowers form.

Lucy68 said: The only difference is determinate tomatoes mostly ripen all at once while indetermine ripen over a long period of time. I've never noticed a difference in how the plants look or where the flowers form.

Okay. Should I let it fruit even though they aren't that big? Or should I still prune back the flowers like indeterminates?

I have never heard of pruning the flowers on a tomato plant. When they are big enough to have fruit, they will. But by cutting the flowers off a determinate tomato plant, you could very well cut your whole crop off at flower stage.

Lucy68 said: I have never heard of pruning the flowers on a tomato plant. When they are big enough to have fruit, they will. But by cutting the flowers off a determinate tomato plant, you could very well cut your whole crop off at flower stage.

I was always taught that tomatoes put out flowers to early for their own good and to prune off the flowers to let them get big and bulky before letting them go.

I always thought the tomatoes could work it out on their own.

Lucy68 said: I always thought the tomatoes could work it out on their own.

That's what my grandma taught me. But im going to let the determinates flower. I don't even think I pruned their first flower node now that I think about it. I've decided this year to just let them flower and see how it goes.

Lucy68 said: I have never heard of pruning the flowers on a tomato plant. When they are big enough to have fruit, they will. But by cutting the flowers off a determinate tomato plant, you could very well cut your whole crop off at flower stage.

My thought exactly.

Flower node at every branch?
I get a sucker at about every leaf, but flowers come directly off the main stem.

Semantics