Plant Structure, Function, and Use

Plant Structures

What are determinate and indeterminate tomatoes?

Unlike many organisms that stop growing when they reach maturity, some plants continue to grow during their entire life span while other plants do stop at maturity. One good example of both types of plants is tomatoes: Unlimited, prolonged plant growth is described as indeterminate tomatoes; for example, the Peacevine cherry tomato is considered to be indeterminate, continuing to grow and produce fruit until a frost. A determinate tomato plant spreads laterally, and its fruits ripen all at once; for example, the Burbank tomato is considered determinate.



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