Tomato plants fall into a few broad categories based on how they grow and when they produce fruit

The main division is between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes. Determinate varieties grow to a fixed height—usually 3 to 4 feet—then stop. They produce most of their fruit within a short window, often all ripening at once. Indeterminate varieties keep growing taller throughout the season, sometimes reaching 6 to 10 feet or more, and produce fruit continuously until frost kills the plant. Within those two groups, tomatoes also divide by use: slicing tomatoes (the large ones for sandwiches), paste tomatoes (dense, few seeds, for sauce), cherry tomatoes (small and sweet), and heirloom varieties (older cultivars bred for flavor rather than shipping). Some gardeners also distinguish between hybrid tomatoes (bred for disease resistance and yield) and open-pollinated or heirloom tomatoes (you can save seeds from them and grow the same plant next year).

The number of named tomato varieties runs into the thousands—seed catalogs list hundreds—but for a home gardener, the practical choice comes down to growth habit and what you want to do with the harvest.

Key Takeaways

  • Determinate tomatoes grow to a set height and produce most fruit at once; indeterminate tomatoes keep growing and producing all season.
  • Slicing tomatoes are large and good for fresh eating; paste tomatoes are dense and suited to sauce; cherry tomatoes are small and sweet.
  • Hybrid tomatoes are bred for disease resistance and consistent yield; heirloom and open-pollinated varieties let you save seeds for next year.
  • Your choice of type depends on your garden space, how much time you have to harvest and preserve, and what you plan to cook.

Determinate tomatoes: fixed height, concentrated harvest

Determinate varieties are bred to stop growing once they reach their mature height. This usually happens around 3 to 4 feet tall, though some compact varieties stay under 2 feet. Because the plant stops growing, it also stops producing new flowers. All the fruit that will grow on the plant forms within a few weeks, and most of it ripens within a narrow window—sometimes just two or three weeks.

This makes determinate tomatoes ideal if you want to harvest and preserve a large batch at once—for canning, freezing, or making sauce. They also work well in small spaces or containers, since you know exactly how tall they will get. Common determinate varieties include 'Roma', 'San Marzano', and 'Mountain Magic'. Most paste tomatoes are determinate.

Indeterminate tomatoes: continuous growth and steady harvest

Indeterminate varieties never stop growing. They keep producing new flowers and fruit throughout the season until cold weather kills the plant. This means you get a steady trickle of ripe tomatoes from mid-summer through fall, rather than one big harvest. Indeterminate plants often reach 6 to 10 feet or taller and need sturdy support—a cage, stake, or string trellis.

If you want fresh tomatoes on your table all summer, or if you have limited garden space and want maximum yield from one plant, indeterminate is the better choice. Most heirloom and slicing tomatoes are indeterminate. Examples include 'Brandywine', 'Cherokee Purple', 'Sungold', and 'Mortgage Lifter'. The trade-off is that you need to prune and support them more actively, and you cannot harvest all at once.

Slicing tomatoes: large, juicy, for fresh eating

Slicing tomatoes are bred to be large, with thin skin and lots of juice. They are the ones you slice for sandwiches, salads, and fresh eating. They tend to be indeterminate, so they produce steadily through the season. They are also more prone to cracking if the soil gets too wet after a dry spell, because the skin cannot expand as fast as the inside grows.

Popular slicing varieties include 'Brandywine', 'Beefsteak', 'Cherokee Purple', and 'Early Girl'. Many heirloom tomatoes are slicing types. They usually have fewer seeds and less dense flesh than paste tomatoes, which is why they are not ideal for sauce—the sauce would be too watery.

Paste tomatoes: dense, few seeds, for cooking

Paste tomatoes (also called plum tomatoes) are smaller and more oblong than slicing tomatoes. They have thick walls, few seeds, and dense flesh. This makes them perfect for sauce, paste, and canning—you get more tomato solids per pound and less water to cook down. Most paste tomatoes are determinate, so they produce a large harvest all at once, which is convenient if you plan to can or freeze.

'Roma', 'San Marzano', 'Amish Paste', and 'Opalka' are common paste varieties. If you grow tomatoes mainly to make sauce or salsa, paste tomatoes are the most efficient choice.

Cherry and grape tomatoes: small, sweet, prolific

Cherry tomatoes are small (about the size of a cherry), very sweet, and prolific. They are almost always indeterminate, so a single plant can produce dozens of fruits over the season. Grape tomatoes are similar but slightly larger and more oval. Both are popular for snacking straight off the vine, for salads, and for roasting.

Cherry tomatoes are also more forgiving than large slicing tomatoes—they crack less often and tolerate inconsistent watering better. 'Sungold', 'Sweet 100', 'Black Cherry', and 'Tiny Tim' are well-known cherry varieties. If you have limited space or want a plant that produces constantly with minimal fuss, cherry tomatoes are a good choice.

Hybrid versus heirloom and open-pollinated tomatoes

Hybrid tomatoes are bred by crossing two parent varieties to combine traits—disease resistance, yield, color, or flavor. Hybrids are often labeled F1 on the seed packet. They tend to be uniform, reliable, and resistant to common diseases like early blight and fusarium wilt. The drawback is that seeds saved from a hybrid plant will not grow the same plant next year; they revert to one of the parent varieties.

Heirloom and open-pollinated tomatoes are older varieties or varieties bred without hybridization. You can save seeds from them and grow the same plant again. Many gardeners prefer them for flavor, but they are often less disease-resistant and less uniform in size and ripening. If disease is a problem in your garden, a hybrid variety may be the practical choice. If you want to save seeds or prefer the taste of a specific old variety, heirloom is worth trying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a determinate and indeterminate tomato?

Determinate tomatoes grow to a fixed height and stop, producing most fruit within a few weeks. Indeterminate tomatoes keep growing and producing all season until frost. Determinate works better for canning; indeterminate gives you fresh tomatoes all summer.

Which type of tomato is best for making sauce?

Paste tomatoes are best for sauce because they have thick walls, few seeds, and dense flesh. Most paste varieties are determinate, so they produce a large harvest at once, which is convenient for canning or freezing. 'Roma' and 'San Marzano' are reliable choices.

Can I save seeds from any tomato plant?

You can save seeds from heirloom and open-pollinated tomatoes and grow the same plant next year. Hybrid tomatoes (labeled F1) will not produce identical plants from saved seeds. If seed-saving matters to you, choose an heirloom or open-pollinated variety.

What tomato grows best in a small space or container?

Determinate varieties stay compact and work well in containers. Cherry tomatoes are also a good choice because they are indeterminate but prolific in small spaces. 'Tiny Tim' and 'Patio' are compact varieties bred for containers.

Are hybrid tomatoes less flavorful than heirloom tomatoes?

Hybrids are bred for disease resistance and yield, not always for flavor. Many heirloom tomatoes have excellent flavor, but some hybrids do too. Taste varies by variety, not by whether it is hybrid or heirloom. Try a few varieties to find what you prefer.