Guide to Tomato Plant Types and Their Culinary Uses

Tomato varieties I always recommend for all kitchen gardens: Heirloom, Cherry, and Sauce.

Tomatoes are a staple in many gardens and kitchens. Whether you’re growing them for fresh salads, homemade sauces, or canning, understanding the types of tomato plants can help you choose the best variety for your needs. The two primary categories of tomato plants are determinate and indeterminate. Here’s how they differ—and what they’re best used for in the kitchen.

Bush Cherry Tomatoes aka Dwarf or Patio

1. Determinate Tomatoes

(Bush Varieties)

Characteristics:

• Grow to a fixed mature size (usually 3-4 feet tall)

• Produce fruit all at once in a short time frame (2–3 weeks)

• Require less staking/support

• Ideal for container gardening or limited space

• Tend to ripen earlier

Popular Determinate Varieties:

Variety	Size & Shape	Flavor Profile	Use
Roma	Plum, medium	Meaty, low moisture	Sauces, pastes, canning
Celebrity	Medium round	Balanced, classic	Slicing, cooking
San Marzano	Long, plum	Sweet, rich	Premium sauces, roasting
Bush Early Girl	Small-medium round	Sweet, early ripening	Salads, sandwiches

Culinary Uses:

• Best for sauces, pastes, freezing, and canning due to their concentrated harvest and low moisture.

• Excellent for cooking in bulk and preserving.

• Often less juicy, making them easier to reduce into thick sauces.

Vining tomato in the cage to help support it. Nasturtiums are planted as a companion to attract beneficial insects.

2. Indeterminate Tomatoes

(Vining Varieties)

Characteristics:

• Continue growing and producing fruit until frost

• Can reach 6–12 feet or more with support, can also prune to reduce the spread

• Require regular pruning and staking/caging

• Spread out the harvest over the season

Popular Indeterminate Varieties:

Variety	Size & Shape	Flavor Profile	Use
Brandywine	Large, beefsteak	Rich, sweet	Slicing, gourmet sandwiches
Cherokee Purple	Medium-large, irregular	Smoky, sweet	Salads, fresh eating
Sweet 100	Small cherry clusters	Super sweet	Snacking, salads, roasting
Sungold	Small orange cherry	Tropical, tangy-sweet	Snacking, salads
Black Krim	Medium-large, dark	Savory, slightly salty	Caprese, bruschetta

Cherry tomatoes slow roasted with EVOO, S&P for a couple hours put in jars and frozen to use over winter.

Culinary Uses:

• Great for fresh eating: sandwiches, salads, bruschetta.

• Cherry and grape types are perfect for snacking, roasting, or skewering.

• Beefsteaks shine in hearty meals—on burgers, grilled, or layered in stacks.

• Harvest staggered over weeks—ideal for gardeners who want a steady supply.

Culinary Use Guide by Type

Culinary Use	Best Plant Type	Recommended Varieties
Sauces & Canning	Determinate	Roma, San Marzano
Salads & Fresh	Indeterminate	Sungold, Cherokee Purple
Slicing/Burgers	Indeterminate	Brandywine, Black Krim
Snacking	Indeterminate	Sweet 100, Sungold
Quick Harvests	Determinate	Celebrity, Bush Early Girl

Final Tips for Cooks & Gardeners:

• If you preserve or make sauces, go for determinate types for their concentrated harvest.

• For a long summer of salads, choose indeterminate plants and enjoy the benefits of staggered picking.

• Cherry tomatoes are often indeterminate and ideal for quick snacks and colorful dishes.

• Consider growing both types to reap the benefits of both worlds: bulk harvests and a continuous fresh supply.