Visually distinguishing determinate and indeterminate tomato plants

[dheat]

I bought a variety pack of heirloom tomato seeds earlier this season. The seeds in similar packs purchased in previous seasons were color-coded, i.e., the seeds for a particular variety were all dyed the same color. No so this pack.

I planted the seeds and now have about twenty plants the variety of which I do not specifically know. That's not such a big deal. In fact, it's kind of exciting, waiting to find out what they are.

The problem is I don't know whether a particular plant is determinate or indeterminate--whether to stake or cage it. More precisely, I want to keep the indeterminate plants to a single, main branch for easier training/support and better (from what I've read) production.

Some plants have more branches than other and look "bushy". I assume those are determinate. Is there any other way, visually or otherwise, to determine plant type?

Thanks for your help,

Doug

[Paquebot]

Impossible to determine at this point. If you bought a mix, the names of varieties are usually listed. Off hand, I also haven't seen an "heirloom mix" which included both determinate and indeterminate varieties. Normally they only have indeterminates.

Martin

[dheat]

Martin,

the varieties are listed on the package; there are 5 or 6 varieties. So, I generally know the variety planted, but I don't know the variety of a particular plant. I researched the varieties listed and 2 of them are determinate, the remainder indeterminate.

What can I say? I bought the pack for 99 cents at WalMart.

I think my signature says it all.

Thanks,

Doug