dscpa, your methods are contrary to most standards. Cages are usually more desirable for det. varieties and staking or trelising for the taller indt. varieties. I wouldn'd condemn any method that keeps the fruit clean, including putting a mat of straw under plants if you can demonstrate success with the method. Many years ago I purchased a few thousand 30" cages at an auction and I have since used them to my satisfaction for field grown det. varieties. For indt. varieties I stick to using the framework of my greenhouses to hold stringlines to which the tomato stems are clipped. Many of those indt. varieties, especially cherry/grape types, will grow to 15+ feet in height in a season and I know of no stakes available commercially to provide the needed support. I'll be growing more dwarf varieties this year than ever before to sell as potted plants but for my own harvests I'll stick with full size plants. I would never say that the dwarf plants or any others are a waste of garden space but I'll note that every growers desires are unique. Some of us would never go to bother supporting peppers or eggplants.

ooh, I didn't even think about plants with different DTM. Good idea. Quite a few of the OP cherry tomatoes are determinate and very small plants, which is one reason I was thinking of putting a couple in a container--"Take two, they're small." But, I do sometimes double-plant tomatoes in the ground, so I wouldn't mind cramming 2 good-sized plants into 4 gallons if it resulted in good regular tomato harvest. I'm exploring ways to start seeds the one time, and plant containers the one time, since I'd be doing it for someone and then not be there to do follow-up. Otherwise, the suggestion of succession planting different containers would work, too. Thanks for the info on the determinate flowering situation. It's kind of surprising that if all the flowers are removed, it doesn't respond by immediately making more. It's good to know that!

Bump! I want to order more, but still want to know the best time to plant. Thanks!

No idea. I can see it under Garden Forums.