Is Green Zebra Determinate or Indeterminate?

8 years ago

Hi all. First post on here. I am not new to gardening, but I am not the most knowledgeable either....I grew up helping my dad with his big garden plot, however, I didn't like tomatoes until my adult years, so didn't really pay attention to the particulars of growing those plants.

I have been restricted as far as area and typically grow a couple cherry tomatoes in planter my father made me, and a couple "fun" varieties in two 16" (10 gal?) containers. This year I have a grafted Hawaiian Pineapple and a Cherokee Purple in the containers, both of which are doing well. And I have a sweet million and a sun gold in my planter...also doing well....blossoms and green fruit EVERYWHERE!

I figured out I have one more spot in the yard that will get enough sun and fits a 10 gal container nicely. I knew it was a little late to plant, but thought I would run down to the nursery and see if they had any larger seedlings that might be grown enough to do ok. I grabbed a healthy looking Green Zebra that had about 2 feet of height and a nice thick central stem as well as what appears to be 2 side shoots. The plant has a couple blossoms and it is nicely situated where it will get 6+ hours of sun, mostly morning sun, and is staked.

I didn't notice it at the nursery, but the tag actually says "DETERMINATE". I have never grown a determinate variety of tomato, and I was under the general impression that Green Zebra was an indeterminate "heirloom". My question is...I am finding conflicting information all over the place on the wonderful interwebs so I thought I would ask here...Which one is it? And if it is determinate should I pinch the blossoms since the plant is still relatively small? I know you don't typically prune determinate tomatoes as it can affect the yield and all the fruit is supposed to ripen at the same time??? Does it still need to be staked??? Never having grown a determinate variety I am not too sure how to proceed with this plant...if it is indeed determinate.

Thanks,
Chantay (Oregon, Zone 8b)

Featured Answer

Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7

8 years ago

Determinant and In-Determinant is distinguished by certain growth habit characteristics not by plant's size, being vigorous or otherwise.

In Indeterminants the stems continue growing like a vine, in a never ending pattern. But in determinants each branch ( be it main or side) eventually end with the final truss.
Also, they say that in determinant 2 leave branches separate the consequitive trusses while in indeterminants there are 3 or 4 leaves in between them.
So an indeterminat can be less vigorous but it does not mean that it is det or semi-det. There are dwarf varieties that are indet.

Sey

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

Jennie Sims
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hi Chantay, Tatiana's tomato database lists it as an indeterminate. It will definitely need to be staked. Here's the link to the database. http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Green_Zebra

And here is the link to the home page, there is a wealth of information.

http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Category:Tomato_Variety_List

Jennie
wormgirl_8a_WA
8 years ago
Hi, welcome to Gardenweb! It sounds like you are off to a good start. My 16" pots are a little over 9 gallons and a good minimum size for non-dwarf tomatoes.

It sounds like you have 3 good main stems, so you probably don't want to go more than that. I would go ahead and prune. Personally I would not remove blossoms. It's a judgement call, but since it's a bit late in the season, you're in the PNW, and GZ is a full-size tomato, I would leave them. It's great weather for fruit set right now, and if you remove blossoms you delay fruit by 3 weeks. Since we don't have a long hot season we don't have the luxury to delay fruit that long when it's midway thru June.

It's been my observation that flowers on a healthy plant, such as you describe, don't slow it's veg growth in any significant manner anyway. Keep us updated!

Jenn
Related Discussions
Is there such a thing as indeterminate and determinate potato var
Q
Comments (16)
This is an old thread, but I found it in a search, so I expect other people will as well. Counter to what an earlier poster insisted, potatoes ARE either determinate or indeterminate. Web sites like the Colorado State agriculture department use the term, and it is used exactly in the sense the original poster described. It is also very important for anyone growing potatoes in a barrel or box. You plant the seed potatoes in the bottom of the container, and then gradually add soil as the vine grows. This only makes sense if you're using an indeterminate variety, which will keep on sending out shoots off the vine to produce new potatoes. Determinate types only send out shoots that produce tubers off the original vine, just above the roots. So if you fill up a barrel with soil, and you used a determinate type, you'll only get potatoes in the bottom of the container, and all your effort was for no extra production. If you don't actually know, please don't be a know-it-all and pretend that you do. Web pages are forever, and you're passing off incorrect information to those who don't know better.
...See More
Lime Green Salad or Green Zebra?
Q
Comments (8)
I agree with Mulio. There are far far better examples of green when ripe tomatoes than the indeterminate and moderately productive Green Zebra (bland and a bit tart but has a weird metalic afterbite) or the dwarf determinate, moderately productive Lime Green Salad (better but small, juicy, some faint citrusy flavor, but becomes mushy fast). If you're looking for indeterminate, large to extra large Green When Ripe tomatoes, try Green Giant or Cherokee Green. Aunt Ruby's German Green is another good GWR indeterminate. I hear Spear's Tennessee Green is too. If you're looking for a good little dwarf green when ripe tomato, there soon will be several out there from Craig LeHoullier's dwarf project, especially the ones with Green Giant x Dwarf Gold Champion in their lineage.
...See More
Determinate? Indeterminate?
Q
Comments (10)
Absolutely true Mike, that there are determinats that can produce all season, but the majority of them don't. As with all things biology related one can never say that ALL indets are better than dets, or the reverse, or that ALL PL's are better than most or some or a few RL's. LOL If you're refering to the FAQ I linked to I just skimmed it and thought for general purposes for buying seeds or plants it would do. It's a FAQ that was here when I came to GW in about 2000 but many of the others are newer and were put together much more recently. Carolyn
...See More
are my Tomatoes determinate or indeterminate?
Q
Comments (3)
Determinate tomatoes should never be pruned. Many, many people do not prune indeterminate tomatoes. Usually, when you purchase seeds or plants, the labeling will tell you whether the plants will be determinate or indeterminate. If not, you can find the info on the internet by doing a search for your particular variety. One of the best places to find the info for heirloom and open pollinated tomatoes is on Tatiana's TOMATObase site. Or you can post a list here and I am sure the good people on this forum will be happy to tell you which ones are which (if they are known varieties.) I hope that helps. Betsy Here is a link that might be useful: Tatiana's TOMATObase - Heritage Tomatoes This post was edited by bets on Mon, May 20, 13 at 12:49
...See More
lillivewire87
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you both! I recently moved from a completely shaded apartment, to a place with a small yard, so I am super stoked to have the ability to grow something again. My planters had been in my storage unit for almost 2 years...if I have time and light when I get off work, I'll snap some pictures.

I guess I am just really curious if there is a "determinate" variety of Green Zebra or if whatever grower it came from (No brand name on the tag) mislabeled it. I have found a couple mentions of it being determinate on other Gardenweb threads and one random website...everywhere else says it is indeterminate.
wormgirl_8a_WA
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Congratulations on having a garden again. I know how it is.

I misspoke before - Green Zebra is NOT a full size tomato at all (sorry, I have not grown it and was confusing it with others). It's salad size, 2-3 oz.

I looked in Carolyn's book "100 Heirlook Tomatoes for the American Garden" and she says: "indeterminate but compact habit." Perhaps this explains the confusion.

Anyway, it looks like you have plenty of time to ripen them. The top turns gold/orange when ripe.
Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
8 years ago
Last year I grew GZ. They were small indets compared to other indets.
For sure need to stake or cage them.

Sey
lillivewire87
Original Author
8 years ago
Here is my new little (for now) friend. It was a little taller, but I planted probably about 5-6 inches of stem. I guess we will just have to wait and see if it is determinate or not...lol. However by the look of the stems I am thinking not.
fcivish
7 years ago
I would say it is definitely an indeterminate, but not a large one. Kind of medium sized. Determinates have a different, more compact growth pattern. Also, determinates tend to set all their fruit at once, so the plant will be loaded with tomatoes, without many new, additional blossoms. Indeterminates will have tomatoes in all stages from blossoms to small growing fruit, to larger growing fruit, to ripe fruit, all occurring at the same time.
CorgiKarma
7 years ago
I grow these every year, they are a family favorite! It is a very unique flavor that not everyone likes. I would also say indeterminate, they get fairly large. Botanical Intererests also lists them as Indeterminate https://www.botanicalinterests.com/product/tomato-pole-green-zebra-organic-seeds/page:2/category:vegetables/filter:86

Is Green Zebra Determinate or Indeterminate?

Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7

Comments (9)

Jennie Sims

wormgirl_8a_WA

Related Discussions

lillivewire87
Original Author

wormgirl_8a_WA

Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7

lillivewire87
Original Author

fcivish

CorgiKarma

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Is Green Zebra Determinate or Indeterminate?

Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7

Comments (9)

Jennie Sims

wormgirl_8a_WA

Related Discussions

lillivewire87Original Author

wormgirl_8a_WA

Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7

lillivewire87Original Author

fcivish

CorgiKarma

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

lillivewire87
Original Author

lillivewire87
Original Author