Beginners question

Ghawdex · March 22, 2015

Hi everyone,

This may be a silly question, so pardon me if it is.

I'm in the process of building an indoor garden. My question is, how many times can one tomato plant be harvested?

So, once the plant has fruit on it and harvested, do I just start from seed again, or can I do some pruning in hopes of it flowering again and giving me some fruits once again. If I can do this, how long will one plant be able to last?

Thanks!

Labradors2 · March 22, 2015

If you grow "determinate" varieties, they produce fruit all at once and then the plant is finished.

Indeterminate varieties continue to produce fruit until frost kills them. They are perennial in warm climates.

HTH,
Linda

FarmerShawn · March 22, 2015

Linda is right. Just be aware that many indeterminates can grow really big (tall) so research and plan on some kind of support system (there's lots of types to choose from, from purchased supports to less expensive, homemade methods). Even the determinates will benefit from some support, usually cage-type. I'm not sure what you mean by indoor garden, but my northern Vermont greenhouse-grown Black Cherry plants, for example, usually reach 17-20 long before a freeze takes them, usually in October. That's the top end for me so far, but most varieties in the greenhouse will, on average, easily reach 6'-8'.

Ghawdex · March 22, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labradors2

If you grow "determinate" varieties, they produce fruit all at once and then the plant is finished.

Indeterminate varieties continue to produce fruit until frost kills them. They are perennial in warm climates.

HTH,
Linda

Thank You!

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmerShawn

Linda is right. Just be aware that many indeterminates can grow really big (tall) so research and plan on some kind of support system (there's lots of types to choose from, from purchased supports to less expensive, homemade methods). Even the determinates will benefit from some support, usually cage-type. I'm not sure what you mean by indoor garden, but my northern Vermont greenhouse-grown Black Cherry plants, for example, usually reach 17-20 long before a freeze takes them, usually in October. That's the top end for me so far, but most varieties in the greenhouse will, on average, easily reach 6'-8'.

If I prune them correctly, will it be able to grow wide and short..? Also, I didn't mean to say 'indoor garden' but more so, an indoor grow. I just purchased a 1000 watt Gavita HPS DE light, and will be getting a grow tent and a hydroponic system so I can grow year round. I have considered doing a greenhouse as well..

Thank You

FarmerShawn · March 22, 2015

You might consider some of the dwarf varieties developed by the Dwarf Project. It has produced some darn tasty varieties, most of which top out at 3-4 feet or so.

Gardeneer · March 22, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghawdex

Thank You!

If I prune them correctly, will it be able to grow wide and short..? Also, I didn't mean to say 'indoor garden' but more so, an indoor grow. I just purchased a 1000 watt Gavita HPS DE light, and will be getting a grow tent and a hydroponic system so I can grow year round. I have considered doing a greenhouse as well..

Thank You

Look into "DWARFS" for indoor gardening. Then you wont have to prune them.
Dwarfs also come as determinant and indeterminant.
If I had to do what you are planning, I would grow dwarfs.

EDited to add:
Sometimes DWARFS also called BUSH TYPES, Patio types.

Ghawdex · March 22, 2015

Thank you guys, I will look into these Dwarfs.

Pardon this question, but do they produce a lot of fruit? as my plan is to only do 2-3 plants indoors along with 2-3 pepper plants.

ginger2778 · March 22, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghawdex

Thank you guys, I will look into these Dwarfs.

Pardon this question, but do they produce a lot of fruit? as my plan is to only do 2-3 plants indoors along with 2-3 pepper plants.

Some varieties do. Sarandipity is a machine!, Perth Pride produces very well too. Tatjana was very productive, very compact, and the earliest tomato to ripen for me last year. It only grows to about 2.5 ft tall.

Cole_Robbie · March 22, 2015

I agree about dwarfs.

There is also a compact-growing hybrid cherry tomato called Terrenzo. I think it would work well in a tent. The fruit are sweet, and flavor is good. Most hybrid dwarfs are really horrible flavor-wise.

Trying to grow a typical indeterminate would be a nightmare. The vines would overgrow everything. And depending on your style of hydro grow, giant rootballs can also clog up systems that depend on water flowing over the roots.

bughunter99 · March 23, 2015

Any way you slice it, tomatoes are not great indoor plants. You can grow dwarf varieties, sure but if you are expecting bushels of tomatoes you will be disappointed. I would keep the tomatoes outside, grow indeterminants for big yields and for the indoor garden stick with herbs and greens, stuff that is very convenient to have very close by.

March 22, 2015	#1
Ghawdex Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NY Posts: 22	Beginners question Hi everyone, This may be a silly question, so pardon me if it is. I'm in the process of building an indoor garden. My question is, how many times can one tomato plant be harvested? So, once the plant has fruit on it and harvested, do I just start from seed again, or can I do some pruning in hopes of it flowering again and giving me some fruits once again. If I can do this, how long will one plant be able to last? Thanks!

March 22, 2015	#3
FarmerShawn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,001	Linda is right. Just be aware that many indeterminates can grow really big (tall) so research and plan on some kind of support system (there's lots of types to choose from, from purchased supports to less expensive, homemade methods). Even the determinates will benefit from some support, usually cage-type. I'm not sure what you mean by indoor garden, but my northern Vermont greenhouse-grown Black Cherry plants, for example, usually reach 17-20 long before a freeze takes them, usually in October. That's the top end for me so far, but most varieties in the greenhouse will, on average, easily reach 6'-8'. __________________ "Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers

March 22, 2015	#5
FarmerShawn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,001	You might consider some of the dwarf varieties developed by the Dwarf Project. It has produced some darn tasty varieties, most of which top out at 3-4 feet or so. __________________ "Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers

March 22, 2015	#2
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,889	If you grow "determinate" varieties, they produce fruit all at once and then the plant is finished. Indeterminate varieties continue to produce fruit until frost kills them. They are perennial in warm climates. HTH, Linda

March 22, 2015	#9
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I agree about dwarfs. There is also a compact-growing hybrid cherry tomato called Terrenzo. I think it would work well in a tent. The fruit are sweet, and flavor is good. Most hybrid dwarfs are really horrible flavor-wise. Trying to grow a typical indeterminate would be a nightmare. The vines would overgrow everything. And depending on your style of hydro grow, giant rootballs can also clog up systems that depend on water flowing over the roots.

March 23, 2015	#10
bughunter99 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: zone 5 Posts: 821	Any way you slice it, tomatoes are not great indoor plants. You can grow dwarf varieties, sure but if you are expecting bushels of tomatoes you will be disappointed. I would keep the tomatoes outside, grow indeterminants for big yields and for the indoor garden stick with herbs and greens, stuff that is very convenient to have very close by.