Cordon varieties (indeterminate) grow tall and usually need to be stopped above the fourth or fifth truss to encourage the fruit to ripen. During its growth the side shoots need to be removed so that all of the plant’s energy goes into the main stem and upward growth.
Bush varieties (determinate) are in some ways easier to grow as they only reach about 18ins/2ft tall. They can be grown in a hanging basket or large pot, and the side shoots are left on to encourage outward growth.
Tumbling Tom (bush variety) growing in a large pot.
Sungold (cordon variety) growing against the garden wall. This is a truss of tomatoes which ripen when they turn yellow/orange. A very sweet cherry.
Cordon (tall) varieties produce over a longer period of the season and have a wider range of sizes, shapes and varieties to choose from.
I can recommend each of the following bush varieties for growing tomatoes outdoors - because I’ve grown them!
Tumbler - cherry - early (now difficult to find). Red Alert - cherry - early Garden Pearl - cherry - early Tumbling Tom - cherry - mid-season Alaskan Fancy - medium - early Siberian - medium - early Balconi Red - cherry - early Legend - large - mid-season Oregon Spring - medium/large - early Glacier - medium - early New Yorker - medium - early
Bush varieties are usually best grown in large pots and containers. Tall (cordon) varieties are best grown in grow bags.
