From the FAQ:

Determinate varieties of tomatoes, also called "bush" tomatoes, are varieties that are bred to grow to a compact height (approx. 4 feet).

They stop growing when fruit sets on the terminal or top bud, ripen all their crop at or near the same time (usually over a 2 week period), and then die.

They may require a limited amount of caging and/or staking for support, should NOT be pruned or "suckered" as it severely reduces the crop, and will perform relatively well in a container (minimum size of 5-6 gallon). Examples are: Rutgers, Roma, Celebrity (called a semi-determinate by some), and Marglobe.

In some locations they will produce a smaller, second crop once the weather begins to cool down from the high heat of summer. No pruning on determinates or you lose production.

Dave

Determinates come in all sizes. I especially like the "drawf" and "bush" types and plant numerous varieties (usually 12-20 plants) each year. Most of the really early varieties are determinates. So I get to have tomatoes while my main crops are just beginning to flower and set fruit.

The shorties respond better to 5 gal. container growing and are easier to manage without cages. Most will flop over the side of the pot by the end of their season but that's never been a problem. I also like that I can MOVE them if I have to.

I always make up new soil for the 5gals from peat, compost, and perlite so disease pressure is low. They usually need a little fertilizer so I add a balanced dry pelletized fert to the mix. If the plants show deficiencies early I foliar feed and/or drench with hydro nutes and seaweed. At season's end I use the leftover mix to amend a couple of large gardens and raised beds.

I love determinates because they have their place and the varieites I grow are consistent, bear well, and provide early, tasty tomatoes. They can't replace my indies and the flavor that comes from more time in the sun but they help extend my season and are fun as hell.

Mitch,
Which determinates do you grow?

Yes, Debut, Bush Early Girl, Sunstart, Sunshine are what I call "compact determinate".

Mt Fresh is a good example of an average determinant.

Celebrity and Primetime are examples of "large determinants"

I did well with Celebrity one year in a tomato box. I believe it got to be 4-5' and produced for quite a while.

My year-to-year favorite determinates are:

Early Wonder - Medium pink with good production and flavor
Lime Green Salad - Tangy green, saladette size, productive
Gold Dust - I think this may be a semi-determinate but a nice yellow that stays managable

Trialing new this year;

Early Glee - Supposedly a larger early red
Victorian Dwarf - Supposedly "a little workhorse" red
Polish Dwarf - Red, early
Sophie's Choice - Reportedly a very nice medium red
Black Sea Man - Ok, first off who names a tomato Black Seaman, or Cow's Tit, or Monkey Ass, or Bull's Sack? I mean, I've heard life on a farm is kinda laid back, but damn.

Will probably never grow again:

Legend - Blech!
New Big Dwarf - Low production for me
Siletz - Blech!
Prarie Fire - A disease beacon for me

Mitch, who's always looking for that perfect, early, tart red.

Mitch,
Thanks for the info....I'm doing Lime Green, Sophie's and Early Glee...was thinking about NBD for next year, but may now stay away......I'm trying others for first time this year, will let you know if you ask me, how they turned out....thanks again
Tom

"Black Sea Man - Ok, first off who names a tomato Black Seaman, or Cow's Tit, or Monkey Ass, or Bull's Sack? I mean, I've heard life on a farm is kinda laid back, but damn."

Don't foget Grampa's Cock Plume

Chalston,

I would definitely try a few new varieties each year and not necessarily take anyone else's experience as the final word, what with the subjectivity of taste and vagaries of local conditions being what they are.

Your mileage WILL vary. What zone are you in, BTW? Some earlies do better and produce better flavor in cooler climes. That being said, I'm pretty sure Siletz and Legend will always taste like merde. NBD might still be worth a go. Just sayin.

Cheers

Mitch,
I'm in 8-9, mostly more 9 and dripping with humidity....hear you on the NBD, as I have heard good things about it...thanks.

Alamo, I don't know where you are gardening but generally Celebrity is fairly bulletproof, about the same disease resistance as Big Beef, and grows to about 5 feet tall, bearing tomatoes over a long season ... to frost in the cooler zones.

Never grown Early Wonder. Can't say.

Early Wonder grows to about 2 1/2 ft. for me in 5 gal pots and yields about 12-15 small to medium pink fruit of good quality. Short season plant ripens all fruit over about a month and then dies.