Grushkova
We enjoyed the Tomato's from this determinate size plant. The year I planted it it was my first and last to bear fruit. I called this a determinate size plant but think it may be an indeterminate variety as far as fruit production.

Tough one, since the problem is that the high ratio of fruit to foliage doesn't seem to allow for full flavor development. Taxi is one that we've used for some quick reasonable tasting tomatoes very early on. though it is taller than a determinate, Kimberly is very early and good for those first earlies. Another one, and I don't know if it is even available anymore, is JSS 361 - an older hybrid experimental determinate from Johnnys.

Thanks for the responses.

jwr6404:
I've never heard of "Grushkova" but will look it up. BTW
I don't consider determinate to have anything to do with
size except as a secondary characteristic. I'm talking
about the sequence of vegetative, reproductive growth habit.

nctomatoman:
Yes, I agree about the fruit/foliage ratio and that it's
the limiting factor. After all, isn't that the reason for
supermarket blahs? Never heard of JSS 361 either.

My favorite determinate is Burpee's Quarter Century. I've grown it for several years because the flavor is so good. (a fairly mild flavor--not very acidic) It isn't early however, & grows pretty slow from seed. Once it gets going it's a good producer (for an heirloom). Mine are on the downward swing right now-- still producing a few. I have saved some seed (I bagged flowers to keep pure) if you would like some.

My favorites are Mountain Princess & Sophie's Choice. The problem with Mountain Princess is it's somewhat aggressive and very long lasting for a determinate--you'll get fruit for a couple months instead of a couple weeks--extremely productive too--a 3-ring cage breaker! it's about 60 days, though sometimes as early as 50, and an heirloom from the Monongahela National Forest area of WV. The first year I grew it I had some over 8oz but the last few years haven't broken 6oz without thinning clusters, which can have as many as 6 or more fruits.

Sophie's, on the other hand, never gets bigger than maybe 18" tall for me but can still put out 6 to 10+ ounce fruits. About 55 days.

Mark

Sneezer,

I don't grow open pollinated determinates much. This year I had two that were very good ... Mozark and Bradley.

Mozark is red and similar to Rutgers in flavor with some acid bite but sweet enough to balance. It's definitely determinate, four feet tall with a concentrated blossom set of about 40 medium size tomatoes per plant, and then ripening in about three sets over a two week period. Mozark set blossoms with no problem to the mid 90s. Blemish free fruits ripen evenly and hold firmness and quality on the vine and after picking quite well.

Mozark foliage is very heavy and healthy with large leaves providing extensive shade for the fruit.

Bradley has blemish free pink tomatoes that are sweeter and have less acid bite than Mozark. Its medium sized fruit had more juice than Mozark, but meatier core and more irregular and dispersed seed locules ... not set up like a pinwheel.

All three Bradley plants were rangy compared to steadily-grow-to-4-feet-and-stop Mozark. The Bradleys quickly got four feet tall and then slowly sent out additional side shoots and eventually got 5 - 6 five feet tall. Also, Bradley did not have as concentrated or numerous a set as advertised, but did set blossoms in higher heat (it only stopped setting when afternoon temps topped 98*F) than many other tomatoes, and ripened its crop over a much longer period of time than Mozark.

Bradley fruit becomes softer more quickly than Mozark, but has a creamier texture to begin with. It tends to develop soft spots in the shoulders if not used immediately upon full ripe stage. Pruning definitely will result in sun damage with Bradley.

The only other determinate I grew this year (besides several dwarf types) was Merced F1, which I mention only because other folks recommend it as a tasty determinate tomato. It was very productive, threw a closely concentrated set of evenly ripening, beautifully red tomatoes that hold well on and off the vine. Merced definitely is a canner in my book as it has heavy walls and no distinguishing flavor profile. I think it has been discontinued but I found two plants at Home Depot in Austin.

Mozark will return in next year's garden. Bradley will return until I discover what becomes of the Cherokee Purple x Bradley cross I did this summer attempting to turn CP more determinate and Bradley more complex in flavor.

From NCSU Cultivar Lists: "Mozark - Breeder and vendor: Missouri Agric. Expt. Sta., Columbia. Parentage: Earliana, Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium, Break-O-Day, Bison, Greater Baltimore. Characteristics: early, concentrated set, uniform ripening, heat tolerant, some resistance to cracking; determinate vine. Resistance: fusarium wilt race 1. Similar: Bison. Adaptation: midwestern United States. Lambeth, V. N., 1958, The Mozark tomato. Res. Bull. Mo. Agric. Ep. Sta, 680:8. 1958."