Not sure where you got that impression but it isn't accurate. I assume you are referring to the different nature between determinate vs. indeterminate varieties? Determinate plants will bloom, set fruit and then ripen much of their crop over a limited period of time of 2-4 weeks average. That doesn't mean that once you have 1 fruit no more will follow. It will be many weeks before that fruit grows to normal size and begins to ripen and by then you should have many more fruit. It doesn't mean that the plant blooms all at once either. It just means they have a limited production span rather than a season long production span like indeterminates.

No idea where you live or what your garden zone is - we really need that info please - so I can't can't speculate on the effects that your weather or the plant's age may have had on them. It may be too early for them to be setting fruit at all or it may be perfectly normal. Would need more info to be more specific.

Dave

Hi Katie,

digdirt has given you a great overview and I would also second that when posting here it helps so much that you have your USDA zone information and if possible state.

In any case I'm going to go beyond his answer and just say that if you already have fruit set in a small transplant pot you haven't done your yield any favors with a determinate tomato. The plant shouldn't have to deal with the stress of supporting fruit and getting transplanted. The net result may likely be less tomatoes. The plant puts out flower clusters as it balances its energy needs and now that yours is in fruiting mode is may be anemic.

Best is a sturdy plant under 12" to transplant that has no sign not even of buds, though we all can let things slide in the enthusiasm of getting planted out. When you transplant this plant, be sure to be easy on the roots as you can but not allow them to bundle up either, gently perhaps using your fingertips tenderly to avoid damage including the fine root hairs that are along the visible roots. Also it is essential you give it a nice fertilizer boost. Your best bet is probably Tomato-Tone in the transplant hole though Miracle gro (currently on sale for $4.78 in K-Mart) may be more immediate for your case, and best applied as soon as the plant is perking up from the stress of transplant.

You need to be extra careful because once the plant is producing fruits it is more vulnerable to stresses since the reproductive phase (fruiting) is a very energy intensive thing and the plant overlooks much of its own heath to provide for the production of seeds and yours didnt't have a good an opportunity to fill out its new quarter before that - in the vegetative phase of growth (pre-bud).

PC

Thank you so much for the great answers. I transplanted this plant well before it was even blooming, so I think it will be okay. I was just starting to think I wasn't going to get much. This information was still very helpful for the future, I'm not really ready to commit to doing my own seed starts and I often see plants that are already bearing blooms and even tomatoes at the garden center. I will make sure to avoid those! Hopefully I'm okay, they just are so small, but our weather hasn't been overly hot. Today there were 3 more on one of the plants. I recently added some additional compost around the base of the plants, and I'm keeping the soil consistently moist, but I'm starting to wonder if I need to feed them?

I'm in zone 8b. I wish I could figure out how to add it to my profile in this new houzz system...

It is easy to do. Just click on your name and it takes you to your member page. Click on edit my profile and type your state/location and zone into the box provided for it.