There are determinate varieties that do ripen within a very short time of each other, and varieties that do produce a second flush. In the commercial fields around here, for labor cost reasons, they only pick the first flush, and leave the second flush to ripen and rot in the field. Some will let you go in and pick what you want. They are commercial canning varieties though.

Agree that there are varietal differences. But it also depends on how one interprets the statement "they fruit and ripen at the same time within weeks of each other".

Don't take it so literally. The point of the statement is that they don't act like indeterminates do.

Most varieties do not develop "all their fruit at the same time" but new fruit develops in flushes of fruit set at approx. the same height of the plant. So as the plant grows taller new flushes of multiple fruit will set until the plant reaches its terminal height - the end of its lifespan if you will. At the same time the lower fruit will begin to ripen.

So while you will get many more fruit that ripen at the same time, that in no way means ALL the fruit on the plant will all ripen at the same time. Just that most all of the fruit the plant will produce in its life time will ripen over a much shorter period of time than with indeterminates which will grow and produce and ripen fruit until frost or disease kills the plant.

The original statement developed from the canning industry - both commercial and home gardening - where they need lots of fruit from lots of plants to ripen at approx. the same time to justify all the work of harvesting and canning.

For example, the home canner who grows tomatoes primarily for canning needs approx. a bushel (50-55lbs.) of fruit ready all at the same time to run full canner loads. Of course they get more ripe fruit later from the same plants but it is that initial flush of ripe fruit that makes the work of canning worthwhile.

If you are growing them just for fresh eating then the only real advantage to determinates IMO is their shorter, easier to support size and the fact that in much of the country you can get 2 full crops from them by putting out new plants mid-season.

Dave

Determinates that truly stop are rather rare. After the plant is loaded with fruit, it kinda stops growing, until some of them ripen. After that new growth starts appearing at the base of the leaves. It kinda works in flushes. You can get about 3 flushes in a normal season.