Determinate Paste
Solanum lycopersicum 'Determinate Paste'
A compact paste tomato variety perfect for small gardens and container growing. These meaty, low-moisture fruits are ideal for sauce making and canning, ripening all at once for efficient processing. Their determinate growth habit makes them excellent for gardeners who want a concentrated harvest without the need for extensive staking.
Harvest
75-80d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Determinate Paste in USDA Zone 7
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Determinate Paste · Zones 10–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | May – July |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Water: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The fruits are smooth, shiny, glossy, and are classified as berries. The size, shape, and color will vary depending on the variety or cultivar. The color of the fruits may be red, yellow, orange, green, purple, or pink. The fruits may contain over 100 yellow to light brown seeds.
Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy, Variegated. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches. Width: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Fall, Summer
Edibility: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
Storage & Preservation
Store freshly harvested determinate paste tomatoes at room temperature for 3-5 days to maintain optimal flavor, as refrigeration below 55°F destroys flavor compounds. Once fully ripe, they'll keep in the refrigerator for up to one week.
For preservation, these tomatoes excel at sauce-making and canning due to their low moisture content and concentrated flavor. Process them immediately after harvest by blanching in boiling water for 60 seconds, then plunging into ice water to easily remove skins.
Freeze whole tomatoes in freezer bags for up to 8 months – the skins will slip off easily when thawed. For long-term storage, can them using proper water-bath or pressure canning techniques following USDA guidelines. Dehydrate sliced tomatoes in a dehydrator or low oven (140°F) for concentrated flavor in soups and stews throughout winter.
History & Origin
Determinate paste tomatoes represent decades of selective breeding focused on creating the perfect processing tomato for home gardeners. While specific lineage varies among cultivars, the determinate growth habit was developed through hybridization programs in the mid-20th century to meet the needs of both commercial processors and home canners.
The concept emerged from Italian paste tomato varieties like San Marzano, but breeders recognized that home gardeners needed varieties that would ripen simultaneously for efficient processing, rather than the extended harvest of indeterminate types. University breeding programs, particularly at UC Davis and Cornell, developed determinate varieties that combined the meaty texture and low moisture of traditional paste tomatoes with concentrated ripening.
This breeding focus intensified during the 1970s victory garden movement and the rise of home canning, when gardeners demanded tomatoes specifically designed for sauce-making. Modern determinate paste varieties incorporate disease resistance genes discovered in wild tomato species, making them more reliable for home gardeners than their heirloom predecessors.
Advantages
- +Attracts: Bees, Pollinators, Predatory Insects
- +Wildlife value: The plant is pollinated by bees, especially bumblebees.
- +Edible: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Leaves, Stems): Medium severity
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms while potentially improving tomato flavor
Marigold
Deters nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with natural compounds
Carrots
Helps break up soil for tomato roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on tomato pests
Chives
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting tomatoes
Lettuce
Provides ground cover and mulch effect while using different soil nutrients
Borage
Repels hornworms and attracts pollinators and beneficial predatory insects
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Brassicas
Compete for similar nutrients and can attract pests that also damage tomatoes
Fennel
Inhibits growth of tomatoes through allelopathic compounds
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt, and tobacco mosaic virus
Common Pests
Tomato hornworm, aphids, whiteflies, cutworms
Diseases
Early blight, late blight, bacterial speck, blossom end rot