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Are Ailsa Craig tomato determinate or indeterminate?

Author

Sarah Smith

Published Jan 22, 2026

Lycopersicon esculentum 'Ailsa Craig' is a tall indeterminate variety, and has been a firm favourite with gardeners since it was bred in Scotland back in 1925. Its uniform, mid-red fruits ripen early in the season, and have an outstanding flavour. A heavy cropper, it can be grown in the greenhouse or outdoors.

Are Ailsa Craig tomatoes bush or cordon?

Ailsa Craig is a cordon type tomato. When growing them outdoors we would recommend limiting them to 5 or at the most 6 trusses depending on how much sun you get in your area of the UK.

How tall do Ailsa Craig tomato plants grow?

This well known gardener's favourite produces medium sized tomatoes with a uniform size and shape and an excellent deep colour. Grow this vigorous cordon variety in the greenhouse or outdoors. Height: 200cm (79"). Spread: 50cm (20").

How do I know if I have determinate or indeterminate tomatoes?

Indeterminate varieties have leaves that are spaced out more and look more like vines. Check the flowers and fruit production. If the tomato plant is flowering all at once and producing all of its tomatoes at the same time, then it is a determinate tomato.

Which tomatoes are determinate and which are indeterminate?

If you like to can, freeze, or dehydrate your produce, determinate tomatoes will yield a large quantity of fruit in a shorter time, which can be convenient. Examples of determinate tomatoes: Rutgers, Roma, and Celebrity. Examples of indeterminate tomatoes: Beefsteak, Goldie, most Cherry-types, and heirloom tomatoes.

42 related questions found

Which tomato variety is not an indeterminate type?

Determinate Tomatoes

Determinate tomato varieties are often referred to as “bush” tomatoes because they do not continue extending in length throughout the growing season. They are generally smaller plants than indeterminate tomatoes, with most growing to a compact 4 to 5 feet tall.

Should you prune indeterminate tomatoes?

Indeterminate tomato plants continue to grow, producing new stems and fruit through the end of the season. Indeterminate tomato plants are the only ones that need regular pruning.

What part of the tomato plant do you pinch off?

How to pinch off a sucker: “simple pruning” Pruning tomato sucker shoots when they are young and tender is better than waiting until the sucker is mature and strong. Carefully grasp the base of the sucker between the thumb and forefinger. Pinch it or bend the sucker back and forth gently until it snaps.

Should you pinch back tomato plants?

It's OK to pinch back indeterminate tomato plants as needed to shape them and keep them under control. Some gardeners pinch back the “suckers” that grow in the bend between a branch and the main stem, which results in larger tomatoes but fewer total tomatoes produced.

What size is Ailsa Craig?

Ailsa Craig (/ˈeɪlsə/; Scots: Ailsae Craig; Scottish Gaelic: Creag Ealasaid) is an island of 99 hectares (240 acres) in the outer Firth of Clyde, 16 kilometres (81⁄2 nautical miles) west of mainland Scotland, upon which "blue hone" microgranite has long been quarried to make curling stones.

Why are tomatoes called Ailsa Craig?

Tomato Ailsa Craig

The yacht won the Bermuda Power Boat race in both 1907 and 1908. So, it seems likely that Tomato Ailsa Craig was named not after the island but after a yacht. Which in turn was no doubt named after the island! Being of Scottish origin Tomato Ailsa Craig is tough, reliable and an early cropper.

What is the best tomatoes to grow outside?

Our top picks of tomato varieties for growing inside, outside and in containers.

  • 'Gardener's Delight' The ever-popular RHS AGM variety is reliable and fruitful when grown outdoors in a sheltered spot with rich, well-drained soil. ...
  • 'Suncherry Premium' F1 Hydbrid.
  • 'Tumbling Tom Red'
  • 'Losetto'

What type of tomato is sungold?

One of the most popular varieties of cherry tomatoes, Sungold ripens early to a golden orange, ready to harvest throughout the summer. These extra-sweet tomatoes stay firmer longer than other cherry varieties and will be ready to harvest twice a week once they begin producing fruit.

How do you grow Ailsa Craig tomatoes?

tomato (standard) 'Ailsa Craig'

  1. Position: full sun.
  2. Soil: humus-rich, moisture retentive soil. ...
  3. Growing Instructions:Sow in a frost-free greenhouse or windowsill, potting on seedlings individually as they grow. ...
  4. Sow: January-March.
  5. Harvest: July-October.

Should I pick the flowers off my tomato plants?

Pluck off all blossoms and any fruit for at least a month after transplanting, until the plant is at least two feet tall so it's forced to direct its energies toward establishing a strong root system.

Should you remove first tomato flowers?

QUESTION: Should I pinch off tomato flowers? ANSWER: Many gardeners recommend pinching off the first set of flowers a tomato plant produces in late spring, before the plant has been transplanted into the garden.

What causes leggy tomato plants?

The main cause of leggy seedlings is a lack of light. As the seedlings grow, they push upward in search of direct sunlight, and in dim conditions, this is a never-ending effort. The stems will keep growing longer and longer at the expense of bushy leaf growth.

What do Epsom salts do for tomato plants?

Epsom salt contains the micronutrients magnesium and sulfur. Growing flavorful tomatoes depends on many factors including a healthy micronutrient supply in the soil. So by adding magnesium and sulfur to the soil, some gardeners may find that Epsom salt has a positive effect on flavor.

How often should I put Epsom salt on my tomato plants?

The ideal solution ratio is 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt per foot of plant height. If your tomato plant is two feet in height, you'll be feeding it two tablespoons of Epsom salt at least twice a month! Once on the 15th and another on the 30th would be perfect. For other plants, the general rule is once every six weeks.

Should I cut the bottom leaves off my tomato plants?

If you are planning to plant the tomato plants deeply (tomatoes can form roots along the stem if it is buried), then you should remove the leaves. However, this is not critical. If the leaves are buried, they will not be able to photosynthesize, so they will be of no benefit to the plant.

What is a good determinate tomato plant?

Glacier tomatoes are one of the best determinate tomatoes, because, unlike most other varieties, they will ripen throughout the season. The fruit is a reddish-orange color and has quite an acidic flavor. They are good for cooking and will add fabulous flavor to stews.

Are there any heirloom determinate tomatoes?

Most heirloom varieties are indeterminate, which grow long vines that produce fruit throughout the season until killed by frost. The best-tasting varieties tend to be indeterminate. A few heirloom plants do not sprawl all over the place. These tomatoes are called determinate varieties.

What paste tomatoes are determinate?

Many paste and Roma tomatoes, such as 'San Marzano' and 'Amish Paste', are determinate varieties. Others have been bred to be determinate so that they can be harvested in quantity all at one time. These include: 'Celebrity', 'Marglobe', and 'Rutgers'.