"Alan Gould" wrote after Bob
writes

Sorry to confuse the issue but we have grown "Roma Improved" which is
determinate ie. a bush variety and have also grown "Vicki" which is a mini
plum but indeterminate ie. you grow it as a cordon.
The Roma could not be made to grow as a cordon at all, and I tried, so I
would expect it to be obvious in due course what the plants want to be.

Bob, could you clarify the difference between determinate and
indeterminate tomatoes please? It is something I have frequently seen
referred to in this group, but have never been quite sure what it is.

Determinate (Bush) means the plant height is genetically governed, it will
always insist on bushing out and will eventually grow a flowering spur at
the end of it's main stem, what there is of one, so stopping it's upward
growth.
As I said, "Roma" is a classic example of this type. (nice tomato too but
seems very prone to Blight)

Indeterminate (Cordon) means it will just keep elongating it's main trunk,
there are only ever lateral flowering spurs so no natural end to it's upward
growth.
Most tomatoes are this type perhaps because they are easier to grow/ripen.
The Bush type do tend to hide their fruit amongst the leaves and are short
so the fruit is closer to the ground.

If, like most people, you have only ever grown Indeterminate then try some
"Roma" and you will see the difference in growth type, it's very obvious
almost from the start and no matter how you try they will not grow as
cordons.

--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London