Beefsteak Tomato
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Great White Tomato is a stunning heirloom that delivers a pound or more of creamy white fruit with remarkably smooth skin for a beefsteak type. This indeterminate variety reaches maturity in 75 days and produces fruits that are unusually low in acid, making them a revelation for anyone tired of the standard red tomato. The flesh tastes like a delicious fusion of fresh pineapple, melon, and guava, with few seeds and genuinely high yields. Introduced by Gleckler's Seedsmen, it has become a favorite among gardeners who appreciate both visual drama and exceptional flavor.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
96in H x ?in W
Annual, Perennial
High
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The creamy white color alone sets this variety apart, but it's the flavor that keeps gardeners coming back: a sweet, fruity profile that evokes tropical fruit rather than typical tomato. Despite their massive 1 to 2-pound size, the fruits are surprisingly smooth-skinned and contain fewer seeds than most large slicing tomatoes. Yields are generous for such a massive variety, and the low acidity makes these tomatoes uniquely versatile in the kitchen.
Great White Tomato shines as a fresh slicing tomato, where its low acidity and few seeds make it exceptionally pleasant to eat out of hand or in salads. The melon-like sweetness pairs beautifully with light dressings that won't overpower its delicate flavor. Its size and smooth skin also make it attractive for plating in restaurant-style presentations, though home gardeners prize it most for simple preparations that let the unusual flavor take center stage.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last expected frost date. Maintain soil temperature between 68 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit, and expect germination in 7 to 14 days. Seeds should be sown 1/8 inch deep and kept consistently moist until sprouting. Provide bright light immediately after germination to prevent leggy seedlings.
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions, then transplant to the garden after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed. Space plants 24 inches apart with 36 inches between rows. These large-fruited plants benefit from being set slightly deeper than they grew in their containers, as tomatoes can root along buried stems.
Pick fruits when they reach full size and the skin turns from pale green to creamy white, typically 75 days after transplanting. The fruit should give slightly to gentle pressure but still feel firm. Harvest in the early morning when temperatures are cool to maximize shelf life. These large tomatoes are prone to cracking in extreme heat or after sudden heavy rain, so monitor ripening tomatoes carefully and pick them just as they reach peak color rather than waiting for maximum softness.
As an indeterminate variety, Great White Tomato will grow continuously throughout the season. Remove the lowest leaves once the plant is established to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure. Prune out suckers (shoots that form between the main stem and branches) to direct energy toward fruit production on the main stem and primary branches. Stop pruning 4 to 6 weeks before your first expected frost to allow the plant to finish ripening remaining fruit.
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“Great White Tomato traces its origins to Gleckler's Seedsmen, a legendary seed company that preserved and distributed heirloom varieties when many were disappearing from cultivation. The variety was saved and reintroduced through the dedicated work of seed savers who recognized its extraordinary flavor and unusual appearance. As an open-pollinated heirloom, it represents the kind of genetic diversity that home gardeners can preserve year after year by saving seeds, keeping this distinctive tomato alive for future generations.”