Great White stands out for its pale, creamy color and gentle, fruity taste. The big tomatoes have almost no acid, which makes them a favorite for sensitive stomachs. This guide covers its flavor, growing needs, common problems, and key facts.
Great White Tomato Quick Facts
| Type | Heirloom, open-pollinated |
|---|---|
| Growth Habit | Indeterminate |
| Days to Maturity | 85 days |
| Fruit Size | 1 to 2 lb |
| Fruit Color | Creamy white to pale yellow |
| Shape | Beefsteak |
| Flavor | Mild, sweet, fruity, low acid |
| Best Uses | Slicing, salads |
| Plant Height | 6 to 9 feet |
| Spacing | 24 to 36 inches |
| Support | Tall, strong cage |
| Sun | Full sun, 6 to 8 hours |
| Container Friendly | Yes, large pot |
| Disease Resistance | Low (heirloom) |
| Origin | United States heirloom |
What Is a Great White Tomato?
Great White is a beefsteak heirloom known for its creamy white to pale yellow color, inside and out. It is one of the largest white tomatoes you can grow. The flesh is dense and meaty with few seeds. The plant is indeterminate and grows tall like other big heirlooms. Because it is open-pollinated, you can save seeds and grow it again next year.
Great White Flavor and Best Uses
Great White has a mild, sweet, fruity taste with very low acid and a faint hint of melon. The gentle flavor is unusual and refreshing, and it is easy on the stomach.
It is best eaten fresh, where the pale slices look striking. Layer it on a sandwich or mix it with red and yellow tomatoes for a colorful, low-acid salad.
How to Grow Great White Tomatoes
Great White needs a long, warm season and strong support. Follow these basics.
- Sun: give plants 6 to 8 hours of direct sun.
- Spacing: set plants 24 to 36 inches apart.
- Support: use a tall, strong cage for the heavy fruit.
- Water: water deeply and evenly to prevent cracking and blossom end rot.
- Feeding: feed with a balanced tomato fertilizer once fruit sets.
Common Problems and Disease Resistance
As an heirloom, Great White has little disease resistance, and the pale color brings one quirk.
- Sunscald: the light skin can scald in strong sun, so keep some leaf cover.
- Cracking: the large fruit splits from uneven watering. Mulch and water steadily.
- Blossom end rot: a dark spot on the bottom from low calcium and uneven water.
Great White vs Pineapple
Both are large, mild, low-acid heirlooms, so gardeners compare them. Great White is creamy white with a fruity, melon-like sweetness. Pineapple is a yellow-red bicolor with a sweeter, more tropical taste. Growing both gives you a beautiful range of pale and golden slices.
When to Harvest Great White Tomatoes
Pick Great White when the skin shifts from pale green to a creamy white or ivory and the fruit gives slightly to a gentle squeeze. The light color makes ripeness tricky, so use softness as your guide. Harvest carefully, since the large fruit is heavy.
Growing Great White in Containers
Great White can grow in a large container of at least 15 gallons with a heavy cage. Keep the soil evenly moist and feed regularly, since big fruit needs steady nutrients. Be ready to support the vines, as a potted plant still produces heavy tomatoes.
Companion Plants for Great White
Great White pairs well with basil, which may improve flavor and repel pests. Marigolds deter nematodes, and borage attracts pollinators. Keep tomatoes away from potatoes, which share diseases. Good companions help this heirloom stay healthy and productive.
Great White Nutrition
Great White is low in calories and rich in nutrients. A large slice provides vitamin C, vitamin A, and potassium. White tomatoes have less lycopene than red ones, but their very low acid makes them gentle and easy to digest. The mild taste makes them a healthy, refreshing choice.
Where to Buy Great White Seeds and Plants
Great White seeds are sold at most heirloom seed companies in spring, and some specialty nurseries carry plants. Because it is open-pollinated, one packet can supply your garden for years if you save seeds from your best fruit.
Care Notes
Pick fruit fully ripe for peak flavor, or let nearly ripe tomatoes finish on the counter. Rich, well-drained soil drives steady growth, so refresh the soil with compost each spring. Prune lower leaves and crowded stems to improve airflow.
Related Tomato Varieties
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does Great White Take to Grow?
About 85 days from transplant.
Is Great White Determinate or Indeterminate?
It is indeterminate and produces until frost, so it needs tall support.
What Color Is a Great White Tomato?
Creamy white to pale yellow, both inside and out.
What Does Great White Taste Like?
Mild, sweet, and fruity with very low acid and hints of melon.
Is Great White an Heirloom?
Yes. It is an open-pollinated heirloom, so you can save seeds.
Can You Grow Great White in Containers?
Yes, in a large 15 gallon or bigger pot with a strong cage.
Shakeel Muzaffar is the founder of TomatoAnswers.com, a gardener, and a content writer. He combines hands-on tomato growing experience with evidence-based research from horticultural and nutrition sources. His work focuses on tomato cultivation, nutrition, and practical gardening advice, helping readers grow healthier plants and make informed food choices