Great White

Described as mild, sweet and meaty with low acid and a fruity, sometimes tropical character. As with every flavor note here, this is the recurring catalog and grower description, not a measured claim.

A large pale white to ivory-yellow beefsteak heirloom, reported by vendors to date back over 150 years.

• Indeterminate vine. It keeps growing and setting fruit right up to frost, so plan on a tall stake or cage and regular pruning through the season.
• Late to ripen, past 80 days, so it wants a long warm season or a head start indoors.
• A moderate grow, no special tricks but worth steady attention.
• Wants real summer warmth and is slow to set when nights stay cool.
• Skins resist cracking, even after a heavy rain.

Sold out, or after a change? The closest alternatives, and how they differ.

Hillbillybut orange-yellow bicolor rather than pale whiteAunt Ruby's German Greenbut pale white rather than green when ripe, both large mild beefsteaks

• Urban Farmer Seeds
• True Leaf Market

• When Are Tomatoes Ripe? A Variety-by-Variety Guide
• Heirloom vs Hybrid Tomatoes
• Slicer vs Beefsteak Tomatoes

Is Great White determinate or indeterminate?

Great White is an indeterminate variety. Indeterminate vine. It keeps growing and setting fruit right up to frost, so plan on a tall stake or cage and regular pruning through the season.

How long does Great White take to ripen?

Great White ripens in about 85 days from transplant. Late to ripen, past 80 days, so it wants a long warm season or a head start indoors.

Is Great White an heirloom or a hybrid?

Great White is an heirloom, an open-pollinated variety with a documented history, so seed saved from it comes back true to type.

What can I grow instead of Great White?

A close swap is Hillbilly, but orange-yellow bicolor rather than pale white.