How to Grow Haifa White

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Haifa White

Solanum lycopersicum 'Haifa White'

vegetable

Haifa White is a rare heirloom tomato variety prized for its pale, creamy-white fruit with a subtle greenish tint and exceptional sweet flavor. This indeterminate variety produces medium-sized fruits (3-4 oz) that are meaty and low in acidity, making them ideal for fresh eating and slicing. The plants are vigorous growers that require staking or support and produce fruit throughout the season.

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Example Haifa White timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Haifa White
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Haifa White
Around Jul 1

≈ 75 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Haifa White dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 8+ hours daily (ideally 10-12 hours)

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Water: Consistent, deep watering 1-2 inches per week; maintain even soil moisture to prevent cracking and blossom end rot. Water at soil level, avoiding foliage to reduce disease.

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Spacing: 24 inches

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Days to maturity: 75-85 days

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Planting depth: 1/4 inch for seeds; transplants should be planted deeper (up to first true leaves)

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Compost aged manure bone meal calcium sources (crushed eggshells or lime to prevent blossom end rot)

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 5-9; can be grown annually in zones 3-4 with protection

3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a

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Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Young plants with 2-4 true leaves, delicate stems, and primary leaves only

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide bright light (12-16 hours) under grow lights placed 2-3 inches above seedlings. Maintain temperature of 70-75°F.

Vegetative

4-6 weeks from transplant to first flowers

Rapid leaf and stem growth; plants develop multiple branches and a robust root system. Indeterminate varieties continue growing indefinitely.

Transplant when 6-8 inches tall. Harden off over 7-10 days before planting outdoors. Install support stakes or cages early. Begin pruning suckers (shoots between main stem and branches) when 6-8 inches long to direct energy to fruiting.

Flowering

3-4 weeks

Yellow flowers appear in clusters; plant establishes abundant flowering pattern. Flowers are self-pollinating.

Maintain consistent watering and balanced nutrition. Avoid over-nitrogen fertilization which promotes foliage at expense of flowers. Gently shake flowering clusters on warm, dry days to aid pollination. Side-dress with balanced fertilizer.

Fruiting

3-4 weeks

Small green fruits develop from flowers and gradually enlarge. Fruits mature from green to pale creamy-white with subtle greenish undertones.

Continue consistent watering and staking/support as fruits add weight. Remove lower leaves once fruits are set to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure. Thin excessive foliage only to prevent sun scalding of fruits.

Harvest & Production

Continuous until first frost

Fruits reach full size (3-4 oz) and mature to creamy-white color. Indeterminate varieties continue producing until frost.

Pick fruits when fully colored and yielding slightly to gentle pressure. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. Continue watering and fertilizing. In late season, remove excessive foliage to speed ripening of remaining fruits before frost.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Parsley Carrot Onion Marigold Nasturtium Borage Marigold

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, kale) Fennel Dill Potato Eggplant

Common Pests

Hand-pick early morning or dusk; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt); encourage parasitic wasps; neem oil spray
Yellow sticky traps; neem oil or insecticidal soap; reflective mulch; encourage beneficial insects
Increase humidity; spray with water; neem oil; miticide if severe
and (fungal diseases)
Use disease-resistant varieties when possible; practice crop rotation; remove infected plants; improve soil drainage and air circulation
Remove lower leaves; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; copper fungicide; avoid overhead watering
Remove affected leaves; improve air circulation; avoid wetting foliage; copper fungicide as preventative

Uses

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Fresh eating and slicing

Culinary

Haifa White's creamy texture, low acidity, and exceptional sweet flavor make it ideal for fresh eating, slicing for salads, and sandwiches. The mild, subtle sweetness pairs beautifully with light vinaigrettes and fresh herbs. [source]

🍳

Specialty sauces and preservation

Culinary

While less common for sauce due to lower yield of juice, Haifa White can be used in delicate, fresh tomato sauces, gazpacho, and tomato water for refined culinary applications. The unique color makes it visually striking in preserved dishes. [source]

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Heirloom seed saving

Household

As an open-pollinated heirloom variety, Haifa White is excellent for seed saving. Seeds saved from healthy, fully ripe fruits will produce true-to-type plants in subsequent seasons, preserving this rare genetics. [source]

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Ornamental and culinary garden display

Craft

The pale creamy-white fruits with greenish undertones create a striking visual contrast in gardens and make an elegant presentation in harvest displays and kitchen settings, serving both decorative and culinary purposes. [source]

💊

Antioxidant-rich food

Medicinal

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, vitamin C, and other antioxidants. While Haifa White's pale color indicates lower lycopene than red varieties, it still provides nutritional benefits as part of a healthy diet. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Harvest when fruits are fully colored (creamy-white) and yield slightly to gentle pressure, typically 75-85 days from transplanting. For best flavor, allow fruits to fully ripen on the vine. Pick regularly to encourage continued production throughout the season. Early morning harvest preserves peak freshness. Fruits will continue to ripen if picked at the 'breaker stage' (first color showing), but vine-ripened fruits have superior flavor.

Fun Facts

🌱 Haifa White is one of the rarest heirloom tomato varieties, originating from Israel and nearly lost to cultivation; dedicated seed savers have revived and preserved this exceptional cultivar
🌱 The pale creamy-white color is sometimes called 'white gold' in heirloom tomato circles due to its rarity and the combination of exceptional sweetness with low acidity—a flavor profile uncommon in white tomatoes
🌱 Haifa White requires full-season heat and warmth to develop its best flavor; planting in early spring and extending the growing season with protection ensures optimal results in cooler climates

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Full Sun Heirloom Pollination Sucker Transplant True Leaves

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