How to Grow Telstar White Tomato
Wikimedia Commons
Telstar White Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Telstar White'
vegetableTelstar White is a determinate heirloom tomato variety producing small to medium-sized white or pale yellow fruits with a sweet, mild flavor. Known for its unique ivory-colored skin and creamy texture, it's a novelty variety that matures relatively quickly. The plant is compact and well-suited to containers and small gardens.
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Example Telstar White Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Telstar White Tomato
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Telstar White Tomato
Around Jun 21≈ 65 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Telstar White Tomato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-9; can grow in zones 3-4 with season extension
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Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny seedlings with cotyledons (seed leaves) and first true leaves emerging
Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Provide bright light 14-16 hours daily under grow lights. Maintain temperature around 70°F.
Vegetative
3-4 weeksPlant develops multiple true leaves and establishes a strong root system; compact growth typical of determinate types
Harden off seedlings before transplanting. Fertilize weekly with balanced fertilizer. Stake or cage plant early to support future fruit load.
Flowering
3-4 weeksYellow flowers appear in clusters; plant reaches mature height of 24-36 inches
Maintain consistent watering and switch to lower-nitrogen fertilizer (calcium-rich). Prune only lower suckers if needed for airflow. Hand-pollinate flowers if needed in humid conditions.
Fruiting
2-3 weeksSmall white or pale yellow fruits develop and gradually enlarge; fruits transition from green to white as they mature
Maintain steady watering to prevent splitting and cracking. Continue regular fertilizing with potassium-rich formula. Remove lower leaves for disease prevention once fruit is well-established.
Harvest
Ongoing until frostFruits fully mature to creamy white or pale yellow color with slight give when gently squeezed
Pick fruits at full maturity for best flavor. Can harvest slightly early and ripen indoors. Continue harvesting regularly to encourage more fruit production.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick daily, encourage parasitic wasps, use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray
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Use yellow sticky traps, spray neem oil or insecticidal soap, encourage natural predators
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Increase humidity, spray water on undersides of leaves, use neem oil or sulfur spray
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Remove lower leaves, improve air circulation, use copper fungicide, mulch to prevent soil splash
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Choose resistant varieties, rotate crops annually, avoid overhead watering, remove infected plants
Uses
Fresh eating and salads
CulinaryTelstar White's mild, sweet flavor and creamy texture make it excellent for fresh eating and salads. The pale color provides striking visual contrast in dishes. [source]
Slicing for sandwiches and platters
CulinaryThe firm texture holds up well when sliced, making it ideal for sandwiches and charcuterie boards without excessive juice. [source]
Ornamental garden feature
HouseholdThe unusual white color makes it a conversation piece in the garden and an interesting visual element in kitchen gardens and containers. [source]
Pasta and sauce making
CulinaryCan be cooked into a mild, delicate sauce with subtle flavor profile, though yields less juice than red varieties. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifeTomato flowers attract bees and beneficial insects that aid pollination and support garden ecosystem health. [source]
Harvest Tips
Pick fruits when fully white or pale cream-colored and yielding slightly to pressure. The flavor is best at full maturity. Harvest regularly to encourage continued fruiting. Can pick slightly underripe and ripen indoors in a warm location away from direct sunlight. Determinate types produce most fruit within a concentrated window, typically 2-3 weeks.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Telstar White is a rare heirloom variety that produces fruits that look almost ethereal—cream or pale ivory in color rather than the typical red, making it highly prized by gardeners seeking novelty varieties.
- 🌱 Despite its pale appearance, white tomatoes are fully ripe and ready to eat when they reach their characteristic creamy color; many gardeners mistakenly think they're unripe.
- 🌱 The determinate growth habit means the plant produces its fruit crop within a concentrated period, making it ideal for canning or processing all at once.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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