white tomatoes

encore · July 25, 2016

here is a picture of some white tomatoes i found while picking some ripe red burpee early girls, kinda hard to see them with the sun shining on them but they are pure white.not pale green ,white lol have to wait and see what they do.---tom

Darren Abbey · July 25, 2016

White tomato varieties are green (pale or otherwise) when immature. If these were truly white here, then they are ripe here.

What varieties did you plant?

encore · July 25, 2016

you must not have read what i said. they are white as a piece of paper! they aren't ripe yet as far as i know, (will check tomorrow) i stated they were burpee early girl, the rest are light green or red, these are white.

gorbelly · July 25, 2016

Huh. Looks like a spot that's really dark due to being in the middle of thick foliage. I wonder whether tomato fruit can be "blanched" if kept out of the sun entirely, like if you wrapped them in a completely opaque covering, and whether that would affect taste and final color. Not that it would necessarily be something you'd want to do for any other reason than curiosity.

In Darren's defense, it wasn't clear to me at first, either, whether these were on a different plant.

Darren Abbey · July 25, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by encore

you must not have read what i said. they are white as a piece of paper! they aren't ripe yet as far as i know, (will check tomorrow) i stated they were burpee early girl, the rest are light green or red, these are white.

I read what you wrote just fine, but thank you for assuming so poorly of me. I (and many others here) usually grow several different kinds of tomatoes. If I was out picking ripe red Early Girls, it would be very simple for me to find something unusual in the garden on an entirely different plant.

nicollas · July 26, 2016

I think that's a mutation that discolors unripe fruit, same kind that lutescent tomatoes. I bet they will color red as they mature

gorbelly · July 26, 2016

Would such a mutation only show up on some tomatoes on the plant, though? I know different shapes of tomatoes can appear on the same plant, but shape is affected by growing conditions, physical feedback. etc. Where's Carolyn when you need her?

encore · July 26, 2016

sorry for my comments, i'll just watch and listen from now on.---tom

gorbelly · July 26, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by encore

sorry for my comments, i'll just watch and listen from now on.---tom

I think that's a bit drastic, since we all like to hear from one another on here. Maybe just keep in mind that online communication frequently requires patience and giving people the benefit of the doubt?

Darren Abbey · July 28, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by encore

sorry for my comments, i'll just watch and listen from now on.---tom

I hope I didn't lead you to feel this way. If so, I apologize.

MissS · July 28, 2016

It could be what is called a 'sport' where just one branch on a plant produces a fruit which is not like the others on the same plant. It is a genetic mutation. The seeds of the fruit will may come true to what the new fruit looks like. Of course, it also might be that it did not change color due to lack of light on the fruit. Keep checking and when the fruit softens it should be ripe at whatever color it is. I find this very interesting. Thanks for posting it.

It would be nice to hear what Carolyn has to say......

oakley · July 28, 2016

Interesting. Please up-date and post new pics. I do, and we do, like seeing odd mutations(?) or just odd confusions.

If getting good pics of your toms in full sun with green leafs casting green color, try holding up a neutral card behind....I've been using the thick card easily found on any standard 8 1'2 x 11 note pad in every office...a matt grey will photo clean. Thick enough to lift your toms just out of the green filter of leaves without harm.

Don't get frustrated what you see that we can't.

I have similar happening now with pale yellow ripe that should be deep red. (thinking heat, drought, then massive rain.)

PhilaGardener · July 28, 2016

Yes, this does look interesting! Please keep the descriptions coming as they ripen (and don't forget to save seeds!)

**carolyn137** · July 28, 2016

Let me try to get this straight before I make any comments.

You had some Early Girl F1 plants out,I don't know how many,and one or more?of those plants had one branch only with what you'recalling pure white fruits.

Is that correct?

Carolyn, who does know of an association between GWRipes throwing so called whites, but is surprised to see you say it was paper white since of all the so called whites I've grown,only one was closest to being pure white,and that's White Queen. But is still wondering since I've never heard of a red fruited variety throwing a white.

PureHarvest · July 28, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by gorbelly

Huh. Looks like a spot that's really dark due to being in the middle of thick foliage. I wonder whether tomato fruit can be "blanched" if kept out of the sun entirely, like if you wrapped them in a completely opaque covering, and whether that would affect taste and final color. Not that it would necessarily be something you'd want to do for any other reason than curiosity.

This.
I have seen plenty of immature fruit completely covered by dense foliage that were almost pure white when discovered.

July 25, 2016	#2
Darren Abbey Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 586	White tomato varieties are green (pale or otherwise) when immature. If these were truly white here, then they are ripe here. What varieties did you plant? __________________ http://the-biologist-is-in.blogspot.com

July 28, 2016	#11
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,150	It could be what is called a 'sport' where just one branch on a plant produces a fruit which is not like the others on the same plant. It is a genetic mutation. The seeds of the fruit will may come true to what the new fruit looks like. Of course, it also might be that it did not change color due to lack of light on the fruit. Keep checking and when the fruit softens it should be ripe at whatever color it is. I find this very interesting. Thanks for posting it. It would be nice to hear what Carolyn has to say...... __________________ ~ Patti ~

July 28, 2016	#14
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Let me try to get this straight before I make any comments. You had some Early Girl F1 plants out,I don't know how many,and one or more?of those plants had one branch only with what you'recalling pure white fruits. Is that correct? Carolyn, who does know of an association between GWRipes throwing so called whites, but is surprised to see you say it was paper white since of all the so called whites I've grown,only one was closest to being pure white,and that's White Queen. But is still wondering since I've never heard of a red fruited variety throwing a white. __________________ Carolyn

July 25, 2016	#3
encore Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2015 Location: wisconsin Posts: 536	you must not have read what i said. they are white as a piece of paper! they aren't ripe yet as far as i know, (will check tomorrow) i stated they were burpee early girl, the rest are light green or red, these are white.

July 25, 2016	#4
gorbelly Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania Posts: 1,069	Huh. Looks like a spot that's really dark due to being in the middle of thick foliage. I wonder whether tomato fruit can be "blanched" if kept out of the sun entirely, like if you wrapped them in a completely opaque covering, and whether that would affect taste and final color. Not that it would necessarily be something you'd want to do for any other reason than curiosity. In Darren's defense, it wasn't clear to me at first, either, whether these were on a different plant.

July 26, 2016	#6
nicollas Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: France Posts: 142	I think that's a mutation that discolors unripe fruit, same kind that lutescent tomatoes. I bet they will color red as they mature

July 28, 2016	#12
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	Interesting. Please up-date and post new pics. I do, and we do, like seeing odd mutations(?) or just odd confusions. If getting good pics of your toms in full sun with green leafs casting green color, try holding up a neutral card behind....I've been using the thick card easily found on any standard 8 1'2 x 11 note pad in every office...a matt grey will photo clean. Thick enough to lift your toms just out of the green filter of leaves without harm. Don't get frustrated what you see that we can't. I have similar happening now with pale yellow ripe that should be deep red. (thinking heat, drought, then massive rain.)

July 28, 2016	#13
PhilaGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Near Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,940	Yes, this does look interesting! Please keep the descriptions coming as they ripen (and don't forget to save seeds!)