Tomato ‘Ice’, Solanum lycopersicum, is an unusual tomato variety grown for its attractive pale-coloured fruit and mild, refreshing flavour. Depending on growing conditions and the particular seed line, ripe fruits can develop shades ranging from creamy white and ivory to very pale yellow. Their delicate colouring makes them especially striking when grown alongside red, orange, purple and dark tomatoes.

White and cream tomatoes aren’t genetically pure white. Their pale appearance results from having much lower concentrations of the pigments responsible for the strong red, orange and yellow colours found in most tomatoes. When fully ripe, the fruit often develops a beautiful warm ivory or creamy-yellow glow rather than remaining stark white.

Tomatoes have a fascinating history stretching back thousands of years. Their wild ancestors originated in western South America, particularly around present-day Peru, Ecuador and neighbouring regions. Domestication took place in the Americas, and tomatoes were being cultivated in Mexico before Europeans encountered them.

Tomatoes reached Europe during the 16th century following Spanish exploration of the Americas. At first they were treated largely as curiosities and ornamental plants, but eventually became an enormously important food crop.

Over subsequent centuries, gardeners selected tomatoes for an extraordinary variety of characteristics including size, shape, flavour and colour. This eventually produced everything from tiny cherry tomatoes to enormous beefsteaks and colours ranging from familiar red through orange, yellow, green, purple, brown and almost white.

Tomato Ice is particularly interesting because pale tomatoes are still relatively uncommon in home gardens. When sliced into a mixed tomato salad, their creamy colouring provides a beautiful contrast to darker varieties.

The flavour of pale tomatoes is often described as mild, sweet and less sharply acidic-tasting than many traditional red varieties. Ice is lovely eaten freshly picked, particularly when allowed to ripen properly on the plant.

The fruit can be sliced into salads, sandwiches and burgers or served simply with fresh herbs and a little salt. It is also attractive in bruschetta and colourful tomato platters where its pale flesh really stands out.

Like other tomatoes, Ice is nutritious. The fruit provides vitamin C, potassium, folate and vitamin K, along with dietary fibre and numerous naturally occurring plant compounds.

Because Ice lacks the strong red pigmentation of conventional tomatoes, it generally contains considerably less lycopene than a deep red tomato. However, pale tomatoes still provide other carotenoids and beneficial plant compounds, so colour differences simply reflect a different mixture of naturally occurring pigments.

Tomato Ice grows as a warm-season plant and appreciates a sunny position with fertile, well-drained soil. Depending on the particular strain, plants may develop quite vigorously and benefit from staking or caging to keep their stems and fruit supported.

The familiar little yellow tomato flowers develop in clusters and are followed by green fruit. One of the challenges with pale tomatoes is learning when they’re ripe because you can’t wait for them to turn red.

Watch instead for the fruit to change from green to creamy white, ivory or very pale yellow. A ripe tomato should also feel slightly softer when gently held and usually develops a more translucent, creamy appearance.

Tomatoes are self-fertile, meaning a single plant can produce fruit without another tomato variety nearby. Bees can still be extremely helpful because their buzzing vibrations release pollen inside the flowers and can improve fruit set.

Ice prefers at least six hours of direct sunlight each day, preferably more. Rich soil containing compost or well-rotted organic matter will support healthy growth and good fruit production.

Regular watering is particularly important once tomatoes begin developing. Try to maintain reasonably even soil moisture rather than allowing plants to become extremely dry before giving them a large amount of water.

Mulching around the plants helps retain moisture, suppress weeds and protect the root system from Australia’s summer heat.

When watering, direct the water around the roots rather than continually wetting the foliage. Good airflow and relatively dry leaves can help reduce fungal problems.

How to Grow From Seed:

Sow Tomato Ice seeds from late winter through spring under protection or during spring and early summer once outdoor conditions are reliably warm.

Sow seeds approximately 5 mm deep into good-quality seed-raising mix. Cover lightly and keep consistently moist but not waterlogged.

Tomato seeds prefer warmth for germination. A temperature of approximately 20–25°C is ideal, and seedlings will generally begin appearing within around 5–14 days.

Once seedlings have developed their first true leaves and are large enough to handle, carefully transplant them into individual pots.

Grow seedlings somewhere warm and bright until outdoor conditions are suitable. If they have been raised indoors or under protection, gradually acclimatise them to outdoor sunlight and conditions before planting them permanently into the garden.

Space plants approximately 50–70 cm apart and provide a sturdy stake, cage or trellis for support.

Tomatoes can be planted somewhat deeper than they were growing in their pots. The buried portion of stem can develop additional roots, helping create a stronger plant.

Choose a warm position in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil. Water regularly while plants establish and maintain consistent moisture once flowering and fruit production begin.

Feed periodically with a fertiliser suitable for tomatoes and other fruiting vegetables. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which can produce enormous leafy plants but comparatively few tomatoes.

Harvest Ice when the fruit has changed from green to its mature creamy-white or pale ivory colour and gives very slightly when gently held.

Because it doesn’t provide the obvious bright-red signal of an ordinary tomato, your first Ice harvest may take a little practice. Once you’ve learned that subtle colour change, however, those beautiful creamy fruits are easy to recognise and make a wonderfully unusual addition to a colourful home-grown tomato harvest.