I’ve been looking into classic heirloom tomatoes and came across Livingston’s Ideal Tomato. It was introduced in the late 1800s by Alexander Livingston, known for developing some of the best old-time tomato varieties. From what I’ve read, it has a deep pink color, smooth, uniform shape, and a well-balanced flavor that’s both sweet and tangy.
I’m curious if anyone here has grown it. How does it compare to other Livingston varieties? Is it productive and disease-resistant? Would love to hear your experience and any growing tips!
The closest I’ve come to growing a Livingston variety is I think Golden bison which is 50% Livingston. Livingston is a fascinating story of a pre-mendelian tomato breeder who actually made some progress useful for the time he lived in when tomato canning was a new and exciting business. His main innovation was realizing that he needed to do whole plant selection rather than individual fruit selection. His book Livingston and The Tomato is an interesting read for connecting with that time period. Interesting to read his advice on how to make potting soil and start seedlings etc. No plastic available back then!