Livingston's Favorite

Grub · March 10, 2006

Has anyone else grown this one and what do you think? This is one tomato factory.

**nctomatoman** · March 10, 2006

It is one of my favorite Livingston varieties -

This is probably a view into what people looked for in a tomato in the 1890-1920 period in America. Smooth, oblate, medium sized, productive, very good flavor.

I think I need to return to it next year!

**carolyn137** · March 10, 2006

Yes, it is a high yielder Grub, but I consider the taste to be average, as I do with many of the Livingston varieties, and so it was never one that I grew many times.

But of course, opinions will vary, as you know.

There's another older CV that I ran across, when I was searching for something else, that I did like very much and that's Landreth, and I just sent seeds to someone for that one. And of course Break O Day, yet another older CV is another one I really do like as well.

But most of the red Livingstons just never appealed to me and my tastebuds.

**nctomatoman** · March 10, 2006

One thing to keep in mind on these is that Carolyn and I ran through hundreds of older CVs from the USDA over the 1994-1997 period - I suspect that both of our views on some of these were based upon one season of testing/tasting, and for me, anyway, it is hard to accurately judge tomato flavor when over 100 varieties are coming in all at once! I've grown Favorite 3 times, so have a pretty good idea of its attributes. I am similarly fond of Magnus and Golden Queen. any of those older CVs that I return to must be good to get a space in my garden!

**carolyn137** · March 10, 2006

It's so true Craig that we did run thru lots of older CV's, many of which I didn't care for such as Alice Roosevelt, King George, Queen Mary and on and on, but I did pay more attention to the Livingstons, for all the reasons you know.

And it's also true I only grew most of them a couple of times, as I did with Favorite.

And when I said I didn't care that much for the Livingston reds, I meant that I really do like Golden Queen(USDA) and of course Magnus.

How could I not like Magnus after all I went thru with that one.

The Landreth one I mentioned above is another round red CV whose taste I do like very much , as well as Break O Day, and both I've grown several times, but not lately.

montanamato · March 10, 2006

I am trusting Craig, Grub and Carolyns reccommendations.
I already have seedlings up of Favorite, Golden Queen, Magnus and Dwarf Stone.
After all of Grubs pictures I am really glad to have the Favorite.
Landreth would be one someday down the line to try too.

Jeanne

giardiniere · March 10, 2006

The Sand Hill Preservation catalog lists it as follows...

Livingston Favorite- 82 days- Indeterminate, round, red, globe, striped fruits.

Are they really striped? If so, it must be very subtle.

**nctomatoman** · March 10, 2006

Nope - they are not the least bit striped! Looks like a typo.

**carolyn137** · March 10, 2006

No Dave, they aren't striped.

There are some bloopers in the current SandHill catalog that either Linda missed when I sent her possible corrections, or I missed.

Within a few weeks the new SandHill website will be up, the major initial change being navigational, but the varieties lists still need tweaking, as I've mentioned before.

For the tomatoes I expect to do some of that this summer.

giardiniere · March 10, 2006

Thanks! I must admit, Sand Hill does have a very extensive list of tomatoes. The prices are great too, plus no shipping charges. I suspect they'll get getting some of my business next season

**Lee** · March 10, 2006

So far my favorite of Livingston's is Stone. It was a little
slow last year, but one is got going it did quite well. Only AK Traveler bested it for fruit set in 90 degree temps of July/August.
And don't let the name fool you. While they were moderately firm, the texture and flavor was quite pleasant and not overpowering or extreemly bland.
On my grow list again for this year!

BTW. Grew Favorite a couple of years ago and wasn't impressed. The flavor was nothing remarkable IMHO, and the production was poor.

Lee

Grub · March 10, 2006

Flavour is not an issue with Livingston's Favorite. It tastes very good. An honest tomato. Alongside are two Red Brandywines and in regular shootouts we can't split them on taste.

Production-wise, LF is churning them out. Size isn't huge, just a nice workable 4-8oz. Red. No stripes at all. Smooth shouldered. I reckon Livingston must have tried a few before declaring this one his favorite.

I know one season does not a tomato make. And this has been a blue-ribbon season. But it has helped ensure LF's return.

I tried Paragon last year. It's taste is a bit odd and it's not coming back. Not so LF

sirtanon · July 18, 2006

Livingston's Favorite is one of the varieties I've just sown for my fall garden at the new house. I was very interested in trying out this old variety even before I saw this thread... but now that I've seen the picture posted by Craig, I'm stoked!

It looks awesome.

The seed for this variety was actually given to my wife by Patrina - at the time, my (at that time) girlfriend, living in Australia, was looking to restart her veggie garden in NSW.. but now it seems that since she's living here now (and married to me

) they've continued on their journey round the world.

Thanks Patrina!

Sort of a VERY early wedding present, I suppose

March 10, 2006	#1
Grub Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,722	Livingston's Favorite Has anyone else grown this one and what do you think? This is one tomato factory.

March 10, 2006	#2
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	It is one of my favorite Livingston varieties - This is probably a view into what people looked for in a tomato in the 1890-1920 period in America. Smooth, oblate, medium sized, productive, very good flavor. I think I need to return to it next year! __________________ Craig

March 10, 2006	#3
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Yes, it is a high yielder Grub, but I consider the taste to be average, as I do with many of the Livingston varieties, and so it was never one that I grew many times. But of course, opinions will vary, as you know. There's another older CV that I ran across, when I was searching for something else, that I did like very much and that's Landreth, and I just sent seeds to someone for that one. And of course Break O Day, yet another older CV is another one I really do like as well. But most of the red Livingstons just never appealed to me and my tastebuds. __________________ Carolyn

March 10, 2006	#4
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	One thing to keep in mind on these is that Carolyn and I ran through hundreds of older CVs from the USDA over the 1994-1997 period - I suspect that both of our views on some of these were based upon one season of testing/tasting, and for me, anyway, it is hard to accurately judge tomato flavor when over 100 varieties are coming in all at once! I've grown Favorite 3 times, so have a pretty good idea of its attributes. I am similarly fond of Magnus and Golden Queen. any of those older CVs that I return to must be good to get a space in my garden! __________________ Craig

March 10, 2006	#5
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	It's so true Craig that we did run thru lots of older CV's, many of which I didn't care for such as Alice Roosevelt, King George, Queen Mary and on and on, but I did pay more attention to the Livingstons, for all the reasons you know. And it's also true I only grew most of them a couple of times, as I did with Favorite. And when I said I didn't care that much for the Livingston reds, I meant that I really do like Golden Queen(USDA) and of course Magnus. How could I not like Magnus after all I went thru with that one. The Landreth one I mentioned above is another round red CV whose taste I do like very much , as well as Break O Day, and both I've grown several times, but not lately. __________________ Carolyn

March 10, 2006	#6
montanamato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Montana Posts: 1,038	I am trusting Craig, Grub and Carolyns reccommendations. I already have seedlings up of Favorite, Golden Queen, Magnus and Dwarf Stone. After all of Grubs pictures I am really glad to have the Favorite. Landreth would be one someday down the line to try too. Jeanne

March 10, 2006	#7
giardiniere Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Zone 6, Southeast Kansas Posts: 364	The Sand Hill Preservation catalog lists it as follows... Livingston Favorite- 82 days- Indeterminate, round, red, globe, striped fruits. Are they really striped? If so, it must be very subtle. __________________ Dave

March 10, 2006	#11
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	So far my favorite of Livingston's is Stone. It was a little slow last year, but one is got going it did quite well. Only AK Traveler bested it for fruit set in 90 degree temps of July/August. And don't let the name fool you. While they were moderately firm, the texture and flavor was quite pleasant and not overpowering or extreemly bland. On my grow list again for this year! BTW. Grew Favorite a couple of years ago and wasn't impressed. The flavor was nothing remarkable IMHO, and the production was poor. Lee

March 10, 2006	#12
Grub Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,722	LF Flavour is not an issue with Livingston's Favorite. It tastes very good. An honest tomato. Alongside are two Red Brandywines and in regular shootouts we can't split them on taste. Production-wise, LF is churning them out. Size isn't huge, just a nice workable 4-8oz. Red. No stripes at all. Smooth shouldered. I reckon Livingston must have tried a few before declaring this one his favorite. I know one season does not a tomato make. And this has been a blue-ribbon season. But it has helped ensure LF's return. I tried Paragon last year. It's taste is a bit odd and it's not coming back. Not so LF

July 18, 2006	#13
sirtanon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ (zone 9b) Posts: 796	Livingston's Favorite is one of the varieties I've just sown for my fall garden at the new house. I was very interested in trying out this old variety even before I saw this thread... but now that I've seen the picture posted by Craig, I'm stoked! It looks awesome. The seed for this variety was actually given to my wife by Patrina - at the time, my (at that time) girlfriend, living in Australia, was looking to restart her veggie garden in NSW.. but now it seems that since she's living here now (and married to me ) they've continued on their journey round the world. Thanks Patrina! Sort of a VERY early wedding present, I suppose