Livingston's Gold Ball Tomato
Livingston's Gold Ball Tomato
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65 days, indeterminate — The fruit average about one and one-half inches in diameter (perfect for snacking), weighing two to three ounces each, are slightly elongated, globe-shaped, and truly a beautiful canary-yellow color. The flesh is thick and back in the "olden-days," they were used for pickling or to make tomato preserves.[2]
Introduced by Alexander W. Livingston in 1892 as a "new and improved" version of the 'Yellow Egg' or 'Yellow Plum' tomato,[2] the catalog descriptions regularly exclaimed the virtues of the variety for decades. In their 1893 seed catalog, they describe it as follows:
Introduced by Alexander W. Livingston in 1892 as a "new and improved" version of the 'Yellow Egg' or 'Yellow Plum' tomato,[2] the catalog descriptions regularly exclaimed the virtues of the variety for decades. In their 1893 seed catalog, they describe it as follows:
"Offered for the first time last season. It is a round golden yellow variety and no other sort, except Livingston's Golden Queen, can approach it in quality. The flesh is thick and of extra good quality; large enough to slice; smooth as an apple and of a handsome gold color; grows in clusters; produces enormous crops. No matter if you are prejudiced against a yellow sort we are sure this will please you. TRY IT."[1]
Also from 1893, while reminiscing about the origin and history of 'Gold Ball' tomato in his book entitled "Livingston and the Tomato," Mr. Livingston wrote:"The little yellow Egg, or Plum Tomato, which people ate raw in their gardens, and used so extensively for preserves, suggested to my mind that a new and improved variety for the same purposes might be very acceptable. One of our best growers found it among his growing tomatoes, and it was introduced in 1892. It is a bright golden yellow, round as a ball, one and one-half inches in diameter; it has few seeds, abundance of flesh, and is so very productive that some single plants have borne a half bushel of fruit. The tomatoes will, without injury, hang on the vine in clusters a week or ten days after fully ripe. I consider this gem of a tomato the best I have ever seen for preserves. No thrifty housewife who once fixes her eyes upon this Ball of Beauty will ever let it go from her garden or table."[2]
Another fun and tasty idea is to use them as the "egg" in "Vegan Deviled Eggs." Our seed stock originated as the USDA's National Seed Storage Lab's accession number NSL 27012. Each packet contains approximately 20 seeds.
Informational Sources:
- "Seed Annual for 1893," Livingston Seed Company, Columbus, Ohio, 1893.
- "Livingston and the Tomato: Being the History of Experiences in Discovering the Choice Varieties Introduced by Him with Practical Instructions for Growing," A. W. Livingston, 1893.
- "100 Heirloom Tomatoes for the American Garden," Dr. Carolyn Male, Workman Publishing, 1999, pages 116-117.
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