If you are looking to fill your garden with one of the biggest, juiciest, show stopping tomatoes around, it’s time to try growing mortgage lifter tomato plants in your garden this year!
Quite simply, this heirloom tomato plant produces one of the most massive and tastiest tomatoes you will ever see. With its unique name along with its distinct size, coloring, texture and flavor, this tomato will not only become a favorite, it will also become a conversation piece in the garden and on the table.
So just what makes these tomatoes such a hit? And how big do they really grow? Well, part of the allure is the great story behind how the tomato was developed, which we will get to in a bit. But what takes this tomato over the top is its sheer size and deeply rich flavor.
The Mortgage Lifter plant produces slightly pinkish tomatoes that are low in acid but big on flavor. But what really sets them apart is just how big they can grow. On average, the fruits can come in at 16 to 20 ounces a piece. But some can grow to 32 ounces (2 full pounds) or more!
The sheer size alone will be more than enough to have visitors to your garden talking. But once you bite into these rich, meaty beefsteak tomatoes, you will fall in love even more.
Here is a look at the fascinating backstory of the Mortgage Lifter, along with how to plant and grow this storied heirloom to perfection in your garden this year!
The History – Growing Mortgage Lifter Tomatoes
Nearly a century ago in the 1930’s, Mortgage Lifter was developed and first grown in a small, rural West Virginia town. A mechanic by the name of M.C. Byles who went by the nickname “Radiator Charlie” happened to love growing tomatoes. And he also liked trying to cross tomato varieties to see what he could grow.
As were many at the time, Radiator Charlie was struggling in the midst of the Great Depression. But as he worked with crossing tomatoes in his backyard garden, he struck virtual gold with what would eventually become to be called the Mortgage Lifter.
There are a lot of versions to the story, but in general, it was thought he was trying to cross three to five beefsteak tomatoes in order to come up with a plant that could produce the biggest tomato around. He figured at the least, he could sell a few of the seeds to make a bit of extra money.
His tinkering and work finally paid off when after about six years of trials, he grew the Mortgage Lifter. It wasn’t long after, everyone wanted the seeds to grow their own. He obliged, selling seedlings for $1 each. And the name? Charlie was able to pay off his mortgage from the seedling sales, and aptly gave the tomato the Mortgage Lifter name!
One thing is for sure – whether true or a little bit of legend mixed in – the story and the tomato are both outstanding!
Growing Mortgage Lifter Tomatoes
The Mortgage Lifter tomato is an indeterminate heirloom variety, which means it will continuously produce its fruit throughout the entire growing season. It is a low acid variety that grows on very long vines. Because of that, the plant will require good support from stakes, cages, or a trellis.
Finding transplants of this variety can be difficult in local stores. Although it continues to grow in popularity, it is not a commonly found tomato transplant. It is, however, easily started from seed. The good news is you can find a great selection of seed choices on line. Affiliate Seed Link: Burpee Mortgage Lifter Heirloom Tomato Seeds
Their ripening season takes approximately 80 days, so if starting from seed, you will want to plant seed eight weeks before you will be planting outdoors. This will give the plants a jump start on growing, helping to produce tomatoes earlier in the season.
Mortgage Lifters are heavy feeders. With this in mind, lightly fertilize young seedlings every few weeks to promote strong, early growth. As with all transplants, begin to harden them off a few weeks before outdoor planting day.
Where & How To Plant – Growing Mortgage Lifter Tomatoes
Mortgage Lifter tomatoes thrive in full sun. It’s important to select a spot in your garden that receives no less than six hours of full, direct daily sunlight. Eight or more is even better. Make sure the soil is well-draining and enriched with compost prior to planting.
Tomatoes love fertile soil, so adding compost can help give them plenty of nutrients from the start. When transplanting seedlings, be sure to bury them deep in the soil. Leave only the top few inches and leaves above ground. This helps this big growing tomato to develop strong roots to anchor it well.
Space transplants four feet apart. Again, with its large growth, it needs plenty of room to grow. Planting day is the best time to put your tomato supports in place. Putting them in early will allow you to give them support from the start, and help avoid driving stakes into growing roots later on.
Remember that these plants grow tall and wide and produce heavy fruits, so using stakes or cages or a trellis that is at least 5 foot tall is highly recommended. For this variety – make sure supports are firmly in the ground and strong!
Finish by mulching your plants with a thick four to six inch layer of organic mulch. Straw, grass clippings or shredded leaves work well for this. Mulch help to keep weeds out and moisture in – two big keys to growing great tomatoes.
Watering & Fertilizing Mortgage Lifter Tomatoes
As with all tomato plants, water is key to health and productivity for Mortgage Lifter tomato plants. It’s important to keep the soil moist down deep at the root level. A deep watering a few times a week will do the trick, but adjust based on weather conditions.
Always water tomatoes at the base of the plant to avoid dampening the leaves, which can lead to disease. Last but not least, watering your plants every few weeks with a liquid fertilizer will do wonders for growth and productivity.
Liquid fertilizers are the best option for tomato plants. They absorb both through the leaves and through the soil, getting nutrients to your plants fast.
In terms of a type of liquid fertilizer, it’s important to know that too much nitrogen will result in the growth of too many leaves and fewer fruits. Use a balanced fertilizer or one that is slightly higher in phosphorus. This will help with more successful flowering and fruiting.
Harvesting Your Tomatoes
As your plants grow, pruning the bottom branches off will help give your plants better air flow. Remove 12 to 18 inches under the plant for best results. It’s also a great idea to pinch off any suckers that appear on plants as you spot them to get better air circulation and fruit production – and reduce unwanted growth that takes energy from the plant.
You can harvest Mortgage lifters as soon as the tomato starts to slight blush from green to pink. It will continue to ripen off the vine and help the plant conserve resources for the other tomatoes that remain. Mortgage Lifter tomatoes are fully ripe when they’ve reached their full pinkish color and are slightly soft to the touch.
Here is to growing Mortgage Lifter tomatoes in your garden this year, and to a whopper of a harvest! Be sure to check out all of the unique tomatoes you can grow on our Tomato Variety Page. It is full of information and growing tips on a whole slew of great tasting tomatoes!
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