Tomato 'Mortgage Lifter' Seeds (Naturally Grown)
Massive, delicious, rich, sweet beefsteak tomatoes.
Details
This heirloom was developed in the 1930s by a gardener named M.C. Byles of Logan, West Virginia, who planted the 4 biggest tomato varieties he knew, and crossed 1 with pollen from the other 3. He did this for 6 seasons and created a variety that produced massive, delicious, rich, sweet beefsteak tomatoes. He sold the plants for $1 apiece and paid off his $6,000 mortgage in 6 years. Mortgage Lifter tomatoes average around 1 lb. but can weigh up to 2 lbs. Fruits are pink when mature and perfect for slicing onto sandwiches.
Check out the full history here: Mortgage Lifter Tomato Story
More Information
| Botanical Name | Lycopersicon lycopersicum |
|---|---|
| Seeds Per Pack | 25 |
| Life Cycle | Annual |
| Min. Time to Germinate | 5 Days |
| Max. Time to Germinate | 10 Days |
| Depth to Sow Seeds | 1/4 in. |
| When to Sow | Indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frost |
| Growing Height | 4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m) |
| Plant Spacing | 24-36 in. (60-90 cm) |
| Hardiness | N/A |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun |
| Danger | Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested |
| Growth Habit | Indeterminate |
| Soil pH Requirements | 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic), 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral), 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) |
| Days to Harvest | 80-90 |
| Propagation Methods | From herbaceous stem cuttings, From seed; direct sow after last frost, From seed; germinate in a damp paper towel, From seed; sow indoors before last frost |
| Seed Collecting | Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds, Ferment seeds before storing |
| Open Pollinated (OP) | Yes |
| Usage | Fresh, salad, Fresh, slicing |
| Fruit Color | Pink |
| Fruit Size | Medium (under one pound), Large (over one pound) |
Reviews
Write Your Own Review