Mortgage Lifter
Solanum lycopersicum 'Mortgage Lifter'
This legendary heirloom tomato earned its name when creator M.C. Byles paid off his mortgage by selling seedlings for $1 each during the Depression. These massive pink beefsteak tomatoes can weigh up to 4 pounds and offer exceptional flavor with meaty texture and few seeds. Perfect for gardeners who want to grow truly impressive conversation-starter tomatoes.
Harvest
80-85d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Mortgage Lifter in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Mortgage Lifter · Zones 10–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | September – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | May – July |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Water: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The fruits are smooth, shiny, glossy, and are classified as berries. The size, shape, and color will vary depending on the variety or cultivar. The color of the fruits may be red, yellow, orange, green, purple, or pink. The fruits may contain over 100 yellow to light brown seeds.
Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy, Variegated. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches. Width: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Fall, Summer
Edibility: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
Storage & Preservation
Store freshly harvested Mortgage Lifters at room temperature away from direct sunlight to complete ripening – never refrigerate unripe tomatoes as this stops the ripening process permanently. Once fully ripe, they'll keep 3-5 days on the counter or up to a week in the refrigerator, though cold storage diminishes their exceptional flavor.
Due to their low acidity, Mortgage Lifters aren't suitable for water bath canning and shouldn't be used alone for tomato sauce or paste. However, they freeze beautifully when chopped and frozen in portions for winter cooking – their meaty texture holds up well. For preservation, try dehydrating thick slices into tomato leather, or roast and freeze in portions for soups and stews. Their incredible size makes them perfect for making large batches of fresh salsa to freeze, though you'll need to add vinegar or lemon juice for safe preservation.
History & Origin
Mortgage Lifter was developed in the 1930s by M.C. 'Radiator Charlie' Byles, a mechanic from Logan, West Virginia, who had no formal plant breeding experience but possessed remarkable determination. Working at his radiator repair shop, Charlie hand-crossed four large tomato varieties – German Johnson, Beefsteak, an Italian variety, and an English variety – using a baby's ear syringe to transfer pollen between plants.
After six years of careful selection, Charlie developed this extraordinary variety that produced tomatoes weighing up to 4 pounds. He sold plants for $1 each (equivalent to about $18 today) and seedlings for 50 cents, earning enough money in six years to pay off his $6,000 mortgage – hence the name 'Mortgage Lifter.' News of these giant tomatoes spread throughout Appalachia, with people traveling from four states to buy Charlie's plants.
This variety represents the American dream of innovation and self-reliance, proving that extraordinary results can come from ordinary people with persistence and ingenuity. Today, Mortgage Lifter remains one of the most beloved heirloom varieties, carrying forward Charlie's legacy in gardens worldwide.
Advantages
- +Attracts: Bees, Pollinators, Predatory Insects
- +Wildlife value: The plant is pollinated by bees, especially bumblebees.
- +Edible: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Leaves, Stems): Medium severity
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms while potentially improving tomato flavor
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with their natural compounds
Carrots
Help break up soil for better root growth and don't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
Chives
Repel aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles while repelling whiteflies
Oregano
Repels many pests and attracts beneficial pollinators
Borage
Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects while potentially improving tomato growth
Keep Apart
Black Walnut Trees
Release juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Fennel
Inhibits growth of tomatoes through allelopathic compounds
Brassicas (Cabbage family)
Compete heavily for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Typical heirloom susceptibility; good air circulation essential
Common Pests
Tomato hornworm, aphids, spider mites, whiteflies
Diseases
Late blight, early blight, blossom end rot, cracking in wet weather