Photos are representative and may not match your specific variety.
Mortgage Lifter
Tomato
TomatoSolanum lycopersicum 'Mortgage Lifter'
- Full sun
- Zones 10–11
- 80 days to maturity
- Vegetables
- 36" spacing
- High water
- pH 6.2–6.8
Overview
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.
Planting
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost date. Transplant when soil is consistently above 60°F.
Growing
Sun: full. Water: high. Soil pH: 6.2–6.8. Space plants 36" apart. Germination: 7-14.
Pests & diseases
Common pests: Tomato hornworm, aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Common diseases: Late blight, early blight, blossom end rot, cracking in wet weather.