Solanum lycopersicum 'Mortgage Lifter'
vegetableMortgage Lifter is a beloved West Virginia heirloom developed in the 1930s by radiator repairman M.C. Byles, who crossed four of the biggest tomatoes he could find and sold the seedlings to pay off his mortgage. The enormous pink beefsteak fruit run 1 to 2 pounds with meaty, low-acid, mild-sweet flesh and very few seeds, making each tomato enough for a whole sandwich. The indeterminate vines are large and need a long, warm season to ripen their heavy crop, rewarding patient growers with some of the most satisfying slicers in the garden.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 3 days
Harvest
~85 days
Difficulty
medium
Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
Spacing
30-36 in. apart
Planting Depth
1/4 in. (seed) or deep-planted transplant
Soil pH
6.0-6.8
Soil Type
Rich, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 10
Grown as an annual. This range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
At transplant, then every 4 weeks once fruit sets
Fertilizer
Low-nitrogen 5-10-10 once fruiting
Because the fruit is so large, give this one a long head start: sow indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost, a quarter inch deep at 75 to 85F, and harden off before transplanting once nights stay above 50F. Plant deeply with two-thirds of the stem buried, space 2 to 3 feet apart in full sun and rich soil, and set a heavy-duty stake or cage at planting because the fruit can topple a flimsy support. Water deeply and evenly to about an inch a week and mulch 3 to 4 inches, since steady moisture and adequate calcium prevent blossom-end rot on big beefsteaks. Keep nitrogen moderate and pinch lower suckers to direct energy into fruit.
Start seeds indoors
Mar 4
Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
Projected first harvest
Jul 23
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Interplant borage; hand-remove large larvae; look for frass on leaves as an early sign
Maintain even soil moisture and adequate calcium; mulch heavily; avoid excessive nitrogen
Water deeply and consistently to prevent wet-dry cycles
Expect ripe fruit roughly 80 to 85 days from transplant, later than smaller tomatoes because the giant fruit takes time to fill and color. Pick when the shoulders blush pink and the tomato yields slightly under gentle pressure. Handle each one carefully, as the thin skin bruises and cracks easily, and use within a few days for the best flavor. Store at room temperature, never in the refrigerator. Toward frost, bring in any full-size green fruit to finish ripening indoors in a single warm layer.
A good source of vitamin C, potassium, vitamin K, and the antioxidant lycopene, Mortgage Lifter is especially valued for its low acidity, which people sensitive to tart, high-acid tomatoes tolerate well. The dense, mild flesh eats more like a fruit than a culinary vegetable, stays low in calories, and is at its best sliced fresh.
Eat the ripe fruit only. Tomato leaves and stems (and large amounts of very unripe green fruit) contain solanine-type compounds and are not for eating.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.