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MORTGAGE LIFTER Beefsteak Tomato Open Pollinated Indeterminate Heirloom Non-GMO 30 Seeds
100% Pure Seed – No Filler – Non-GMO
 
PRODUCT INFORMATION
HEIRLOOM. Legendary, huge beefsteak consistently wins taste-tests.
If you’re looking for a flavorful, large, main-season tomato, growing Mortgage Lifter may be the answer.
This heirloom tomato variety produces 2 ½ pound (1.13 kg.) fruit up until frost and includes a delicious story to share with fellow gardeners
 
What are Mortgage Lifter Tomatoes?
 
Mortgage Lifter tomatoes are an open pollinated variety which produces a pinkish-red beefsteak-shaped fruit.
These meaty tomatoes have few seeds and mature in approximately 80 to 85 days.
Mortgage Lifter tomato plants grow 7- to 9-foot (2.1 to 2.7 meters) vines and are indeterminate, meaning they set fruit continuously throughout the growing season.
 
The Story
This variety was developed in the 1930’s by a radiator mechanic working from his home-based repair shop in Logan, West Virginia.
Like many depression era home owners, M.C. Byles (aka Radiator Charlie) was concerned about paying off his home loan.
Mr. Byles developed his renowned tomato by crossbreeding four large-fruited varieties of tomatoes: German Johnson, Beefsteak, an Italian variety, and an English variety.
Mr. Byles planted the latter three varieties in a circle around the German Johnson, which he hand-pollinated using a baby’s ear syringe.
From the resulting tomatoes, he saved the seeds and for the next six years he continued the painstaking process of cross pollinating the best seedlings.
In the 1940’s, Radiator Charlie sold his Mortgage Lifter tomato plants for $1 each.
The variety gained in popularity and gardeners came from as far away as 200 miles to buy his seedlings.
Charlie was able to pay off his $6,000 home loan in 6 years, hence the name Mortgage Lifter.