In perfect conditions, the fruit can even reach up to 4 pounds.
Tomato plants are toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
Hardened off seedlings when several sets of leaves are present before planting in the garden.
The Spruce / Steven Merkel
A general guide for placement is 3 feet between plants and 4 feet between rows.
A popular method for planting is to dig a deep hole and plant up to 1/3 of the stem.
Remove any leaves from the stem portion that will be buried.
The Spruce / Steven Merkel
This is one heirloom tomato pretty easy to care for, with above average disease and drought resistance.
Light
Eight hours of sunlight daily is optimal.
Plenty of sun is especially important for healthy plants and ripening fruit.
The Spruce / Steven Merkel
Well-draining soil is essential.
Practice crop rotation for the healthiest garden.
Above 95 degrees F. can result in uneven ripening and flavor.
The Spruce / Steven Merkel
Humidity levels of 65 to 75 percent are sufficient for growing tomatoes.
Fertilizer
Tomatoes, especially large, indeterminate, beefsteak varieties like Mortgage Lifter, are heavy feeders.
Addingaged compostto the planting area in autumn or early spring can provide the nutrients your tomato crop needs.
Or you might apply a balanced fertilizer with an NPK of 10-10-10 at planting time.
Pollination
Mortgage Lifters are self-fertile, meaning the flowers have both male and female parts.
Pollen falls within the flower to pollinate itself.
One plant is capable of producing 12 to 20 pounds of tomatoes.
The yellow variety yields mild, sweet tomatoes.
Place the tomato on a windowsill to allow it tofinish ripening.
Once picked, stems can be carefully removed to avoid piercing other fruits in your basket.
Gently and carefully twist and pull the stem out or trim it down with the clipper.
Avoid cracking or opening the top of the fruit which can cause it to deteriorate and rot.
If you decide to try, fill a minimum 10-gallon container with a good soil and compost mix.
Choose one with plenty of drainage holes and room for a sturdy support.
Set the plant in a deep hole and be diligent aboutremoving suckersduring the first several weeks of growth.
Check the top inch of soil with your finger.
If it’s moist, no need to water.
If dry, add water.
Pruning
Indeterminate, vining tomatoesgrow rapidly.
Heirloom tomato types like Mortgage Lifter will produce an abundance of suckers during early growth.
Good air circulation helps prevent disease, so pruning it down to several manageable vines improves overall plant health.
Remove suckers during the first several weeks of growth to keep air circulation at a good level.
Vines can also be cut back as the season draws to a close.
Use pruners to remove the tip end of the stem back to developing fruit.
This directs energy into ripening instead of setting new flowers and fruit.
Propagating Mortgage Lifter Tomato
Tomato plants can be propagated from suckers.
Since Mortgage Lifter requires 80 days to mature, the more efficient propagation method is tostart with seed.
Seeds can be started six to eight weeks before the last frost in a heated indoor location.
You will need a good light source once the seeds sprout.
Heat mats are widely available, or try placing your starts on top of the refrigerator.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Mortgage Lifter has good resistance to wilts.
It is vulnerable to a number of otherfungal and bacterial problemsthat affect tomatoes.
Starting out with healthy seedlings and good growing conditions can prevent crop loss.
Good air circulation and adequate spacing between plants helps prevent diseases.
The pests that most often affect tomatoes arehornworms, army worms, and aphids.
How to Get Mortgage LIfter to Bloom
This variety blooms early and reliably given adequate growing conditions.
If blossoms seem insufficient, try a foliar spray of fish emulsion.
Add compost tea or apply a fertilizer slightly higher in phosphorous such as a 5-10-5.
Common Problems With Mortgage Lifter
Mortgage Lifter is one of the easiest heirloom varieties to grow.
The size of both the plants and the fruits can lead to some common tomato problems.
Tomatoes crack and split
These large tomatoes are vulnerable to cracking and splitting sparked by uneven watering.
An open fruit is an invitation for pests and disease, so harvest and use cracked tomatoes immediately.
This is normal as the plant targets more nutrients to developing fruit.
Keep vines staked and off the ground and remove bottom leaves that touch the soil.
Avoid this by removing suckers early in the season to keep the plant to 3 to 5 productive vines.
This allows for more uniform ripening and better air circulation throughout the plant.
The large, beefsteak tomatoes have few seeds and a sweet, low-acid flavor.
It works well on sandwiches and in salads, salsa and sauces.
Mortgage Lifter vines can grow to 9 feet and longer so be sure to have supports on hand.
Fruits average 1 1/2 to 2 pounds.
Mortgage Lifter tomatoes are one of the easier heirloom types to grow.
It’s a great plant to start out with if you want to grow an old-fashioned variety.
Mortgage Lifter is resistant to tomato wilts and has some drought resistance.
Start looking for ripe fruits on a Mortgage Lifter plan around 73 days after planting out in the garden.
They have a uniform pinkish-red colored skin with just a slight give when pressed.
Tomato Plants, Toxic Plants.
