How to Grow Mortgage Lifter Pink
Solanum lycopersicum 'Mortgage Lifter Pink'
Mortgage Lifter Pink is a beloved heirloom tomato prized for its large, sweet fruit and vibrant color. Gardeners grow it for its reliable yield in warm climates, though its size requires careful management to prevent cracking.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Mortgage Lifter Pink: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Mortgage Lifter Pink is not usually started indoors.
Do not start indoors; direct sow seeds or transplant seedlings only after the last spring frost when soil temperatures are warm enough for this heat-loving plant.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.2 and 6.8. As a warm-season crop, start seeds indoors only after the last frost date or direct sow when soil is warm. Plant seeds about 1/4 inch deep; germination typically takes 7 to 14 days.
Space plants 36 to 48 inches apart and provide sturdy support like a cage or trellis, as they can reach up to 10 feet tall. Water consistently to maintain high moisture levels and prevent cracking. Apply mulch around the base and feed regularly with balanced fertilizer.
Watch for tomato hornworms, cutworms, aphids, stink bugs, blossom end rot, late blight, early blight, and fusarium wilt. Prevent issues by monitoring plants closely and ensuring consistent watering to reduce cracking. Harvest ripe fruit in 85 to 95 days after planting.
When to Plant Mortgage Lifter Pink
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May | — | October – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | October – September |
| Zone 3 | April | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | September – October |
| Zone 5 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | August – October |
| Zone 8 | February | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January | — | June – August |
| Zone 11 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 12 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 13 | January | — | May – July |
Companion Plants for Mortgage Lifter Pink
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve flavor
Improve soil structure and don't compete for nutrients at same depth
Repel aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Repel nematodes and other soil pests, reduce aphid populations
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles
Repels aphids and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
Similar growing requirements and may help confuse pest insects
✗ Keep away from
Release juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Compete for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Both attract corn earworms and compete for similar nutrients
Inhibits growth through allelopathic compounds
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
