How to Grow Mortgage Lifter
Solanum lycopersicum 'Mortgage Lifter'
Mortgage Lifter is a classic heirloom tomato prized for its large, juicy fruit and rich flavor. Gardeners grow this variety to enjoy abundant harvests of distinctive red tomatoes that develop best in warm conditions.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Mortgage Lifter: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Mortgage Lifter is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors only after the last spring frost once soil temperatures are warm enough for germination.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.2 and 6.8. As a warm-season crop, do not sow seeds until after the last spring frost when the ground is warm; starting indoors weeks early risks cold damage. Sow seeds about 1/4 inch deep. Germination takes 7 to 14 days under consistent warmth.
Space plants 36 to 48 inches apart in full sun. Install sturdy cages or trellises immediately, as this variety can reach heights of one to ten feet. Water deeply and consistently to prevent cracking, applying mulch to retain moisture. Feed regularly with balanced fertilizer during the growing season.
Watch for tomato hornworms, aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies; use insecticidal soap or hand-pick pests. Prevent late blight, early blight, and blossom end rot by ensuring good air circulation and consistent watering. Harvest fruits 80 to 85 days after planting when they turn fully red.
When to Plant Mortgage Lifter
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 | — | 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 | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 11 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January | — | April – June |
Companion Plants for Mortgage Lifter
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms while potentially improving tomato flavor
Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects while potentially improving tomato growth
Help break up soil for better root growth and don't compete for nutrients
Repel aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with their natural compounds
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles while repelling whiteflies
Repels many pests and attracts beneficial pollinators
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
✗ Keep away from
Release juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Compete heavily for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Inhibits growth of tomatoes through allelopathic compounds
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
