Rarely has a plant engendered such a following as has Mortgage Lifter tomato. Mortgage Lifter is s good tasting, solid tomato that stores well and grows on a large indeterminate plant with moderate to high yields, depending on the weather. The story of how Mortgage Lifter got its name has been repeated in many catalogs. The following story has been lifted from Carolyn Male's book "100 Heirloom Tomatos for the American Garden". M.C. Byles planted four varieties with large fruit: German Johnson, "Beefsteak," an Italian variety, and a English variety. One variety was planted in the middle and the other three varieties surrounded it. Byles took pollen from the outer three varities and cross-pollinated the blossoms of the center plant. The next year, he planted the best seedling in the middle and surrounded it with three other seedlings. After selecting the best plants each year for six years, he had a stable variety- Which he called Mortage Lifter because he sold the plants for $1 each during the 1940's and paid off his $6,000 house mortage in only six years. If you sell at Farmer's Markets this tomato is a must!

If you sell at Farmers' Markets don't forget this one!