Mortgage Lifter Tomato

Mortgage Lifter

Heirloom Type: Tomato

Alternative names:

Origins:  Originated in West Virginia in the 1930s by Marshall Byles of West Virginia, also known as Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter. Supposedly Byles sold his tomato plants for $1 each, which enabled him to pay off his $6000 mortgage. There are several tomatoes now referred to as mortgage lifters, including one by william Estler of Barboursville, West Virginia, who registered the mortgage lifter name prior to the Radiator Charlie version.

Characteristics: Pink on the outside, red on the inside.  Very popular both for the size and for using fresh, canned and in sauces.

Video, Blogs & More:

Recipes

Availability: Many heirloom seed companies

Share and Enjoy