Heritage Tomato Seeds

Jan Sears · #1 08/17/11, 10:48 PM

I want to buy some heritage tomato seeds called "Morgage Lifter". Does anyone know where I can purchase some? We saw some growing at a historical living history village that we visited the other day. The guy tending the garden said that he was not allowed to give any away. They are HUGE red meaty tomatoes. Would appreciate any help I can get.

oneokie · #2 08/17/11, 11:03 PM

An internet search will bring up several places that sell that variety.

Paquebot · #3 08/17/11, 11:49 PM

It's "Mortgage Lifter", not "Morgage Lifter". I don't happen to have any extra right now but a number of companies carry them.

Martin

#4 08/18/11, 12:03 AM

I used to find them on the rack of Burpee heirloom seeds. Some years they did OK in the Twin Cities and some years the growing season was too cold. It was zone 4. I don't know what your zone is. They are low acid too.

The story is that they were developed in the early 1900s by a guy on the east coast area (Philly?) who owned a radiator shop at the bottom of a big hill. The cars of the day would overheat trying to go up the hill and roll down to his shop at the bottom. He sold seedlings and paid off his mortage.

If you like Mortage Lifters try Amanna Orange.

oregon woodsmok · #5 08/18/11, 01:59 AM

Just about every seed company sells mortgage lifter.

I've tried to grow them. I don't think they do well in the colder areas. They sure weren't good at my place.

HilltopDaisy · #6 08/18/11, 02:34 AM

Try www.rareseeds.com

Kazahleenah · #7 08/18/11, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jan Sears

I want to buy some heritage tomato seeds called "Morgage Lifter". Does anyone know where I can purchase some? We saw some growing at a historical living history village that we visited the other day. The guy tending the garden said that he was not allowed to give any away. They are HUGE red meaty tomatoes. Would appreciate any help I can get.

I grow them. Can't send the plants, but can send some seeds.

Kazahleenah · #8 08/18/11, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oregon woodsmok

Just about every seed company sells mortgage lifter.

I've tried to grow them. I don't think they do well in the colder areas. They sure weren't good at my place.

I'm a zone 4 and they are awesome here!

Kazahleenah · #9 08/18/11, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paquebot

It's "Mortgage Lifter", not "Morgage Lifter". I don't happen to have any extra right now but a number of companies carry them.

Martin

**fordson major** · #10 08/18/11, 07:13 AM

may have a local for ya Jan!

freeb · #11 08/18/11, 07:32 AM

i got mine from Gurney, the seed company. Mine also didnt do well in zone 7

ksfarmer · #12 08/18/11, 08:55 AM

I got them from Totally Tomatoes. They didn't do well here in zone 5b. Nice big uneven shaped tomatoes set on but ripened unevenly . Partly ripe and partly green. I won't try them again.

Paquebot · #13 08/18/11, 10:49 AM

Grew Mortgage Lifter 2 years ago but did so poorly that I figured they were wrong seed and didn't save any seed. Grew Yellow Mortgage Lifter last year but due to space limitations had to borrow space in a friend's plot. Due to circumstances beyond her control, she abandoned her plot partway through the season and my plants were overwhelmed with weeds before I realized it. Did manage to get a thousand or so seeds but not enough to include in any offer. Especially when I'm not certain if it's true to type. The yellow version, by the way, also is capable of producing fruit over a pound.

Martin

mnn2501 · #14 08/18/11, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oregon woodsmok

Just about every seed company sells mortgage lifter.

I've tried to grow them. I don't think they do well in the colder areas. They sure weren't good at my place.

Tried it once here in Texas, never got a single tomato from it -- don't think it does well in high heat either.

http://rareseeds.com/catalogsearch/r...chbox=products

Farmerwilly2 · #15 08/18/11, 03:48 PM

I grow them and the brandywine--both big ole maters. If you can't get them anywhere else send me a pm.

#16 08/18/11, 10:53 PM

I've also grown them . They did very well & I thought they were an excellent tomato .

uncle Will in In. · #17 08/19/11, 11:19 AM

They do just fine in northern Indiana. One slice just fits between two slices of bread, and butter with a swipe of Miracle Whip. Peper also. The tomato must be at least as thick as the bread.
All our big tomatoes stopped putting on tomatoes when the temp was above 90 every day. The grape tomatoes are in the shade and are yielding excellently.
Our son sells in a farmers mkt. His grape tomatoes are making him more money that the slicers.

AuntKitty · #18 08/19/11, 12:43 PM

Try tomato growers supply. That's where I get mine.

Jan Sears · #19 08/19/11, 09:22 PM

Thanks everyone for your help & suggestions. I did try an internet search but came up without anything of much use.

Freya · #20 08/20/11, 12:24 AM

I did a quick Google search for "mortgage lifter tomatoe seeds in canada" and this looks like a good link: http://www.seeds.ca/en.php

Sounds kinda like our "Seed Savers Exchange" here in the US.

Go to the seeds section and look under tomatoes and they list all the Canadian places that sell Mortgage Lifter seeds!