Mighty 'Mato Grafted Mortgage Lifter Tomato Plant - Easy to Grow/More Fruit
Grafted VegetablesCommercial cultivation of grafted vegetable plants began in Korea and Japan at the end of the 1920s. Today, produce growers worldwide are adopting the use of grafted tomato stock, particularly in Asia, Europe, New Zealand and Australia.Grafted vegetables are created when the top part of one plant (the scion) is attached to the root system of a separate plant (the rootstock). The rootstock contributes vigor and disease resistance while the scion is chosen for fruit flavor or quality.Mortgage LifterAn old pink variety still in demand with gardeners. This large, meaty, mild-flavored tomato has few seeds and is the perfect tomato-sandwich tomato.The 'Mortgage Lifter' tomato was developed in the early 1930's in Logan, West Virginia by a radiator repairman, M.C. "Radiator Charlie" Byles. Without any experience in breeding, he made a successful cross of four of the largest tomatoes he could find - German Johnson, Beefsteak, an Italian variety, and an English variety. Radiator Charlie sold the first seedlings of his new tomato in the 1940's for one dollar each to customers who drove up to 200 miles for his famous plants that bore tasty tomatoes averaging two and a half pounds. With these sales, Charlie managed to pay off his $6,000 mortgage in only six years, and so the tomato was named 'Mortgage Lifter'.Size shipped: Starter plant in 4" Pot