Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter Tomato plant is an heirloom tomato with fruit so large and delicious, they can pay off your mortgage! The story goes that M.C. Byles, also known as ‘Radiator Charlie’, developed the tomato in the 1930s. Radiator Charlie paid off his mortgage by selling these tomato plants, hence the name Mortgage Lifter. Now considered an heirloom variety, Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter Tomato is loved for its large, pink-red tomatoes that are meaty and flavorful on disease-resistant plants. Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter Tomato is an indeterminate heirloom with fruit weighing in at 2.5 pounds per tomato.
Radiator Charlie's Mortgage Lifter Tomato Plant Care
Plant this tomato outdoors after the last chance of frost when soil temperatures have reached 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter below the soil line; its roots will develop from any point of the stem under the soil line. This tomato performs best in loamy, acidic soil that drains well. Provide Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter Tomato Plant with adequate space and supportive cages or trellises to climb and lean on as they grow. Tomato plants love the sun, so choose a full sun location in your vegetable garden.
Growing Radiator Charlie's Mortgage Lifter Tomato Plant
Growing to a maximum height of 8 feet and spread of 3 feet, Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter Plant is a large heirloom variety that produces big beautiful fruit in 79 days. Grow the plant in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. If grown inside, ensure that this heirloom gets at least 8 hours of bright direct light and that the surrounding humidity is high.
Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter Tomato Plant is a large indeterminate heirloom tomato plant, making it a great thriller for any container. To grow this plant in a container, select a large pot of at least 18 inches in diameter. Containers tend to dry out more quickly than garden plants, so keep a close eye on the moisture content of this Mortgage Lifter Plant and water thoroughly when dry. Repot this tomato plant when rootbound.
Watering Radiator Charlie's Mortgage Lifter Tomato Plant
Tomato plants have high water needs. Water Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter Tomato Plant regularly unless weather conditions provide 1 to 2 inches of rainfall per week.
Feeding Radiator Charlie's Mortgage Lifter Tomato Plant
Fertilize Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter Plant at the time of planting. After planting, apply a tomato fertilizer or a 5-10-10 fertilizer biweekly throughout the season depending on the nutrient content of the soil.
Radiator Charlies Mortgage Lifter Tomato Plant Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 8 - 10 |
| Plant Type: Edible Plants |
| Light Exposure: Full Sun (At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
| Mature Height: 4 - 8 Feet |
| Mature Spread: 18 - 36 Feet |
| Spacing: 18 - 36 Feet |
| Habit: Upright |
| Flower Color(s): None |
| Flower Description: |
| Bloom Period: |
| Foliage Type: Herbaceous |
| Foliage Color(s): Green |
| Foliage Description: |
| Seasonal Interest: Summer Flowering |
| Watering: Average |
| Resists: N/A |
| Tolerates: N/A |
| Attracts: Birds, Butterflies |
| Container Role: |
| Uses: Borders, Containers, Mass Planting |
| Features: Attracts Pollinators, Low Maintenance |
| Brand: Goodness Grows |
| Common Name: Radiator Charlies Mortgage Lifter Tomato Plant |
| Other Name(s): Radiator Charlies Mortgage Lifter Tomato |
| Scientific Name: Tomato 'Mortgage Lifter' |
- SKU:
- 1231005000-pc
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
3.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
~1.42 quarts
Also Known As:
4.25" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.93"H x 4.25"W
Volume:
~1.56 pints
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
~1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
~2.26-3.73 quarts
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
All annuals, houseplants & vegetables, we provide a 30-day warranty to ensure that your plants thrive.
Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
| Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
|---|---|
| Zone 10 | March 31th |
| Zone 9 | March 31st |
| Zone 8 | April 7th |
| Zone 7 | April 14th |
| Zone 6b | April 21st |
| Zone 6a | April 28th |
| Zone 5b | May 5th |
| Zone 5a | May 12th |
| Zone 4 | May 19th |
| Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: Idaho, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!