The Mortgage Lifter tomato is an heirloom, prized for large, flavorful fruits. This indeterminate beefsteak, with sweet, low-acid, meaty fruits, can weigh over two pounds. Originating in the 1930s, its history involves a mechanic who paid off his mortgage selling seedlings. Though robust, Mortgage Lifter tomatoes, like all tomato plants, face challenges impacting health and yield.
Identifying Common Diseases
Mortgage Lifter tomatoes are susceptible to diseases impacting growth and fruit. Fungal diseases include: Early Blight (dark, concentric spots with yellow halos on lower leaves/stems), Late Blight (large, irregular, water-soaked lesions turning brown/black, with fuzzy white mold on undersides), and Septoria Leaf Spot (small, circular spots with dark brown borders and black dots).
Vascular wilts (Fusarium, Verticillium) are soil-borne fungal diseases causing wilting and yellowing. Fusarium Wilt causes yellowing leaves that die; Verticillium Wilt causes V-shaped lesions on leaf margins. Powdery Mildew: white, powdery growth on leaf surfaces, reducing photosynthesis.
Bacterial diseases include: Bacterial Spot (small, dark, water-soaked spots on leaves, coalescing, and raised, scab-like lesions on fruits), and Bacterial Canker (wilting, brown streaks inside stems, “bird’s-eye” spots on fruits). Viral diseases (e.g., Tomato Mosaic Virus): mottled, distorted, or stunted leaves, reducing fruit size and quality.
Dealing With Common Pests
Insect pests target Mortgage Lifter tomatoes. Tomato hornworms: large green caterpillars rapidly defoliating plants, leaving stripped stems and dark droppings. Aphids: small, soft-bodied insects clustering on new growth, sucking sap, causing leaves to curl, yellow; they excrete honeydew.
Whiteflies: tiny, white, winged insects on leaf undersides, feeding on sap, causing stunted growth, yellowing, and honeydew. Spider mites: stippling on leaves and fine webbing.
Cutworms: plump, gray-brown caterpillars feeding at night, severing young tomato seedlings. Stink bugs: pierce fruits and stems, resulting in dimpled, discolored spots on fruit and distorted growth. Identifying these pests and their damage is the first step toward management.
Addressing Environmental and Cultural Stressors
Mortgage Lifter tomatoes face problems. Blossom End Rot: dark, sunken spot on fruit’s blossom end, from localized calcium deficiency. Fruit Cracking (cracks) occurs due to rapid water changes.
Sunscald: pale, leathery areas on fruits exposed to intense sunlight; common with insufficient foliage protection. Blossom Drop (poor fruit set): blossoms fail to develop into fruit and fall. Extreme temperatures (above 90°F or below 55°F) contribute.
Nutrient deficiencies: yellowing of older leaves (nitrogen), purplish discoloration on leaf undersides (phosphorus), yellowing between older leaf veins (magnesium), or yellowing of new leaves (iron). Both overwatering and underwatering lead to wilting; overwatering causes yellowing lower leaves; underwatering causes overall wilting.
Proactive Prevention and Management
Proactive prevention manages Mortgage Lifter issues. Select a site with well-draining soil and 6-8 hours of direct sunlight. Organic matter improves drainage and nutrient availability; a soil pH of 6.2-6.8 is ideal.
Consistent, deep watering (1-2 inches/week) maintains even soil moisture, preventing blossom end rot and fruit cracking. Provide balanced fertilization, addressing deficiencies based on soil tests. Regular inspection allows early detection of pests and diseases.
- Prune lower leaves for air circulation, reducing fungal disease.
- Use sturdy staking or caging for heavy fruit loads.
- Practice crop rotation (avoiding tomatoes in same spot for 3+ years) to disrupt disease/pest cycles.
- Remove plant debris to reduce overwintering sites.
- Apply neem oil/insecticidal soap; encourage beneficial insects.
- Mulch around plant bases to conserve soil moisture and regulate temperature.
- Provide temporary shade during intense heat waves to mitigate sunscald/blossom drop.