{"product_id":"mortgage-lifter-radiator-charlies-tomato","title":"Mortgage Lifter, Radiator Charlie's","description":"\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/restorationseeds.mom\/pages\/table-menu1\"\u003eSolanum lycopersicum\u003c\/a\u003e##\u003cdiv class=\"how-to-grow-trigger how-to-grow-title\"\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"label\"\u003eHOW TO GROW TOMATO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"icon-down-arrow\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"how-to-grow-content\"\u003eStart indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost, plant out 1–2 weeks after last frost. Requires bottom heat for good germination. Pot up to 3-4” pots when first true leaves develop, bury to first leaves. Gradually harden off in full sun 1–2 weeks before transplanting after last frost. Transplant out stocky 8 to 10” tall plants. Apply super phosphate for high early yields and to avoid blossom-end rot. Too much nitrogen causes excessive vegetation. If fruit cracks, reduce watering. Indeterminate varieties are trellised, fruit ripens over an extended period. Prune to one leader pinching suckers in leaf axles every 7 to 10 days. Thirty days before last frost prune leaders to ripen remaining fruit. Determinate or bush varieties do not need pruning or trellising. Soil pH 4.3-6.6. Hardiness zones 4. Annual.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDays from maturity calculated from the date of transplant. Average 8,400 seeds per ounce. Federal germination standard: 75%. Usual seed life: 4-10 years. Isolation distance for seed saving: 75-150 feet.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePlanting Depth \u003cb\u003e1\/4”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSoil Temp. Germ.  \u003cb\u003e70-85˚F\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDays to Germ.  \u003cb\u003e6-10\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePlant Spacing  \u003cb\u003e24-36”, 14-20”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRow Spacing  \u003cb\u003e5’, 4’ trellis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDays To Maturity  \u003cb\u003e85-95\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFull Sun\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eMoist Well Drained\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e##Bred by M.C. Byles in the 1930 in Logan West Virginia. Mr. Byles earned the name Radiator Charlie from the radiator repair business he opened at the bottom of a steep hill which trucks would often overheat on. He bred the this famous tomato by crossing four of the largest tomatoes he could find: German Johnson, Beefsteak, an Italian variety and an English variety. One of the four was planted in a circle of the others. Using a baby’s ear syringe, he cross-pollinated the center plant with the pollen from the others. The next year he selected the best seedlings, and planted the others around. He repeated this selection process for six years until he stabilized the variety. Mr. Byles sold plants for $1.00 in the 1940s, paid of the $6,000 mortgage in six years. People drove for 200 miles to buy his tomato seedlings. Mortgage Lifter fruit average 2-1\/2 lb, up to 4 lb., meaty and flavorful. We have found this variety to not be as great as its name. In Zone 7b we start in mid March to get to ripen to red, otherwise partially ripens to orange. Needs full sun and warm nights to ripen fully. Tags: Type: Indeterminate, Harvest: Late, Color: Red, Size: Large, Shape: Flat, Heritage: Heirloom, Season: Summer, Certification: Organic.##Restoration Seeds##Certified Organic by OR Dept. of Ag.##Seed grower since 2009##\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0129\/8922\/files\/DSC01082_210x165.jpg?1410551201354068541##Restoration Seeds is a farm-based seed company committed to selling seeds growers can save. We guarantee high quality seeds through our extensive variety trialing and plant breeding programs. We empower family farmers and home gardeners by offering 100% Open Pollinated seeds.","brand":"RESTORATION SEEDS","offers":[{"title":"25 Seeds","offer_id":1074483296,"sku":"10331","price":4.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250 Seeds","offer_id":1074483300,"sku":"11070","price":22.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0129\/8922\/products\/MortgageLifterRadiatorCharlies_IMG_5545.jpg?v=1487923226","url":"https:\/\/www.restorationseeds.mom\/products\/mortgage-lifter-radiator-charlies-tomato","provider":"RESTORATION SEEDS","version":"1.0","type":"link"}