Summer 1994 Goldenseal article on Estler's Mortgage Lifter tomato *full article*

[Ginger2778]

Great news Edie!

[Sue_CT]

I found a small tomato on an EML plant from your 2011 seed yesterday!

[EdieJ]

Here's the one I found the other day:

20200713_152253.jpg

And a 2nd tiny baby I found this morning:

20200713_152317.jpg

So very happy. Now all I have to worry about are bugs, BER, diseases does it ever end?!

[EdieJ]

Do

[pondgardener]

[mention]EdieJ[/mention], I deleted the extra pictures for you. If you would have looked in the attachment folder at the bottom when editing your post, you would have seen the duplicate photos, with the option to delete any or all. Ok?

[EdieJ]

[mention]pondgardner[/mention] thanks. I am so old a lot of this technology stuff goes over my head.

[Sue_CT]

I am a full zone behind you, Edie, but last time I looked there were two tomatoes on my plant from your 2011 seed, and I certainly hope for more. I sprayed because I have already taken away an armful of diseased lower leaves from all the plants. No, it never ends. Make gardening challenging at times, that is for sure.

[Ginger2778]

@pondgardner thanks. I am so old a lot of this technology stuff goes over my head.

Me too. I'm so glad your EMLs are naking fruit. Congratulations!

[edweather]

I found a small tomato on an EML plant from your 2011 seed yesterday!

That's encouraging. I think I have a few of the 2011 seeds, and am saving them for next spring.

[Sue_CT]

Two tomatoes now, lol. I saved a few for next year as well, in case of a disaster this season.

[zendog]

[mention]EdieJ[/mention] here are some nice tomatoes forming on an Estler's Mortgage Lifter plant from the seeds you sent me. The germination was low, but I got 2 plants and kept one and gave another to a friend. I actually graft all my tomatoes which really helps keep them going through the season with the heat, humidity and disease pressure here, so hopefully, I'll get a good crop. I'll try to bag some blossoms to make sure to get uncrossed seed. My only problem is I grow in a community garden and theft is pretty high when people see the beautiful tomatoes forming! They always seem to take the ones I'm planning on for seed... maybe I need to write on them with a sharpy, "don't eat, poison."

estlersml.jpg

[Mark_Thompson]

Have you ever seen people planting or selling “Mortgage Raiser”? Is this not the exact same animal and someone just botched the name somewhere along the way?

[EdieJ]

[mention]Mark_Thompson[/mention] I've never heard of one called " Mortgage Raiser." It could be an entirely different tomato. There are a few called "Mortgage Lifter." Because of the lawyer's mistake the name was never protected. The most well-known is the "Radiator Charlie" - Dr. Carolyn Male actually did a gene study on it vs Estler's and they are not genetically the same even though they are both pink. Byle's tomato is not as good, he just had better PR.

[edweather]

Figured it was time to bump this thread. I planted three of Edie's EML seeds in individual cells a few days apart. The first seed planted 12/13, then 12/15 and 12/19. The first one germinated. In a year when there hasn't been much to be happy about, it felt great to see that little sucker break ground. I have visions of saving lots of seed, but will have to see how that pans out. Was considering just growing EML this year so I don't have to bag the blossoms, but that will be tough. Was looking forward to growing several varieties.

20201220_101922.jpg

[edweather]

Happy to report one of Edie's seeds is growing well.
The plant is about 2' high. Hope to save many seeds. Of course it's early, but I'm encouraged.

[Fusion_power]

I'm still growing the EML seed I got from Chuck Wyatt back in 2002. I grow fresh seed about every 3 or 4 years.

[Texgal]

I love to read stories like this! And that there are folks willing and able to preserve our food history by growing it out and saving/sharing the seeds. Thanks for posting this!

[Sue_CT]

I had every bad thing happen to my EML plants last summer and ended up not distributing them due to disease and I didn't want to chance passing any disease along in the seeds. I remember Edie J had a terrible time of it with her plants, too. So this year I will plant the ones I had left and try to make sure I am able to save enough seed to pass along.

[edweather]

Just an up date. Edie's plant is growing well. Hoping for the best.

20210323_170016.jpg

[Julianna]

This is such an awesome project! I don't have room this season, but I am putting this on a want list for next. Happy to help grow and distribute!