Tomatoes Bought My House: The unbelievable story of Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter Tomato
By Michael Nolan
The beauty of heirloom tomatoes reaches far beyond the dinner table and into history itself.
They are a breath of fresh air in today’s world of genetically mutated plants that foster family and friendship.
Heirloom seeds are truly by the people, for the people. They are not mass manufactured and sold in every store, instead being handed down by generations of real people who value taste and purity over appearance.
In the early 1940s, a man without any formal education who went by the name of “Radiator Charlie” decided that he wanted to create a better tomato. He started with the largest seeds he could find and planted them in circles with a plant in the center.
With the careful precision of a scientist, he would collect pollen from the plants (in a baby’s ear syringe, no less) and deposit it on the center plant – the plump, pink German Johnson.
Seven years later, Charlie was happy with the result and never worked with any other plant variety, tomato or otherwise. As it turned out, he wouldn’t need to. The new variety that he created would garner coverage in the local news media when they caught wind of the plants that could regularly produce delicious tomatoes that weighed over a pound each, often as much as two or three pounds.
Radiator Charlie would go on to grown and sell his seedlings for $1.00 each – big money at the time. The money he made turned out to be enough to pay off the mortgage on his modest $6,000 home, and thus the tomato got its moniker and Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter was born.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:30 am
Great post, Michael! (And great photo!!!) Thanks for sharing the story of this beloved heirloom. Hope you share other fun and fantastic heirloom stories in future posts!
March 28th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Yes, more stories like this. You write beautifully and from the heart.
March 28th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Ben - While the post is mine, I have to give credit for the photo to Mr. TC himself, Reggie. I do plan on sharing the stories of as many heirlooms as I can; it is a particular passion of mine.
Nancy - you are too kind. I do write from the heart but I have to admit that it isn’t always a beautiful place to be!
Love to you both!
March 28th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Great post. That is a fantastic story. I grow several heirlooms and would love to know their story.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
deb: if you’d like to let me know what varieties you are growing I would be more than happy to cover them in future entries!