Litschi-Tomate

Cultivation Break

Season Overview

Description

Very decorative perennial and a real specialty! Approx. 1-1.5 m/1.1-1.6 yd tall, bushy, spiky, annual, frost-free overwintering also perennial plant with decorative, white or pale purple flowers and cocktail tomato-sized, red, edible fruits that ripen outdoors from the beginning of September. Fruits are pithy and taste sweet and sour. A lover's plant! The special thing about lychee tomatoes is certainly their spiky growth on leaves, stems and fruit capsules, which is unusual for tomatoes. However, this has the advantage of keeping cats and birds away from the plants. And its taste is also very strange: although it looks like a lychee, it tastes like a cherry. More resistant to fungal diseases such as late blight and robust enough for outdoor cultivation.

Growing tips

Germination in 10-45 days at 15-22°C/59-72°F. Sow thinly, press down and cover only lightly. Keep moist and warm. As soon as the seedlings sprout, remove the cover and store in a slightly cooler place (18-20°C/64-68°F). Harden off outside before planting out. Unlike conventional tomatoes, the lychee tomato does not need to be thinned out. It is therefore also ideal for beginner gardeners. However, the lychee tomato should be fed with fertilizer every four weeks if possible, for which organic fertilizers such as compost or horn shavings are very suitable. Water only at ground level and preferably in the morning and/or evening. Overwintering: With a bit of luck, potted plants can overwinter in a frost-free, light-flooded room. During this time, however, the plants must also be watered moderately from time to time if necessary.

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Wet

Soil

Light (sandy)

Nutrient requirement

High

Plant distance

50 cm

Row spacing

100 cm

Seeding depth

1 cm