Baumtomate (Tamarillo)

Season Overview

Description

Like the tomato, the tamarillo or tree tomato (Solanum betaceum) is also a nightshade plant. The tree tomato and tomato are therefore related, but the tree tomato is not one of the varieties of tomato plants we use in the garden, so it is actually a separate species. The tamarillo is best known for its small, egg-shaped red or yellow fruit, 4-7 cm long, which should be peeled as the skin contains bitter substances. The flesh has a very interesting sweet aroma, which becomes more bitter as it ripens. To get to the delicious flesh, the fruit can also be simply spooned out. They are small trees (2-7m high) with densely hairy trunks. The first flowers are already formed at a height of 1.5m.

Growing tips

Tropical tree for greenhouses, conservatories or as a container plant. Press seeds into sowing soil and keep warm. Germinates at 15-25 °C in 2-4 weeks. The tamarillo usually bears tomato-like fruit from the second year onwards. Ideal location: Full sun. Plenty of water and fertilizer. Prune back in winter if necessary. Tamarillos require a lot of light, warmth and water. They are grown from seed from March (after the Ice Saints) on the windowsill. The plants also need wooden/corrugated wire rods or a trellis to which you can regularly tie them. Under-sowing with low-growing plants is also possible. Tamarillos are not hardy and must never be kept below 15°C. In our latitudes, the plant can only survive in a pot that is kept indoors.

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Very humid

Soil

Light (sandy)

Nutrient requirement

High

Seeding distance

150 cm

Row spacing

200 cm

Seeding depth

0 cm