Tamarillo is a fruit shrub of tropical origin that offers delicious fruit, with a tangy taste and firm flesh.
In summary, what you need to know:
Last name : Cyphomandra betacea
Family : Solanaceae
Type : Fruit tree
Height : 1 to 4 m (in its natural environment)
Exposure : Sunny or bright indoors
Ground : Light, quite rich
Harvest : Summer, let ripen on the foot
Its resemblance to the tomato earned it the name tree tomato. Here's how to grow it at home.
In our latitudes the tamarillo is cultivated outdoors where the climate is mild in winter because this fruit tree is not resistant to negative temperatures below -3 ° and -2 ° for the foliage.
It can therefore be cultivated in the Mediterranean region or on the Atlantic coast under certain conditions of culture and winter protection.
- The tamarillo needs a sunny location sheltered from the wind
- The soil must be perfectly drained to avoid stagnant water
- The land must be rich and fertilized regularly
Cultivation of tamarillo in pots
If you fear negative temperatures in winter, it is essential to grow your tamarillo in a pot so that it can be protected in winter.
Not very resistant to frost, we can then cultivate the tamarillo like a citrus fruit by tucking it in greenhouse in winter, in a cooler place but sheltered from frost
- Place a 5 cm drainage layer made from clay balls at the bottom of the pot
- Choose a special citrus or fruit tree soil
- Place the pot in the sun but avoid places that are too hot because in a pot it dries out much faster
- Take out the pot from May to October-November
- Bring the tamarillo into a greenhouse or an unheated veranda but protected from frost in winter
If you choose to grow the indoor tamarillo, a period of vegetative rest should be planned during the winter.
- This period requires a reduction in watering
- Keep good light because it is necessary, even in winter
- Place the tamarillo in the coolest place in the house
Maintenance and watering of the tamarillo
The tamarillo is a fruit tree that likes to entertain lots of water in summer, especially in hot weather.
Daily watering is recommended in case of drought or heat.
- When watering, avoid watering the foliage
- For the potted tamarillo, water as soon as the soil is dry on the surface
Apart from watering, caring for the tamarillo is relatively easy from winter to summer.
Tamarillo is best harvested ripe, as close to full maturity as possible. It is best enjoyed just after picking, as fresh as possible.
Before maturity it is not very good and too young it can even be indigestible.
If the fruits are not ripe enough when harvested, you can let them ripen like tomatoes before eating them.
To know about the tamarillo
The tamarillo is native to Peru, it is well known for its red or orange fruit.
It is part of the same family as the tomato, nightshade, but its shape more resembles that of a plum.
The tree tomato is slightly acidulous and its flesh, firm and fleshy, is eaten in the same way as the tomato, often raw.
We also like to taste this fruit in the form of tamarillo juice, another name given to the tree tomato.
The main producing country is Colombia, which explains why this fruit tree has difficulty growing outdoors in our latitudes.
Smart tip about tamarillo
For outdoor cultivation, choose the variety Cyphomandra corymbiflora because it is resistant to negative temperatures of around -7 ° in a sunny situation and well protected from the wind.