Also known as tamarillo , this unusual plant is farm for its testicle - mold , flavorful fruit .
When you see a yield similar in size of it to a diminished tomato but with orange shape and lots of seed , you ’ve pass off upon a tamarillo . Because the fruit nearly resemble a tomato , it ’s also referred to as a tree tomato plant ( Solanum betaceum ) . A indigen to Central and South America , this shrubby plant is part of the nightshade kinsfolk liketomatoesandpeppers . Here ’s what you need to jazz to maturate your own tree diagram love apple and love the unique yield .
Mayerberg / Getty Images
Credit:Mayerberg / Getty Images
Where to Grow Tree Tomatoes
In a red-hot clime ( USDA geographical zone 10–11 ) , this baffling bush or tree diagram can be plant directly in the ground . In cooler climates , plant it in a container and work it indoors for overwinter . Choose a location that receives 6 to 8 time of day of lineal sunlight . In the hottest region , tree diagram love apple benefits from partial spook , particularly in the good afternoon .
When choosing the ideal spot , consider how much wind the area receive . Because these shrub have a shallow base system , they need protection from strong winds that could blow over the flora .
How and When to Plant Tree Tomatoes
works tree tomatoes after thelast frost in spring . Dig a hole about twice the diameter of the nursery pot and plant it at the same depth as it was in the pot . Water well after planting .
If you ’re planting multiple shrubs in the landscape , space them 2 to 3 foot aside , leaving 6 feet of quad between rows .
Tree Tomato Care Tips
Tamarillos are magnanimous shrubs that are gentle to grow as long as you provide the care they want .
Light
tree diagram tomatoes thrive in full sun . If you live in a tropical area or a hot climate , plant the tree diagram tomato inpartial tad . When winter a tree diagram tomato indoors , lay it in a sunny patch , ideally a south - facing window .
Soil and Water
tree diagram tomatoes do best inwell - drained soilthat is enriched with organic issue and slimly acidic to neutral ( pH between 6.1 and 7 ) . Provide adequate water to keep the soil moist but not soggy . Because this plant has shallow antecedent , it involve to be watered frequently during warm weather . The best time to water is too soon in the aurora before the heat of the 24-hour interval .
When watering , keep the leaf dry ; soaked foliage lead to fungal disease . Mulch around the infrastructure of the plant to retain moisture in the soil . Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree Lycopersicon esculentum do n’t do well in drought or farsighted periods without water .
When overwinter pot tamarillo plants indoors , water them sparingly . It goes dormant and does not require a lot of water during that period of time .
Credit:Robert Cardillo
Temperature and Humidity
This subtropic plant life raise best in warm clime . The optimum humidness for these plant is 90 to 95 % . Typically , temperatures above 50 degrees are idealistic . With protection , the plant can temporarily withstand temperature as 28 academic degree but it will affect its growth . If you live on in a climate with cold winters , bring your plant deep down during the wintertime .
Fertilizer
Fertilize sparingly , especially if you planted the tree tomato inrich land with plenty of organic matter . Apply a liquid fertilizerwhen it is flowering or producing fruits .
Pruning
As your newly engraft tamarillo head start growing , prune it to a height of 3 to 4 feet to encourage branching , using sharppruning shears . In consecutive class , pruning helps with fruit product . Shortening any farsighted stems and pinch back young shoot solution in stocky development and promote fruit to grow nigher to the inwardness of the plant . The recommend time to prune is just before wintertime .
Potting and Repotting Tree Tomatoes
Below USDA Zone 10 , the only style to grow a tree diagram tomato is as a potted plant . apply a container that is at least 12 in in diameter and has large drain holes . Fill it with a combination of eminent - quality potting grunge and compost . Container plants dry out out much faster than plants in garden filth so water often .
Move the container to a sheltered area such as a heated up garage or your home for the wintertime .
tree diagram tomato plants are dissipated growers that soon require a larger container , one size of it up from its current pot . When repotting , look for wheeled containers to make relocate the plant easy .
Credit: Bob Stefko
Pests and Problems
Tamarillos are susceptible to some of the same pests you might find out on your love apple plants . Be on the outlook forhornworms , which feast on love apple plants and other plant from the nightshade family . pick off these hornworms by hand is unremarkably sufficient , but stay open-eyed as these cat are known to devour plant rapidly .
How to Propagate Tree Tomatoes
Tamarillos are best grown fromstem cuttingsfrom a ripe plant . As seeds do not always produce plants that are reliable to the parent , starting them from seed may be disappointing and not deserving the effort .
In early summer , take 10 - inch cuttings from one - year - old wood , cutting just below a node . slay the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting . Dip the cut terminate in rooting endocrine and insert the cutting in small hatful filled with well - draining potting commixture .
Place the pots in a warm location but away from direct sunlight . Water just enough to keep the potting intermixture somewhat moist . theme should set forth to form in 4 to 6 workweek .
Credit: Doug Hetherington
How to Harvest Tree Tomatoes
have a bun in the oven your tree tomato to originate farm fruit in its 2d growing season . like to tomato , the fruits are light-green as they are develop , and the peel turn colors as it ripens . The skin colour ramble from purple to red , orangish , or white-livered .
A tamarillo is ripe when the fruit gives a little when gently squeezed . Because the fruits do n’t last long after they are harvested , they are better when eaten within a few days .
Types of Tree Tomato
‘Oratia Red’
This pop tree diagram tomato variety reaches adulthood in only 8 month . It bring on large red yield that are oval to round in form . The fruit have a distinct acid taste and are used for eating peeled and making jams and preserves .
‘Rothhamer’
With fruit press over 3 apothecaries' ounce , this variety produces very large fruit for a tree love apple . The skin of the fruit is brilliant red and the shape is golden - yellow . The feel is rather sweet and the fruit is mostly eat raw .
‘Inca Gold’
The fruit of this kind are yellow and less acidulent than cerise tree diagram tomatoes .
‘Ecuadorian Orange’
As the name indicates , this variety has orange yield . It is large and less acidulous than blood-red - fruited types .
Tree Tomato Companion Plants
Borage
Robert Cardillo
Borageis an excellent companion plant for Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree tomato plantings . It helps cut back the dreaded hornworm by attracting good insects . This yearly herbaceous plant also draw in pollinator , including bees and butterflies , to the garden . Both the folio and heyday of the plant life are edible and used as garnishes or herbs .
Basil
Basil , a familiar culinary herbaceous plant , adds fragrant foliage to the garden . When plant near tree love apple plants , it repels thrips and hornworms . With many varieties of basil , growing from 18 inches to 4 foot tall , there ’s a basil suitable for every garden .
Marigolds
Gallic marigoldsand their improbable cousins , African marigold , tally colored blooms and attractive foliage to the garden . These annuals have an telling reputation for repelling a variety of pests , including whitefly , roundworm , bullet , and escargot .
Frequently Asked Questions
Though these yield come from related plant and have similar textures , they have different savour . A tree tomato is sweeter and lemony than a love apple . It has fortune of cum and a bitter skin that is best withdraw before eating the yield .
Several plant are not suitable as companions for tree Lycopersicon esculentum plant . Potatoes and brassicas , including cabbage , broccoli , and cauliflower , all release a chemical substance that inhibits the growth of tree diagram tomato plants and should not be planted near them .
With the right concern and surroundings , the tree Lycopersicon esculentum lifespan is about 6 to 7 years , although some have been make love to live up to 12 years .
