Tamarillo, Cyphomandra beetroot or Tree Tomato

Synonyms: Cyphomandra beetroot or Tree Tomato, Solanum betaceum

Tamarillo (Cyphomandra beetroot or Tree Tomato (Cyphomandra betacea) – a plant of the genus Solanum in the Solanaceae family. The first tree tomato fruits were obtained in 1966 in New Zealand. the tree tomato fruits were obtained in 1966 in New Zealand.

Native to the Andes in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. The plant is still cultivated in commercial and private gardens for local production and is one of the most popular fruits in these regions. It is also grown in subtropical areas around the world, e.g. Rwanda, South Africa, Darjeeling and Sikkim in India, Nepal, Hong Kong, China, the USA, Australia, Bhutan and New Zealand.

The first tamarillo crop sold on the international market in Australia was grown in 1996, although since the mid-1970s permaculture and exotic fruit enthusiasts had been growing the fruit throughout the country.

Until 1967 the fruit was known as the «tree tomato», but the new name «tamarillo» (which was not a name in Spanish or any other language) was chosen by the New Zealand Tree Tomato Promotion Council to distinguish it from the common garden tomato and to increase its exotic appeal.

It is a small evergreen tree or shrub 2—3 metres tall with large, oval, glossy leaves. It forms a single vertical trunk with lateral branches. Flowers are pinkish-white, fragrant, with a 5-part calyx, grouped in clusters of 10-50 flowers. It begins to bear fruit at about 4 years of age, with a lifespan of around 12 years. Plants can fruit without cross-pollination, but the flowers are fragrant and attract insects. It can hybridize with other solanaceous species.

Fruits are ovoid, about 4-10 centimetres long. Colour varies from yellow and orange to red and almost purple. Sometimes they have dark longitudinal stripes. Red fruits are more acidic, while yellow and orange fruits are sweeter. The skin is glossy, firm and bitter, and the flesh has a dense texture with a sweet-sour-salty taste reminiscent of currant and somewhat of gooseberry. The flesh colour is usually golden-pink, the seeds are thin and round, black. The fruits are very rich in vitamins and iron and low in calories (only about 40 calories per fruit).

Hardiness zone: 12a (10°C).

Temperature: should be no less than 10 °C. With frosts (minus 1-2 °C) the foliage of mature trees falls and young shoots die.

Soil: loose, fertile with good drainage. For planting it is recommended to use a container with an area of about 1-1.5 m² and a height up to 50 cm. The soil should be mulched. To grow a tamarillo tree takes 18-24 months, and during the first 8 months fruiting must be prevented in order to form its crown. The tree grows and bears fruit for about 5-7 years.

Light: The permanent growing location should be slightly shaded.

Watering: requires fairly frequent watering, but water should not be allowed to stagnate.

Fertilization: It is best to feed the plant with an infusion of cow manure.

Transplanting: occurs 1-2 times a year. When transplanting the method of transferring the root ball is used, which benefits the plant and its further development.

Propagation: propagated by seeds or cuttings. Seed propagation does not maintain parental qualities. However, there is a tamarillo variety (red fruits with black flesh) in which parental qualities are preserved when propagated by seed. Before sowing, seeds are first washed free of pulp, dried in the shade, and then, to accelerate germination, placed in the refrigerator for a day. After this a box is taken, soil is filled and tamarillo seeds are sown in rows spaced 60 cm apart. The distance between seeds is about 30 cm. The first shoots will appear in 5-6 days. When propagating Cyphomandra by cuttings, they should first be rooted using water or a soil substrate. The rooting process in water is considered better because its transparency allows one to notice the time of callus formation and the appearance of a bulge from which roots will appear. This moment serves as the signal to plant the cutting into the soil. Another vegetative propagation method can also be used. For this purpose, fruiting tamarillo bushes are taken, shoots with three buds are cut off and planted into glass one-litre jars, leaving one bud above the soil. After watering and covering the jars with other jars or transparent polyethylene, the containers are placed in a warm place, protected from direct sunlight. When warm weather arrives, the rooted cuttings together with the clump of substrate should be planted in their permanent location. Propagation by cuttings produces fully developed plants that fruit in the same year, while plants obtained by seed propagation fruit in 1.5–2 years. To encourage better branching of tamarillo trees, it is recommended to prune them at a height of about 1 m. This agrotechnical operation is performed in spring one year after the first harvest.

Uses: Tamarillo fruits are eaten raw after removing the skin and the thin upper layer down to the flesh. They are ideal for adding a small amount of flesh to cocktails and smoothies to give a special aroma and unique flavour. More often they are used for culinary processing and canning. They do not store well and do not withstand long transport.