Tamarillo seeds

Tamarillo / Cyphomandra betacea

also known as the tree tomato, tomate de arbol, tomate andino, tomate serrano, blood fruit, tomate de yuca.

Fruit plant of the Solanaceae family. Cyphomandra is a fragile evergreen tree from the nightshade family, also known as the tomato tree. This plant is cultivated for its edible fruits, which look and taste like the fruits of the common tomato (hence the second name of the plant). In open ground, the cyphomandra grows up to 5 m, in room conditions - no higher than 2 m. This culture has a superficial root system. Its compact size makes it ideal for indoor gardens. The branches of the Cyphomandra are very fragile, brittle, covered with small (10-35 cm long) heart-shaped leaves, pointed upwards. The surface of the leaf blades is covered with fine fluff. The leaves are dark green, thin, leathery, have a pleasant aroma. The flowers are small, white, with delicate petals.

Agricultural technology:

Tomato tree seeds can be sown at any time of the year. However, this is usually done in April. Loose nutrient soil before sowing is shed with a solution of potassium permanganate (3-5 grams per 10 liters). Seeds do not need stratification and other pre-sowing treatment. After they are sealed to a depth of 1 cm, the container is covered with a film and placed in a warm place. Shoots appear in 2-3 weeks and begin to develop rapidly. If at the moment the daylight hours are still quite short, it is better to take care of the backlight. After a month, the plants are transplanted into separate containers.

They take them outside for the whole summer, and in the fall, with the onset of cold weather, the containers are returned to the house again. After wintering, when the threat of frost ends (in May), the tomato tree can be planted in open ground. If it is supposed to be grown in a greenhouse - in mid-April. In August, the tomato tree will give you bunches of small fruits. Cyphomandra feels good in a heated greenhouse, where it can bear fruit for several years in a row. The plant is also kept as a room exotic.

The plant prefers well-drained, but moisture-intensive soil rich in organic matter. Watering should be frequent, but water stagnation should not be allowed. The soil around the plant is mulched. A place for a tomato tree is chosen in slight shading or light, but protection from direct sunlight is required. And don't forget - this fragile plant needs support. Cyphomandra has a superficial root system, it quickly selects nutrients from the soil, so top dressing is mandatory for it. The most commonly used infusion of mullein (1:10)

At home, the tomato tree is propagated by seeds. They are extracted from the pulp of the fruit, washed, dried, put in the refrigerator for a day, and then sown in pots with soft fertile soil. It is best to take nutrient soil for tomatoes or garden soil and add washed river sand (2: 1). The optimum temperature for seed germination is 25°C. Shoots at this temperature appear in 15-20 days. Seedlings grow very slowly at first. Their intensive growth begins in 1.5-2 months, and by the end of the first year of vegetation they reach a height of 1 m. Every 3 months, the size of the pot is increased by 2-3 liters. From spring to autumn, it is necessary to regularly, once a month, feed the cyphomandra with fertilizers. In winter, when the plant stops growing, reduce watering and stop feeding.

Application:

The tomato tree is a very attractive plant with large, slightly drooping leaves with a pronounced aroma and fragrant pale pink or lavender flowers up to 2 cm in diameter with a purple-green calyx. But the main decoration is smooth ovoid fruits up to 10 cm long. Depending on the variety, they are dark purple, blood red, orange and yellow.

Cut fruits serve as a real table decoration: orange-red, orange, yellow or creamy yellow flesh under the stone - where it surrounds the seeds, can even be black. Tamarillos are mainly used in cooking in the same way as tomatoes and Nantes carrots 4. Only be sure to remove the skin, which is harsh in taste, and remove the seeds, which are also larger and tougher than those of bitter-tasting tomatoes. The peel is easily removed if you make a cross-shaped incision and lower the fruit for 1 minute in boiling water.

According to the chemical composition, the fruits of cyphomandra differ significantly from tomatoes. The content of solids in the juice of the fruits of Cyphomandra is 10-15%, and free citric acid is 1.5-1.7%. The fruits are very juicy, tasty and fragrant, contain vitamins: C, E, B6, A, iron and potassium. Tamarillo is recommended for those who suffer from frequent migraines. The fruits have a specific sweet and sour taste, between the taste of a tomato and passion fruit. This circumstance makes tamarillo truly versatile in culinary terms. From it you can cook both vegetable and dishes that are traditionally prepared from fruits. But before that, the fruit must be cleaned of the skin, which, with its unpleasant taste, can ruin any dish.

If you eat tamarillo raw, then you should cut it in half and scoop out the pulp with a spoon, without affecting the skin. The fruits are eaten both raw and after cooking (boiled), in addition, they are preserved. The fruits of the tomato tree are almost not stored and do not withstand long-term transportation. Fresh fruit can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. Unripe ones reach room temperature in two to three days.