Tamarillo 'Red'

The name Tamarillo originated in New Zealand and was coined to promote the fruit and give it a name. The fruits are egg-shaped and 10x5 cm in size. The skin is shiny and thin, comparable to that of a tomato. The fruits are ripe as soon as they are yellow. The flesh is bright yellow in colour and tastes slightly tart, but is very aromatic; otherwise, the taste is comparable to that of a regular tomato. The skin is bitter and can easily be removed by briefly dipping the fruit in boiling water. The fruit is good to eat raw, and for those with a sweet tooth, a little sugar can be added. Ideal for fruit salads, ice cream, chutney and cakes! 

The tree tomato is a strongly branching, evergreen semi-shrub that grows fairly quickly. The tree tomato has a short stem, the leaf stalks can grow up to 15 cm long, and the leaves are heart-shaped and grow to 35x20 cm. When the leaves are crushed, they release a strange, aromatic scent. The plant can be pruned to keep it under control. The beautiful flowers are 2 cm wide and grow in clusters at the tips in April-May. They have 5 light pink or lavender petals with yellow stamens; the tree tomato is self-pollinating.

The plant can easily produce ripe fruit when grown in a pot. In summer, place it outside in the sun. For optimal production (ripening in October-November), the Tamarillo must be overwintered frost-free at a temperature of at least 10°C. An older plant can withstand short periods of 3°C frost and can spend the winter in a much cooler location.

Names:

• Latin: Cyphomandra betacea
• Dutch: Tree tomato
• Also known as: Tamarillo
• English: Tree Tomato