Eetbare tuin-edible garden Cyphomandra betacea - Solanum betaceum - Tamarillo - Tree tomato

• Article number: CYPBET05

Cyphomandra betacea also known as Solanum betaceum is called Tamarillo or tree tomato and is a highly branched evergreen semi-shrub that grows reasonably quickly.
In Indonesian cuisine and Sumatra the fruit is known under the name buah kundang for in the terong belanda (kind of chutney).

The tree tomato has a short trunk, the leaf stalks become 15 cm long and the leaves are heart-shaped and grow to 30 by 20 cm.
Pruning of the plant is no problem and also necessary to keep it in check. The rootstock finally leached out as the plant grows older.
The flowers of the tree tomato are 1 cm wide and grow in clusters at the buds during the spring to the end of summer and they smell really sweet.
Of all the plants that come in blossom I personally find this the most amazing fragrance.
They have 5 petals that are light pink or lavender colored with yellow stamens. The calyx is purple / green in color.

The tree tomato is self-pollinating. The name Tamarillo originated in New Zealand and was created to promote the fruit and give it a name.
The fruits are ovoid and 10 × 5 cm in size.
The skin is glossy and thin, comparable to the tomato. The fruits are ripe if they are orange or red.
The flesh is orange / red in color and tastes really fresh with a touch of sweet / sour, but very aromatic.
Furthermore, the taste is delicious and comparable to a very sweet tomato, mango and guava flavor. The skin tastes bitter.

The skin of the Cyphomandra betacea is a bit bitter and can easily be removed by immersing it in boiling water. We use a spoon and create the flesh from the skin.
The fruit is good to eat, it is also used for fruit salads, ice cream, chutney, sauces and pies.
The plant can also produce ripe fruit without problems at home. In the summer a place outside in the sun.
For optimum production (ripening the fruits in the summer to October / November), the Tamarillo should be allowed to overwinter frost-free at a temperature of at least + 6 ° C.
Winter hardiness zone 11 (+ 5ºC).