Tomatoes that is.This is my lovely Tamarillo - or tree tomato as I think it is quite commonly known. It is only tiny now, but according to Gardenworld, it is going to grow rapidly up to around two metres high, and then branch out and produce tons of delicious, slightly spicy fruit for us to eat fresh or stew.
Somewhere else on the web I read that they were not self pollinating, so I have planted two out, and I have sowed another eight seeds. I have plenty of space for fast growing, scrumptious fruit :D.
Not that I have tasted a tamarillo, but what sort of gardener would I be if I did not throw myself into the unknown realms of the fruit and vegetable world.
I am quite excited about these little tamarillos, I actually saw a fully grown fruiting tree on the weekend, and they are really quite a fabulous looking little tree. The fruit looks quite dramatic too - it kind of hangs down in clusters looking a bit like a red passionfruit.
Enough of trying to follow my descriptive blathering - you can see one here at Inhabitat's flick page and here at Victoriana Nursery Gardens.
I seriously hope that mine grows up to look like that.
ps the chicken is Not Dead Yet.
18 comments:
A friend gave me some seeds a couple of weeks ago. So far they haven't come up yet...
Mine took a while Frogdancer, I didn't think they were ever going to germinate - so don't give up hope.
I took a red tamarillo home yesterday! Didn't realise they weren't self pollinating! Oh dear. Maybe I'll get a golden one...or an orange one...ooooooooo!!
Mrs Bok I only read that on one site (I can't remember which one!), most others say they are self pollinating. Seeing as my seed packet says "Tamarillo" and that's it, I thought I'd be safe and plant more than one. I hadn't thought of the colours. I don't know what colour mine will be!
I love them we used to dip them in suagr as kids
Sounds fabulous! Glad the chook is still alive:)
You've never tasted a tamarillo?! Yummy. Good luck!
We missed you yesterday! Your name did come up in conversation and Mrs Bok made a notation in the meeting minutes. Maybe next time we have a blogger's get together you can be there!
No-one could ever accuse you of being unadventurous in respect of your gardening exploits, Ali. I've never tasted a Tamarillo either; perhaps never (consciously) seen one in the flesh.
I saw a tamarillo tree yesterday for the first time. And I've never tasted one either. I admire that you give anything a go in your garden.
Glad to hear the chicken is still with us. We had a Tamarillo where I lived as a kid and we only had the one tree.
My daughter's very favourite fruit (and she's a fruit bat!) They're a bit acid for many people's tastes, but they make the absolute best Tamarillo chutney. Easy to grow but short lived, no real pests, don't like frost. I've never heard about them needing cross pollination, but then, my daughter has always been enthusiastic enough that I have a few trees on the go.
Linda I am so excited about my tamarillos - how long exactly is short lived? The chutney looks quite fabulous, I will try my hand at it when the time comes.
Fiona, yes she is still hanging on. We oiled and rubbed her crop and she did seem a little happier, but I don't think she's 100%
VG I am so glad I am not the only person who hasn't tasted a Tamarillo. And thank you :)
Mark - I'll let you know what it's like!
Hazel I was very sad to have missed out, but I really will make an effort one day. I have some good friends in Melbourne that I should visit, and I am just dying to go to Digger's. Next year maybe!
Mrs Lottie - never!
Thanks thegreenbackyard and JFH I think I would like anything dipped in sugar :D
Yay for tamarillos! I have a tamarillo growing and it definitely is self pollinating. To get it to branch you need to pinch out the growing tip when it gets to about a metre high. You also need to stake it - my parents failed in this department and it came down in the first high wind, snapped at the base - bye bye tamarillo. Ants farm aphids on my tree and something (i think fruit bats) keeps nicking the fruit so I plan to net mine this year. As for taste a cross between a tomato and a passionfruit kind of describes it. I love them as do the kids but my partner was not impressed by his introduction to them....
I've only seen a couple of Tamarillos grown over here, and they never fruit (not surprisingly), and so looking forward to seeing yours progress to a harvest. take care
Mostly I'm happy with what grows here. But I wish I could grow one of these.
There's a tree up in the rainforest near here that has been there for about 12 years. But in my garden they only last a couple of years. But they grow fast, so it's not too hard to keep a young one or two coming on.
Oh no LIz - not another thing that the wildlife are going to have a taste for... I am finding myself pitted against the possums in their neverending quest to eat me out of garden... little buggers... I can't wait to taste one... tamarillo that is, not so sure about possum :)
Oh Gary - so I am. Fingers crossed, surely it can't be rocket science.
Lucy, I will keep you updated so you can live vicariously!
Thank you Linda. I might plant a new one every year. Now that it's so hot here I realise that I need more shade in the front yard, and I think that non permanent tamarillos might be the answer.
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