Tree Tomato
Cyphomandra betacea

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

Cyphomandra betacea is an evergreen Tree growing to 5 m (16ft) by 4 m (13ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 5

Where it is found

Dry soils at forest margins. Open forests at medium to high altitudes.

S. America - Peru.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

Fruit - raw or cooked. The flavour can vary considerably from tree to tree, the best forms are juicy and sub-acid, they are eaten out of hand, added to salads, used in preserves, jams, jellies etc. The fruit contains about 150 IU vitamin A per 100g, 25mg vitamin C, it is rich in vitamin E and iron but low in carbohydrate. Fruits are 4 - 10cm long and 3 - 5cm wide.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Vitamin C: Plants good for their vitamin C content

Other

Rating:

Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent

How it is grown

Succeeds in a sunny position in any well-drained soil. Prefers a light fertile soil. Dislikes drought. Plants are very prone to wind damage. They fruit best with a temperature range of 16 - 22°c in the growing season. The tree tomato is cultivated for its edible fruit in sub-tropical and tropical zones, there are some named varieties. It is not winter hardy in Britain, though it can be pot grown outdoors in the summer and brought into a warmer place for the winter. It requires a minimum winter temperature of 10°c for best fruit production but it is hardy to about -2°c. Trees produce about 20 kg of fruit a year, yields of 15 - 17 tonnes per hectare are achieved in New Zealand. Plants are probably insensitive to day-length. Very fast growing, it starts to fruit within two years from seed and reaches peak production in 3 - 4 years. Trees are, however, short-lived - the life of a commercial plantation is about 8 years. This species does not hybridize easily with other members of the genus. Plants have a shallow spreading root system and resent surface hoeing, they are best given a good mulch. Plants usually ripe their fruit over a period of time, though pruning methods can be used to produce a peak time of fruiting. The leaves have a pungent smell. Plants are subject to attacks by red spider mites.

Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates within 4 weeks at 15°c, within 2 weeks at 25°c. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of greenwood in a frame.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 8-11

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

The unripe fruit is slightly toxic.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

C. crassicaulis. (Ortega.)Kuntze.