How to Grow Tamarillo Seeds

Grow Guide #2499
Family: Solanaceae
Binomial name: Solanum betaceum
Life Cycle: Perennial

This 'How to Grow' guide details everything a home gardener needs to know to plant, grow and care for Tamarillo (Solanum betaceum).

When to Sow Tamarillo Seeds

Tamarillo is a perennial plant that grows year round in most climates. Use the table below to identify the best time of year to sow tamarillo seeds in your climate.

Preparation

Tamarillo plants are short-lived perennials, meaning they usually live for between two and five years. Choose a permanent position where plants can grow undisturbed by regular digging or disturbance.

Tamarillo plants are best grown in full sun. Choose a location that will receive at least 6 hours of full sun each day.

Plant tamarillo in a position that is sheltered from winds.

Tamarillo plants need a well drained soil enriched with plenty of organic matter. Prepare soil by weeding it thoroughly, digging it over to loosen it and adding aged animal manure or compost. Keep the area free of weeds until planting. Learn more about preparing soil for planting here.

How to Sow Tamarillo Seeds

Tamarillo seeds do not require any treatment (eg soaking, stratification) before sowing.

Tamarillo seeds can be sown directly into the garden OR seedlings can be raised in trays or other containers and transplanted to the garden once established.

Sow Direct

1. Sow seeds directly in the garden 5mm deep and 400cm apart.
2. Keep soil moist but never wet or dry.
3. Seeds should germinate in around 7-28 days at a soil temperature of 18-28°C.
4. Young seedlings will need protection from pests, pets and weather until they are established.

Raise Seedlings

1. Fill trays, punnets or jiffy pots with a good quality seed-raising mix, or use soil starter pellets.
2. Sow seeds 5mm deep.
3. Keep soil moist but never wet or dry.
4. Seeds should germinate in around 7-28 days at a soil temperature of 18-28°C.
5. Transplant seedlings to the garden once they have their first true leaves and are large enough to handle (usually 5-10cm tall).
6. Plant out, spacing plants 400cm apart.

Tamarillo is a half hardy crop. Mature plants will survive light frosts but seedlings need protection until they are established. Do not transplant seedlings or sow seeds outside until all danger of frost has passed.

Optional: In cool climates tamarillo seeds can be sown indoors 6 weeks before the last expected frost. Grow them in a warm position with plenty of natural light.

How to Grow Tamarillo

Tamarillo plants may need watering during the growing season. Water when the soil is dry about 5cm below the surface (test this by scratching away a little soil with your finger). Water deeply in the early morning or late afternoon. Avoid watering the leaves of plants to avoid fungal diseases. Learn more about watering here.

If soil was well prepared no extra fertiliser should be necessary. In poor soil or to give your plants an extra boost, application of a balanced fertiliser or one formulated for fruit and vegetables can be beneficial:

• Apply slow release fertiliser at the recommended rate when transplanting or when seedlings are 5-10cm tall.
• Apply liquid fertiliser at the recommended rate and frequency while plants are fruiting or flowering.

Pinch off the growing tip of the plants when they are around 120cm tall. Pinching will encourage the plants to form multiple branches which stabilise the tree and make harvesting the fruit easier.

Tamarillo plants may die back in cold weather. Cut plants back just above ground level in late autumn, or prune off dead foliage when new leaves emerge in spring.

How to Harvest Tamarillo

Tamarillo should be ready to harvest in approximately 2 years.

Fruit is ready to harvest when it is fully coloured (red, orange or yellow depending on the variety). Harvest fruit by cutting with snips/secateurs or by twisting to separate from the stem. Harvest regularly to encourage more fruit. Fruit can be stored short term in the fridge. For longer term storage tamarillo can be made into preserves.

Common Problems when Growing Tamarillo

Like all plants, tamarillo is susceptible to some pests, diseases and other problems. Below is a list of the most common problems gardeners encounter when growing tamarillo plants:

• 

  Frost damage can cause leaves to wilt and go black. Do not plant seedlings in the garden until all danger of frost has passed in spring, and harvest plants before winter. Prune all frost-damaged leaves to avoid them rotting on the plant.
• 

  Fusarium wilt and verticillium wilt are diseases caused by soil-borne fungi. The fungi enter a plants’ roots and prevent water and nutrients from moving through plants. Leaves and branches will wilt, dry off and die and leaves may yellow. There is no cure for wilt but choosing resistant varieties, disposing of affected plants and soil, practicing good garden hygiene and crop rotation will all help to prevent it spreading.
• 

  Powdery mildew is caused by fungal spores reproducing on the leaves of plants. First showing as white spots on leaves, affected areas can spread quickly to cover the entire leaf surface. While rarely fatal, powdery mildew can reduce yields. Water plants at soil level (not on leaves) to prevent spreading spores, allow good air flow between plants, remove affected leaves and if necessary spray with an appropriate fungicide or homemade spray. Read more here about powdery mildew here.
• 

  Queensland Fruit Fly (Bactrocera tryoni) that lays its eggs in fruit, causing it to rot from the inside. Fruit will fall prematurely and larvae can be seen if affected fruit is cut open. Practice good garden hygiene by disposing of fallen fruit, protect fruit with insect exclusion netting and install traps to monitor fruit fly populations. Read more about Queensland fruit fly here.