Practical
Plants

Cyphomandra betacea

Tree Tomato

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Cyphomandra genus in the family Solanaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
5 m
Spread
4 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects, Self

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The unripe fruit is slightly toxic[4].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[6][7][8]. 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[2][3]. 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[3]. Fruits are 4 - 10cm long and 3 - 5cm wide[3].

Plant part
Fruit

Environment

Range
S. America - Peru.
Habitat
Dry soils at forest margins[4]. Open forests at medium to high altitudes[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates within 4 weeks at 15°c[K], within 2 weeks at 25°c[1]. 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[4].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in a sunny position in any well-drained soil[3][4]. Prefers a light fertile soil[3]. Dislikes drought[3]. Plants are very prone to wind damage[3]. They fruit best with a temperature range of 16 - 22°c in the growing season[3]. The tree tomato is cultivated for its edible fruit in sub-tropical and tropical zones[7][8], there are some named varieties[2]. 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[6]. It requires a minimum winter temperature of 10°c for best fruit production but it is hardy to about -2°c[6][3]. Trees produce about 20 kg of fruit a year, yields of 15 - 17 tonnes per hectare are achieved in New Zealand[3]. Plants are probably insensitive to day-length[3]. Very fast growing, it starts to fruit within two years from seed[4] and reaches peak production in 3 - 4 years[3]. Trees are, however, short-lived - the life of a commercial plantation is about 8 years[3]. This species does not hybridize easily with other members of the genus[3]. Plants have a shallow spreading root system and resent surface hoeing, they are best given a good mulch[3]. Plants usually ripe their fruit over a period of time, though pruning methods can be used to produce a peak time of fruiting[3]. The leaves have a pungent smell[3]. Plants are subject to attacks by red spider mites.

References

  1. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩

  2. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  3. Popenoe. H. et al Lost Crops of the Incas National Academy Press 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-309-04264-X

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12↩13↩14↩15↩16↩17

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  5. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

    ↩

  6. Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  8. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

Edit this page