Solanum betaceum Seeds | Tamarillo
LATIN NAME: Solanum betaceum
COMMON NAME: Tamarillo
Plant Profile
Tamarillo (Solanum betaceum) is a shrub in the nightshade family. Tamarillo carries its large, oval, soft, dark-green leaves and small, pinkish, trumpet-shaped flowers, and the whole shrub stands in the tall, leafy clumps. It is a shrub of open, sunny, deep, rich, moist, well-drained ground. It is hard to name another plant that gives this much for this little trouble.
Science & Biotechnology
Botanists studying the nightshade family regularly include Solanum betaceum in comparative work, and the species also appears in horticultural trials aimed at gardeners and growers. Gardeners benefit directly from its long cultivation: what the plant will do in a garden is well understood.
Uses & Benefits
Tamarillo works well in borders, containers and dedicated beds. Tamarillo is a fine, bright shrub of warm garden and study collection. It is a fine, bright shrub of open, sunny, deep, rich, moist, well-drained garden. Give young shrubs warmth and deep, rich, moist bed, and tangy fruits will come in years to come. A plant that has settled in will get along with only routine care.
The nightshade genus feeds the world, potato, tomato, eggplant, and arms it too: goji is its tonic member, while many ornamentals carry toxic solanine-type alkaloids, so identification is everything in this genus.
Growing from Seed
Tamarillo is one of those generous plants that come along well from seed. Level a tray of loose seed compost, sow evenly, cover to about the seed’s own depth, and keep it moist in full light. Once the seedlings have made true leaves, pot them on individually and plant out when they are sturdy and conditions are right.
Our Take
Tamarillo repays a little patience at sowing time with plenty of garden presence later.
Related Reading
More species in the same orbit as Tamarillo: