Tamarillo plants are fast-growing small trees that will fruit in their second year. Photo / 123RF
It's interesting to look back that this same week last year, we had a storm with wind, rain and hail.
The vulgarities of spring weather repeated themselves with a solid cold, wet front this past week.
It always pays to have frost cloth/cloches and any other necessary coverings on hand to offer protection to young plantings of seedlings or other sensitive plants.
It is also wise to stake and regularly tie up soft new growth to avoid damage from winds - new growth on roses can be particularly vulnerable.
In Whanganui, many are recognising the temperate climate and there is an increasing interest in subtropical fruit plants.
The edible banana Misi Luki, the previously unavailable cherimoya and casimiroa.
There is unprecedented demand by home gardeners for avocado trees, which are attainable in garden centres for portions of the year.
Other favourite subtropical fruits, the passionfruit and tamarillo, are experiencing demand like never before.
We have now had many mild winters in Whanganui with few frosts, being highly advantageous for establishing more cold-sensitive plants such as these.
Tamarillo or tree-tomato as they are also known have long been a favourite of mine.
They are one of those fruits that are always expensive when purchased from the supermarket and are available for only a limited time each year.
The fruiting time for tamarillo is during the winter months from May to July.
This timing makes them a great fruit to grow because this can be a time of year when fruit and vegetables can be more expensive to purchase.
The red varieties tend to be tart and a sprinkling of sugar can be needed. While the yellow varieties tend to be sweeter.
Tamarillo plants are fast-growing small trees that will fruit in their second year.
They will reach full production capacity about four years from planting.
They are relatively short-lived with an average tree fruiting for seven to 12 years before giving up.
They can be propagated easily in the home garden by cuttings or from seeds collected from the fruit.
Seed-raised trees tend to grow straight up with a single leader, which is best chopped to encourage a lower-branching canopy.
Whereas cutting grown varieties seems to have a natural tendency to branching lower down.
All tamarillo are self-fertile so you can plant just one tree, though cross-pollination by having more than one can increase the crop size.
The growth habit is a fast-growing tree with large, heart-shaped leaves that are soft and hairy. Size - 3m x 2m.
When looking to plant a tamarillo tree, there are four varieties grown by Incredible Edibles that perform particularly well and have good-sized fruit.
Tamarillo Bold Gold
Clusters of pink fragrant flowers appear in spring within 18 months from planting. Followed by large, golden fruit that is sweet and less acidic than the red varieties.
Tamarillo Teds Red
Clusters of pink fragrant flowers appear in spring within 18 months from planting. Followed by large, almost-round, bright-red fruit.
Tamarillo Tango
Clusters of pink fragrant flowers appear in spring within 18 months from planting. Followed by medium-sized red/orange fruit. Very sweet and has low acidity. Produced and marketed by Incredible Edibles in association with Plant & Food Research - available in garden centres.
Tamarillo Lairds Large
This is a new variety on the market for 2020. It is described as a heavy-yielding variety producing large, red tangy fruit.
Some people love them, while others detest them. But tamarillo can be used in a wide range of meal options. They are most commonly eaten raw - cut in half and eaten with a teaspoon – much like a kiwifruit.
Tamarillo is also delicious cooked on toast, made into fruit pies, chutneys, sauces, used on cheesecakes, stewed with apple, added to salad greens, and I'm sure there are other uses too.
When planting a tamarillo tree, site selection is important. The most successful growing situation will be a sunny, well-drained, as frost-free as possible and sheltered from the wind. They are shallow-rooted and benefit from being staked. Tamarillo can be susceptible to mildew and whitefly, which can be controlled by Kiwicare Organic Super Sulphur and Yates Mavrik. This insect spray will also protect against infection from the tomato/potato psyllid.
It is beneficial to water well during the dry summer months where the new growth formed is the basis for the winter harvest. Feeding tamarillo trees in spring before pruning, a second feed a month after pruning and a third feed in February to aid fruit development. Good fertiliser to use is Tui Citrus Food or Novatec.
The two biggest enemies to watch out for when growing tamarillos are frost and wind. Although not quite as hardy as citrus, they can generally be grown in areas where citrus is grown. In Whanganui, they grow readily in the many frost-free pockets, and with winter frost protection where frost is heavier.
Where there is frost, tamarillo will be naturally pruned. Where no frost occurs, pruning should be undertaken in spring.
Fruit is formed on new spring growth so a hard prune will help maintain the shape of the plant as well as maximise the fruiting potential for the following year.
On plants that have sustained some frost damage, removal of any dead, damaged or old wood should be pruned during spring after the danger of further frosts has passed.
Another subtropical favourite is passion fruit. They like a similar growing situation to tamarillos, but are a climbing plant. The ideal site being a north-facing wall with some sort of climbing frame provided for the tendrils to attach themselves to.
Passion fruit are heavy feeders and benefit from regular applications of citrus fertiliser, and if the soil is poor then the use of organic-based Ican Vegetable Food will both help to improve soil structure and feed the plant. They're not wind hardy so need protection from cold winds, and do not grow well in salty maritime locations.
While they are relatively frost tender, they will grow back from the base if burnt lightly from frost.
It is important that vines are well watered during summer, particularly while the plants are young, and also in late summer when fruits are maturing.
Be aware, though, that any water logging will rot these plants. If you do have heavy soil, plant in a mound to make sure there is good drainage.
So if you would like to add some tropical flavour to your garden and plate then give growing one of these plants a go.
Have a good week.
• Gareth Carter is general manager of Springvale Garden Centre
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