Gareth Carter: Growing tamarillo in Whanganui

Passionfruit black. Photo / Gareth Carter

Gareth Carter is the general manager at Springvale Garden Centre

OPINION

The spring season is rolling along, with the arrival of October enabling the planting of more frost-sensitive plants in many areas.

One of my favourite fruits is the tamarillo, or tree tomato as they are also known.

They are one of those fruits that are always expensive when purchased from the supermarket and are always only available for 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 as 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. 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 around four years from planting. They are relatively short-lived, with an average tree fruiting for around 7-12 years before giving up.

They can be propagated easily in the home garden by cuttings or from seed 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 seem to have a natural tendency to branching lower down.

All tamarillo are self-fertile so you can plant just one plant, though cross-pollination by having more than one plant can increase the crop size. The growth habit is a fast-growing tree with large heart-shaped leaves that are soft and hairy.

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 which 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 low acidity. Produced and marketed by incredible edibles in association with Plant & Food Research – available in garden centres.

Tamarillo Lairds Large

This is a newer variety that became available to the market in 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 different meal options. They are most commonly eaten raw where they are 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 being staked, tamarillo can be susceptible to mildew and whitefly which can be controlled by Yates Fungus Fighter and Yates Mavrik, the Mavrik insect spray will also protect against infection from the tomato/potato psylid.

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 Ican Citrus & Fruit Food or Novatec.

The two biggest enemies to watch out for when growing tamarillo are frost and wind. Although not quite as hardy as citrus they can generally be grown in areas where citrus is grown. They grow readily in 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 danger of further frosts has passed.

Passionfruit

Another subtropical favourite is passion fruit. They like a similar warm frost-free growing situation to tamarillos but are a climbing plant. The most ideal site being a north-facing wall with some sort of climbing frame provided for the tendrils to attach themselves to. Passionfruit are heavy feeders and benefit from regular applications of Fertiliser or Sheep Pellets and, if the soil is poor, the use of organic-based Ican Vegetable Food will help to improve soil structure as well as feed the plant. They are 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 a 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.

For more gardening information, visit www.springvalegardencentre.co.nz