Description: ** New seeds GERMINATION TESTED 01/2023 and packed for 2023 CULTIVATION ** **USPS service has been much slower recently due to high mail volume and most packages arrive later than the time window stated on ebay. Please allow extra time especially if your order is shipping to the east coast, south, or Puerto Rico and if your order is placed before a holiday weekend. Thank-you for your patience!** For bulk orders at a discounted price please see my listing for 30 seed packages. Tamarillos, tomate del arbol, tree tomato, Cyphomandra betacea, Solanum betacea These relatives of tomatoes grow well in Northern California and in climates similar to that of their native Andes. Please message me for instructions in Spanish (Se habla espanol, Envíeme un correo electrónico para instrucciones de germinación y crecimiento en español) Germination instructions: Germinate indoors in moist soil (new/sterile peat or mixes for seedlings), just covered with soil OR use my paper towel method. Other sites have germination tips (some recommend brief freezing or soaking). I found that soaking the seeds in lukewarm water for 12 hours before planting made the seeds germinate more quickly. Freezing didn't help. I have also tried soaking 12 hours, laying on a moist paper towel in a covered tupperware, and carefully moving seeds to soil once a root appeared (at least 70% of the seeds germinated with this method). Seedlings should emerge in 2 to 4 plus weeks depending on temperature (faster at warmer temperatures, using 72 hour heat packs designed for germination may help during colder temperatures). They look similar to tomato seedlings, but a little more furry and adorable. Protect seedlings from pests and avoid over watering. Growing: Grow in full sun to part shade in rich, moist, but well-drained soil. Plants don’t like to dry out, but they also don’t like to stand in water. Protect plants from frost (well-established plants can recover from brief, infrequent frosts) and support with a stake to protect from high winds (the leaves are large and “catch” wind like an umbrella). Calcium spray used for tomato flowers set will help increase fruit production (use this if your plants make flowers but they drop without producing a fruit). Feed often for faster growth and more fruit - compost mixed into soil, solid fertilizer like E.B. Stone, or liquid fertilizer (my favorite is MaxSea). If cared for properly, you can get flowers to make fruit in less than 2 years from seed. Even when not flowering, the giant leaves make these a great conversation piece and general garden showstopper. I have traveled in Ecuador and believe that this tree’s fruit has excellent flavor. Fruit has various uses, but my favorite is making juice or milk fruit shakes (common in the Andes). Peel skin and enjoy! Fruit is red with orange undertones until ripe. Red color is often deeper when it is colder outside. The seeds listed came from my mother plant (which I grew using organic methods from my own seeds). Young plants pictured are 1.5 year old plants that I grew from seed and donated to a school community garden. Seedlings photos show what the seedlings look like. Thus far, seedlings grown from this mother tree have produced very healthy plants. Seeds currently listed were pre-fermented, germination tested in 1/2023 (92% in ideal conditions), and packed for 2023 cultivation. I do germination tests on my seeds for quality control, but you should not anticipate 100% germination. Purchasing seeds on ebay can be tricky - please be realistic about your "green thumb" and if you can provide the correct growing and germinating conditions. Planting seeds in old soil can result in pests/pathogens attacking and killing seeds, especially if you germinate at lower temperatures and they have longer to be attacked and rot. Digging in soil to see if seed is germinating can be tempting, but will likely harm root hairs. Finally, I have tried to germinate seeds before, became impatient and gave up and used the soil for something else, only to have the seeds germinate weeks later! I do not offer returns, however, if you have problems with germination or any concerns, please contact me to resolve any issues before leaving negative or neutral feedback. I want you to be delighted with your seeds! Seeds will be posted in small, lightly-padded envelops within larger envelops via first class mail without tracking. This allows me to cut down on shipping costs resulting in a lower price for you. Note: Seeds are not intended for commercial or research use. Seeds are intended for use by home and community gardeners who want to grow tamarillos for their personal use but may struggle to find plants at their local nurseries. Seeds are from plants that I grew from seeds from fruits that I grew over many years and are not any particular cultivar.
Price: 6.99 USD
Location: Berkeley, California
End Time: 2024-02-13T22:36:28.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Non-Domestic Product: No
Climate: Highland, Humid Subtropical, Marine West Coast, Mediterranean, Tropical Wet
Common Name: tamarillo
Custom Bundle: No
Color: Red
Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor & Outdoor
Modified Item: No
Brand: Seeds
Type: sub-tropical small fruiting tree
Life Cycle: Perennial
Watering: Medium
Genus: Cyphomandra
Sunlight: Partial Shade, Full Sun, Low Sun, Medium Sun
Features: Draught Resistant, Dwarf, Edible, Evergreen, Fast Growing, Flowering, Potted, Self-Pollinating
Cultivating Difficulty: Easy
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States