Gardening with Tropical Fruit

The Tree Tomato (Cyphomandra detacea)

By Gene Joyner, Extension Agent
Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service

Many tropical fruits do well in containers and in fact can be grown their entire lives in containers if wished. One good example is the tree tomato (Cyphomandra detacea) which is native to Peru and can be grown as a substitute for tomatoes.

The plant has large leaves often up to 12 inches long and can reach heights of 15 to 20 feet. It can be grown in containers where it fruits starting the second year of culture. Small pinkish fragrant flowers are produced in the spring near the ends of the branches and these quickly develop into fruit about the size of a large chicken egg and can be various colors either red, orange, or multi-colored. Some varieties turn almost purple at full maturity.

The fruit when opened resembles a garden tomato and some people say the meaty flesh has tomato like flavor. Usually the flesh is sub-acid and can be eaten fresh or sometimes it is stewed. When cooked, however, usually the seed and the skin is removed.

The trees are very susceptible to nematodes which makes it a good idea to grow it as a container plant in which you can start it in nematode free growing medium.

The plants have a long life span, often 10 to12 years under good conditions and they can be pruned and kept any size to fit the garden space available.

During hot dry spring months spider mites may become an occasional problem attacking the foliage and occasional chewing insects may attack leaves as well. These are generally not serious enough to kill the plant and it quickly recovers.

Tree tomatoes are susceptible to frost or freeze damage and although they come from regions at medium to high elevations it is still not something cold hardy enough to be grown in areas receiving severe winter conditions.

Tree tomatoes are easily propagated from seed, but select varieties can also be grown from cuttings. Plants if grown as landscape specimens should be grown in rich well drained soil and benefit from being heavily mulched.

Watering is necessary at least once or twice a week due to the high water loss through it’s large leaves.