| Although it looks much like a medium-sized tomato, the tree tomato is not a true tomato. Tasting somewhat like a tomato, it is usually eaten with sugar or boiled to make a popular and refreshing drink. Unlike ordinary tomatoes you can use the fruit not only like tomato but like plums in desserts and pies. It makes delicious jam too. An extremely fast growing shrub to 2-3m. Flowers are self-pollinating, and tree tomatoes may bear from seed in just over a year. Although it does better in climates where the temperature stays above 10 °C (50 °F), the tree tomato is subtropical and will bear fruit in cooler climates. Hardy to -4 °C (25°F). Requires lots of water and good drainage-standing water will kill the plant in just a few days. Makes and excellent container plant in cold climates. Cyphomandra betacea is equally happy in shade (not gloom) or sun but will grow larger in sunnier conditions. As with most plants grown for the tropical effect, mix plenty of home-made compost and composted manure into the planting hole for best performance. 20 seeds Grow notes Click Here.
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