Tamarillo Dressing - What is Tamarillo (or tree tomato)

[Guest guest]

Hey, Amy. Same neighborhood, different critter. You should find them

next to eachother in the veggie section, though.

Chupa

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TAMARILLO

 

Cyphomandra betacea Sent.

Solanaceae

Common Name: Tamarillo, Tree Tomato, Arbol de Tomate.

Related Species: Casana (Cyphomandra casana), Mountain Tomato (C.

crassifolia), Guava Tamarillo (C. fragrans).

 

Distant Affinity: Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopsersicum), Mexican Husk

Tomato, Tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa), Cape Gooseberry (P.

peruviana), Pepino Dulce (Solanum muricatum), Naranjilla (S.

quitoense), Cocona (S. sessiliflorum).

 

Origin: The tamarillo is generally believed to be native to the Andes

of Peru and probably also, Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia. It is

cultivated and naturalized in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and

Venezuela. It is widely grown in New Zealand as a commercial crop.

Seed from Argentina were imported by the U.S.Dept. of Agriculture in

1913 and a plant was fruiting at the Plant Introduction Station at

Chico, Calif. in 1915.

 

Adaptation: The tamarillo is a subtropical rather than tropical and

flourishes between 5,000 and 10,000 ft. in its Andean homeland. In

cooler climates it succeeds at lower elevations, but does best where

the temperature remains above 50° F. The plant is grown casually in

California and occasionally in Florida. Tamarillos have been

successfully grown in such northern California locations as San

Rafael and Santa Rosa. Frost at 28° F kills small branches and

foliage of mature trees but not the largest branches and main stem.

The tree will recover if such frosts are not prolonged or frequent.

However, seedlings and cuttings are readily killed by frost during

their first year.

 

Protection from wind is necessary as the tree is shallow rooted and

easily blown over. It is also brittle and its branches are easily

broken by gusts, especially when laden with fruit. Tamarillos have

been grown as housesplants for years. They fruit satisfactorily in

northern greenhouses.

 

Here's a picture:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:Tamarillo

 

akfral wrote:> what is a tamarillo? Is it another spelling for

tomatillo? amy