Tart & tasty

Tamarillos reward you with juicy, sweet, tangy and vitamin-rich fruit during the cooler months.

Also known as tree tomatoes, tamarillos are small shrub-like trees that produce vibrant egg-shaped red or orange fruit between late autumn and spring. They have a taste similar to tomatoes and passionfruit, with a slight acidic bite. The pulp can be eaten fresh or the fruit peeled and  cooked in delicious desserts and chutneys.

How to grow

Tamarillos are native to South America and do best in a subtropical climate. They can also be grown in temperate areas but need protection from frost. They are fast-growing, reaching 2–3m tall and wide within three years, and have large lush green pungent leaves. They’re ideal for small-to-medium backyards and can also be grown in 40–50cm diameter pots.



There are a few different varieties of tamarillos, including fruit with red or orange skin. Seedlings or small trees are available through garden centres, and tamarillos can also be grown from seed and cuttings. Choose a warm, sunny position that’s ideally protected from harsh afternoon sun. Tamarillos need well-drained soil or use a premium potting mix for a potted tamarillo. Protection from wind is also important, as branches can break easily. In cooler frost-free temperate areas, tamarillos may lose their leaves during winter but will re-sprout in spring.



Keep the soil or potting mix moist, as tamarillos have a shallow root system and are not tolerant of dry conditions. Applying a mulch like sugar cane or bark chips around the root zone will help keep the soil or potting mix moist. Regular feeding with a tomato fertiliser will help promote healthy leaf growth and lots of flowers and fruit. Plants can start to produce fruit after around two years and mature trees can produce up to 20kg of fruit a year.



Once the plant reaches about 1m tall, pinch out the ends of the stems to encourage bushier growth. Staking may be required to support the fragile branches.



Tamarillos are self-pollinating, so you only need one tree to produce fruit. Flowers are pollinated by insects and wind. You can help improve fruit set by growing lots of flowers in your garden, to attract beneficial pollinators.



Depending on the variety, fruit can be picked over several months. Harvest fruit by cutting the stem with secateurs. Fruit is ready when they’re completely red or orange (depending on the variety) but taste the pulp of one first to gauge ripeness. Avoid eating the skin, which can be quite bitter. To promote fresh healthy stem growth, prune the tree lightly immediately after harvest.



Problems to look out for include snails and slugs, whitefly, aphids and fruit fly. Sprinkle snail & slug pellets around the base of the tree to prevent them from climbing up the trunk. Control sucking insects like whitefly and aphids with an insecticidal soap or pyrethrum spray. And prevent fruit fly with baiting, trapping and fruit fly netting.



Trees live for around 10 years, so tamarillo enthusiasts should establish a new plant every eight years.