Naranjilla

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Naranjilla (Latin Solanum quitoense) - a fruit shrub belonging to the Solanaceae family. Naranjilla is often called naranjilla or Kitosky nightshade.

Description

Naranjilla is a pretty herbaceous fruit and ornamental shrub, capable of reaching a height of one and a half to two meters. Despite the fact that its stems are quite thick, they are still very fragile.

Carved and rather large leaf blades of this culture are endowed with purple hairs (elastic sparse spines rise between these hairs) and pronounced veins. In protected ground, the width of the leaf blades can reach thirty centimeters, and the length - ninety. And the flowers and fruits of the bizarre plant are characterized by light pubescence.

Naranjilla flowers can be either snow-white or pale lilac. By the way, they are very similar to potato flowers. Most often, their diameter reaches from two to three centimeters.

The round-elliptical orange naranjilla fruit, covered with easily removable white hairs, reaches a diameter of six centimeters. Each fruit is divided internally by thick partitions into four sectors and is filled with numerous creamy-whitish seeds. The sweet and sour taste of this fruit resembles a mixture of strawberries, passionfruit and pineapple, and outwardly the fruits are similar to shaggy tomatoes.

Where grows

The foothills of the Andes are considered the birthplace of naranjilla. Now this crop is actively cultivated in Peru, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Colombia and the Antilles.

Application

Naranjilla is widely used for the preparation of various desserts, fruit drinks and juices.

This fruit is very rich in vitamins and carotene, therefore it is recommended for people with any eye problems. In addition, regular consumption of naranjilla will help get rid of insomnia and fight fatigue, since the B vitamins contained in the fruits have a beneficial effect on the nervous system. And ascorbic acid in the composition of these beneficial fruits helps to strengthen the immune system and makes the body more resistant to the negative effects of all kinds of infections and viruses.

Pepsin contained in naranjill has a beneficial effect on the digestive system, and fiber significantly improves bowel function and helps not only cope with constipation, but also prevent its occurrence. And "bad" cholesterol will be removed from the body very quickly. And since naranjilla is low in calories, it can be safely consumed without harm to the figure.

Growing and caring

Naranjilla can be grown as a greenhouse plant or as a garden annual. When growing this culture, it is important to take into account that it is a short-day plant - if the daylight hours are long, such a nuisance as pollen sterilization is not excluded. In addition, naranjilla has a rather serious sensitivity to cold and does not withstand even minor frosts at all. She also does not welcome excessive dryness with warmth - the growth of this beauty is delayed even if the thermometer rises above thirty degrees, and when it drops below ten degrees. And if you try to grow naranjilla in regions with high night temperatures, the fruits will simply not be tied to it.

This culture needs high humidity: even in moderately dry conditions, its growth will be suspended, and the leaves of the plant will become soft and lethargic. Naranjilla also does not like direct sunlight and is intolerant to salt.

Naranjilla is propagated both vegetatively and by seeds. At the same time, seed germination is capable of reaching only 50%.