Tsifomandra Or Tomato Tree

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

What is the mysterious cyphermandra? Someone calls this plant tamarillo, others the tomato tree. This plant is cultivated on a large scale in the countries of South America, and the mountainous regions of Peru are considered its homeland. For the first time, the tsifomandra was brought to Russia by A. M. Gorky

Due to its attractiveness and edible fruits, domestic gardeners are showing interest in this crop. The fruits of a subtropical shrub resemble the well-known tomatoes in appearance and taste.

Description

Tsifomandra rope is a perennial, fast-growing tree or shrub. At home, a tomato is an evergreen tree, in open ground it grows up to 5 m, in an apartment - only up to 2 m. The trunk of the plant is straight, strong, fast-growing. On thin, fragile branches grow large (up to 40 cm), slightly pubescent leaves, heart-shaped, pointed upwards. The leaves are thin, leathery, dark green in color, with a pleasant tomato scent. The racemose inflorescences are pale pink or lavender in color, fragrant, very similar to potato ones, because the tsifomandra and potatoes are from the same Solanaceae family. From delicate flowers, oblong fruits are formed, similar to chicken eggs. The length of each such tomato is up to 10 cm, the color depends on the variety and varies from yellow to dark purple. Fruits with a thin skin, juicy pulp, with a pleasant exquisite sweet and sour taste and strawberry-apricot notes. Cyfomandra fruits are considered berries, not vegetables.

Agrotechnics

For gardeners with many years of experience, it will not be difficult to get a harvest from a tomato tree. Tsifomandra is grown in the same way as peppers or tomatoes, because they are a representative of the same nightshade family.

Tamarillo can be grown as a houseplant or a living decoration for a greenhouse, in which case it will be a perennial. In the role of an annual crop, the tomato tree feels great in the open field. If you want to get a decent harvest and in order for the fruits to ripen exactly, the seedlings should be grown starting from November - December.

Reproduction

You can propagate an amazing tree by seeds and cuttings. The seeds are very small, to obtain seedlings, follow the same conditions as for the seedling method of obtaining tomatoes. Observe the temperature regime, the optimum degree for seed germination is 18 - 25. When germinating seedlings in winter, additional lighting is required. Subject to all conditions, seedlings appear within a month. In the process of developing the tsifomandra, dive large seedlings into large containers.

When cuttings from a fruiting plant are taken for reproduction of a tomato tree, pay attention to the growth points, there should be at least three of them. The stalk is planted in a container with soil mixture, leaving one bud on the surface. Water and cover with a glass jar, you can use a plastic bag, airing once a day. Place the stalk in a warm, bright place. Within 20 days, the cutting will take root and be ready for further growth.

Growing conditions in the open field

Select a slightly darkened area for the cypher, otherwise direct sunlight will kill the plant. The soil in the garden bed should be well-drained, fertilized and free of stagnant water. Young trees are planted at the end of May. Frequent, moderate watering. Care consists in loosening and weeding. During the summer, carry out three top dressing with infusions of manure, grass, ash.

For the formation of large Tsifomandra fruits, leave 3-5 ovaries on the plant, then up to 20 kg of harvest can be removed from one bush. Branches can break under the weight of the fruit ovaries, so the plant needs props.

Fruiting occurs until late autumn, after which the plant dies in cold conditions. But you can extend the life of a tomato tree by carefully transplanting it into a large pallet and bringing it into a warm room. Tamarillo can bear fruit even in an apartment.

Cooking use

The fruits of the tomato tree are eaten fresh. They are rich in trace elements, vitamins and have high nutritional qualities. Tamarillo fruits are used to make side dishes, sandwiches, soups. Consider only that during heat treatment, the fruits lose most of the ascorbic acid.