How to Grow Tamarillos | Care, Pests & Disease Control

Diseases

Pests

Aphids

low

Aphididae (various spp.)

Named directly on the crop's own growing-guide sources.

Glasshouse red spider mite (two-spotted spider mite)

low

Tetranychus urticae

Named directly on the crop's own growing-guide sources.

Root-knot nematodes

low

Meloidogyne spp.

Named directly on the crop's own growing-guide sources.

Fruit flies

low

Tephritidae (various spp.)

Named directly on the crop's own growing-guide sources.

Quick Facts

Factor	Value
Soil pH	6 - 7
Sunlight	6-8 hours direct sun
Minimum survivable temp	-2C
Soil texture	Clay, loam, sand or chalk (RHS); fertile, light, organically rich preferred (CRFG)
Drainage	Moist but well-drained; perfect drainage essential, cannot tolerate standing water (RHS; CRFG)
Lifecycle	Fast-growing, tender, woody evergreen (RHS); short-lived perennial tree (CRFG)
Edible parts	fruit

At a Glance

Soil & Growing Conditions

Soil pH range

6 7

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

Stage	BBCH	Notes
Sowing and establishment	0	Propagate by seed or softwood cuttings (RHS); freezing washed seed for 24 hours before sowing speeds germination (CRFG). Prune young trees to 3-4ft to encourage branching (CRFG).
Vegetative growth	3	Grow in full sun (partial shade in hot, dry climates) in fertile, well-drained soil with wind shelter -- roots are shallow and branches brittle (CRFG). Frost-tender, especially in the first year.
Flowering and fruit set	6	Feed annually with a balanced NPK fertiliser, split between early spring and midsummer, plus a superphosphate application every other year (CRFG).
Harvest	8	Fruiting begins in the second or third year from seed (RHS). Harvest once fruit is fully coloured; remove fruited branches afterwards to stimulate new growth (CRFG).

Harvest & Storage

When to pick: Ripens late summer and autumn (RHS); pick once fruit shows full yellow or red colour (CRFG). Stores refrigerated up to 10 weeks, but not below 38F/3C (CRFG).

Tamarillo Photo Gallery

Ripe tamarillo fruit on the tree

Ripe red tamarillo fruit hanging on the tree.

Tamarillo fruit close-up

Close view of ripe tamarillo fruit, also known as tree tomato.

Tamarillo flowers

Small white tamarillo flowers.

Young tamarillo fruit

Young, unripe tamarillo fruit forming on the branch.

A young tamarillo plant

A young tamarillo plant with its characteristic large leaves.

Tamarillo grown in a pot

A tamarillo grown in a container, the way it is typically grown in cooler climates like the UK.

Tamarillo plantation

A tamarillo plantation, showing the scale of commercial cultivation.

A mature tamarillo tree

A mature, fruiting tamarillo tree.

Tamarillo foliage

The large, heart-shaped leaves typical of tamarillo.

References

1. California Rare Fruit Growers (CRFG) - Tamarillo

   Native to the Andes of Peru, and probably Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia, at 5,000-10,000ft elevation. Does best above 50F; frost at 28F kills small branches, though mature trees can recover from infrequent light frost -- seedlings/cuttings are frost-tender in their first year. Full sun, except partial shade in hot dry areas. Fertile, light, organically rich soil with perfect drainage -- standing water for days can kill the plant. Needs wind protection (shallow roots, brittle branches). Cannot tolerate prolonged drought; needs ample water in dry periods, mulch helps. Fertilise 0.5-2lb per tree of 5:6:6 NPK annually, half in early spring/half in midsummer, plus 0.5lb superphosphate every other year in late winter. Propagate by seed (produces tall erect trees) or cuttings (shorter, bushier); freezing washed seed 24 hours before sowing speeds germination. Prune new trees to 3-4ft to encourage branching; remove fruited branches annually afterwards. Harvest when fruit shows full yellow or red colour; stores refrigerated up to 10 weeks (not below 38F). Pests: green aphids, fruit flies, nematodes (occasional). Diseases: powdery mildew (can cause serious defoliation if uncontrolled); resistant to tobacco mosaic virus but susceptible to cucumber mosaic virus and potato viruses; die-back can affect flowers and new shoots.

2. Royal Horticultural Society - Solanum betaceum (F) tamarillo

   Clay, loam, sand or chalk, moist but well-drained, acid/alkaline/neutral. Full sun, south/west-facing, sheltered. Hardiness H1B (10-15C min) -- grow in a container outside in summer, under glass in colder months, or in a glasshouse. Height 4-8m, spread 2.5-4m, 2-5 years to maturity; fruits from second or third year if grown from seed. Propagate by seed or softwood cuttings. Evergreen. Fruit ripens late summer/autumn, orange or red, oval. No regular pruning needed; prune in autumn if size reduction is wanted. Pests: aphids, glasshouse red spider mite. Diseases: honey fungus (rarely), powdery mildews. Native to South America. Family Solanaceae.

2 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.