TREE TOMATO

The tree tomato is a food crop, native to the highland of South America, but now spreading to Sri Lanka, India and the East. At high elevations it grows to around 3 meters high. It is a shrub or a small tree with a spreading crown and short trunk. The leaves are fairly large, 15-20 cm long by 12.5 cm wide, and are chordate in shape with a pointed tip. The flowers, appearing in group of 3-4 or in cluster, are pinkish in color and measure about 2.5 cm across. They produce a nice scent. The fruits are oblong in shape and measure 5 cm long. The color is pale green, turning yellow to bright red on ripening. The egg-shaped, smooth fruits are produced throughout the year. They are eaten raw, being succulent and slightly acidic, cooked for food as a stew, or made into jam. Tree tomato grows best in well irrigated loamy soil. Plant is commonly propagated by means of seeds which germinate readily. This plant is useful as a garden plant to substitute for tomatoes.