Solanum sysimbriifolium. Just because it is so nice, and special
Pics of a few strains
This last already 1,6m tall
This last already 1,6m tall
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Is it worth the effort taste wise? I like to grow all the weird things, but mainly if it’s something I could consume. How fast is it compared to tomatoes? If it already has several flowers, it’s not that slow unless you sowed it way earlier.
It’s so beautiful! Im growing the variety “Giant” from Deaflora this year and it’s just starting to mature the fruit.
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@JesseI Taste wise it is ok, I kind of like it in chutneys. Quite sugary, but the seeds are quite big. No huge problem though, it is still juicy, with acherry-like aroma…
@Tanjaeskildsen I have experiences with one strain I reproduced in 2022. I have bought 4 different strains from deaflora.de last winter, so I see plants varying quite a bit at this stage, notably flowers.
Actually, I bought these because I thought it was tasty enough to consider doing some breeding work, but until I found those varieties on deaflora I thought it was impossible to do any breeding work… So I will let you know how these are regarding taste, yields, earliness, etc…
Also, see there, it is a trial patch… and in that some tomato litcki (from 2022!!!) are emerging, so not only quite early, but also vigorous as a fruit plant. Also, to be clear: I have not sown them! Seeds were here, endured 2 winters and a summer, and decided to grow this year after some rototillage
One with sown millets
Another
Got tens actually…
And then loads dwarfed in ultra low fertility conditions
Look how these manage to grow in this desert!
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I love how resillient they are! Those are the kinds of plants we want🙌🏻 Taste can always be modified in blends when processing later.
I’m hoping they’ll be perennial in my almost frost free Med. climate like the physalis and pepinos. Have you had any resprout from the base or only self seed?
Is the first from transplant or volunteer? For me even few weeks difference in production makes a difference how easy it is to try to breed. Do I barely get seeds or can I even expect some harvest direct seeding (with some care).
@Tanjaeskildsen only self seed. I have not seen resprout from base. But actually 2022-2023 winter was cold with a series of severe frosts (for my place), 2 of which under -7°C during a few nights
@JesseI all of the last series of pics are volunteers
Those of the first series are all from transplants
To see things related to earliness in context: litchi tom with domestic toms and habrocaites sown and transplanted around the same days
Some young fruits on most plants:
Like on tomatoes:
And flowers but no fruits yet on those quite hairy habrocaites
Nearly all strains of physalis ixocarpa, pruinosa and floridana have already small fruits, peruviana none. About a quarter of peppers and egglants around have small fruits set, 3/4 none, start flowering at best
This hairy habrocaites is very late in comparison
Some earlier habrocaites (here: glabratum) starts flowering
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So to sum it up: litchi tomato seems to be neither very late nor very early in general… Similar to conventional tomatoes: differing a bit from variety to variety.
Also it seemed to grow well in relatively cool condition, and I remember real drought resistance (2022)
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