Top to bottom:Pepino: Solanum muricatum
Cape Gooseberry: Physalis peruvianum
Cocona: Solanum sessiliflorum
Naranjilla / Lulo: Solanum quitoense
These are some of the solanaceae I've got going at the moment; these pics were taken during the first week of March, 2010, so they are a little larger now. During late January and early February, I started seeds for pepino, cape gooseberry, cocona, naranjilla, currant tomato, sungold tomato, and tamarillos. At various points through late February and early March they all began to emerge.
Solanaceae sprouts all look remarkably similar - following the sun, they will twist and bend over the course of the day, and I will need to stake them all at some point. Even the plants which will (my fingers are crossed) grow to formidable size (tamarillo, cocona and naranjilla) are still might frail looking at the sprout stage. All of them are variably covered in a fine, velvety peach fuzz.
The lankiest of them have been the cape gooseberries, which allegedly can mature and fruit in a few months' time. They are most closely related (within the solanaceae universe) to tomatillos, milperos and ground cherries, and like all of those, the fruit (a berry about the size of a grape tomato) is enclosed in a papery husk.
I expect the naranjilla may prove to be the most difficult of the lot. Naranjillas are very sensitive to frost, heat, wind, and direct sunlight. They can be large plants (3 to 10 feet tall, with a 3 or 4 foot-wide spread), and they can be very spiny. Root nematodes can destroy them. They are heavy feeders, and love water, though they must also have perfect drainage. In North Carolina, they almost demand indoor growing (they are shade-lovers), but are intolerant of low humidity, which can be typical of indoor 'houseplant' situations; thus they need to be misted. They are notoriously shy in setting fruit. But the delicate and rather perishable fruit - which is revered in Colombia and Ecuador (the plant's native turf) - is allegedly dynamite: a rich pineapple/lime/rhubarb flavor, combined with a tomato-esque texture. Am I up for this challenge? I had a lower rate of germination with naranjilla than with any other solanaceae, but the one sprout that did emerge has steadily grown into a sturdy, 2" seedling.
Cocona is a very close relative; cocona and naranjilla belong to a subfamily within the solanaceae (the lasiocarpa group) that also includes baquicha, pseudolulo, and a number of other solanums which all have a shrubby growth habit, large heart-shaped leaves, spines (usually), and occasionally edible fruit. Cocona is a bit hardier than naranjilla, a little smaller, and somewhat easier to cultivate; the fruit is somewhat more tomato-like, but with a very pronounced lemony quality. Thus far, 5 or 6 of the cocona seeds sprouted; they look a lot like the naranjilla, but shorter and stockier.
The pepino seeds were cut from a fresh fruit; they sprouted in about 10 days. The sprouts have grown tall, but are the frailest of the lot - extremely delicate looking. All of the solanums really love water.
The currant tomatoes and sungolds emerged in a week's time, and have grown rather aggressively.
Tamarillos seem - to me - to be the hardest to start from seed. As of mid-March, I have one tiny sprout emerging. Perhaps this is a signal - tamarillos are incredible as a fresh fruit; I love them, though they certainly have a quirky flavor. They are notoriously large plants, and I don't have infinite space, so perhaps it's just as well. However, if they decide to grow, I will make space for them.
Solanaceae sprouts all look remarkably similar - following the sun, they will twist and bend over the course of the day, and I will need to stake them all at some point. Even the plants which will (my fingers are crossed) grow to formidable size (tamarillo, cocona and naranjilla) are still might frail looking at the sprout stage. All of them are variably covered in a fine, velvety peach fuzz.
The lankiest of them have been the cape gooseberries, which allegedly can mature and fruit in a few months' time. They are most closely related (within the solanaceae universe) to tomatillos, milperos and ground cherries, and like all of those, the fruit (a berry about the size of a grape tomato) is enclosed in a papery husk.
I expect the naranjilla may prove to be the most difficult of the lot. Naranjillas are very sensitive to frost, heat, wind, and direct sunlight. They can be large plants (3 to 10 feet tall, with a 3 or 4 foot-wide spread), and they can be very spiny. Root nematodes can destroy them. They are heavy feeders, and love water, though they must also have perfect drainage. In North Carolina, they almost demand indoor growing (they are shade-lovers), but are intolerant of low humidity, which can be typical of indoor 'houseplant' situations; thus they need to be misted. They are notoriously shy in setting fruit. But the delicate and rather perishable fruit - which is revered in Colombia and Ecuador (the plant's native turf) - is allegedly dynamite: a rich pineapple/lime/rhubarb flavor, combined with a tomato-esque texture. Am I up for this challenge? I had a lower rate of germination with naranjilla than with any other solanaceae, but the one sprout that did emerge has steadily grown into a sturdy, 2" seedling.
Cocona is a very close relative; cocona and naranjilla belong to a subfamily within the solanaceae (the lasiocarpa group) that also includes baquicha, pseudolulo, and a number of other solanums which all have a shrubby growth habit, large heart-shaped leaves, spines (usually), and occasionally edible fruit. Cocona is a bit hardier than naranjilla, a little smaller, and somewhat easier to cultivate; the fruit is somewhat more tomato-like, but with a very pronounced lemony quality. Thus far, 5 or 6 of the cocona seeds sprouted; they look a lot like the naranjilla, but shorter and stockier.
The pepino seeds were cut from a fresh fruit; they sprouted in about 10 days. The sprouts have grown tall, but are the frailest of the lot - extremely delicate looking. All of the solanums really love water.
The currant tomatoes and sungolds emerged in a week's time, and have grown rather aggressively.
Tamarillos seem - to me - to be the hardest to start from seed. As of mid-March, I have one tiny sprout emerging. Perhaps this is a signal - tamarillos are incredible as a fresh fruit; I love them, though they certainly have a quirky flavor. They are notoriously large plants, and I don't have infinite space, so perhaps it's just as well. However, if they decide to grow, I will make space for them.
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