Typical yield
18.3 t/ha
Varieties
3
Pest/Disease
9
Seasons
4
Profile
- Growth habit
- tree
- Lifecycle (days)
- perennial
- Primary uses
- Fresh fruit; processing (juice, sauces); agroforestry/home gardens
- Pollination
- self
- Origin / distribution
- Andean origin; grown in cool subtropics and highland tropics
Environment
Climate
Temp optimal
14–22 °C
Rain optimal
900–1400 mm/yr
Altitude
800–2600 m
Soil
pH optimal
6–6.8
Soil type
Deep, fertile, well-drained loam; high organic matter
Farmer Guide
Row spacing
300 cm
Plant spacing
300 cm
Depth
0 cm
Seed rate
kg/ha
Nursery days
90
Planting: Plant with onset of rains or irrigate. Use healthy seedlings; add compost and starter P; provide windbreaks/stakes in exposed sites.
Transplanting: Mulch basins; protect young stems; avoid root disturbance.
Irrigation: Keep evenly moist, esp. flowering to fruit fill; avoid drought/heat spikes to reduce fruit drop.
Fertigation: Split N in light doses; ensure K and Ca for fruit quality; adjust using soil/leaf tests.
Pest scouting: Scout for aphids, whiteflies, mites, fruit flies, powdery mildew, and bacterial wilt; prune to improve airflow and sanitation.
Pruning/Training: Train to 1–3 leaders; remove water shoots; tip-prune to balance vegetative and reproductive growth.
Harvest: Pick when fully colored (red/orange/yellow) and firm; handle carefully to avoid stem-end damage.
Postharvest: Shade-cool promptly; store 6–10 °C at high RH; 2–4 weeks depending on cultivar and handling.
Nutrient Schedule
| # | Stage | DAP | Product | Rate | Targets (kg/ha) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basal at planting | 0 | Compost + DAP 18-46-0 (light) | 5 kg/plant (compost) + 100 g DAP | N: —, P₂O₅: 10, K₂O: — | Mix into backfill; keep away from stem |
| 2 | Vegetative split N | 90 | CAN 26% N | 150 g/plant | N: 10, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: — | Apply in ring under canopy; water in |
| 3 | Pre-bloom balanced feed | 270 | NPK 17-17-17 | 200 g/plant | N: 10, P₂O₅: 10, K₂O: 10 | Light dose before flowering |
| 4 | Fruit fill K boost | 330 | Sulfate of potash (SOP) | 200 g/plant | N: —, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: 15 | Prefer SOP for fruit quality |
| 5 | Micronutrient foliar (opt.) | 300 | Ca/B/Zn foliar (as label) | 0 — | N: —, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: — | Apply in cool hours to support set/skin |
Nutrient Requirements
| Nutrient | Stage | Amount | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| N | Basal | 50 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Basal | 30 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Basal | 60 | kg/ha |
| N | Topdress | 40 | kg/ha |
| N | Establishment | 20 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Establishment | 20 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Establishment | 20 | kg/ha |
| N | Vegetative | 40 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Vegetative | 30 | kg/ha |
| N | Flower_set | 15 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Flower_set | 20 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Flower_set | 30 | kg/ha |
| N | Fruit_fill | 10 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Fruit_fill | 40 | kg/ha |
| N | Maintenance | 30 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Maintenance | 10 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Maintenance | 30 | kg/ha |
Images
| Name | Country | Maturity | Traits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Tamarillo | KE | 420 | Juice color; market preferred |
| Red tamarillo (local) | KE | 360 | Deep red fruit; good processing |
| Golden/yellow selection | UG | 360 | Yellow fruit; mild flavor |
| Stage | Product | Rate (kg/ha) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basal | Compost (well-decomposed) | 4000 | Mulch rings/basins |
| Vegetative | CAN 26% N | 70 | Split 2–3× per year on young plants |
| Fruit fill | Sulfate of potash (SOP) | 60 | Boost K for fruit quality |
| Name | Type | Symptoms | Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late blight | disease | Leaf/stem blight | Protectants; airflow |
| Aphids | pest | Leaf curl; honeydew; sooty mold; virus risk | Conserve predators; control ants; selective insecticides if needed |
| Whiteflies | pest | Leaf yellowing; honeydew; virus vector | Yellow traps; natural enemies; targeted controls |
| Red spider mites | pest | Stippling/bronzing in dry spells | Maintain humidity; miticides if severe |
| Fruit flies (Tephritidae) | pest | Stings; larval tunnels; fruit drop | Field sanitation; baiting; fruit bagging; timely harvest |
| Powdery mildew | disease | White powder on leaves/shoots | Open canopy; resistant selections; fungicides if persistent |
| Bacterial wilt (Ralstonia) | disease | Sudden wilting; brown vascular tissue | Avoid infested fields; rotate; hygiene; grafting on tolerant rootstocks where used |
| Anthracnose/fruit rots | disease | Sunken lesions; postharvest decay | Pruning for airflow; sanitation; careful handling; protectants in wet weather |
| Root-knot nematodes | pest | Root galls; stunting | Organic matter; solarization/cover crops; tolerant rootstocks if available |
| System | Typical | Min | Max | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| highland orchard | 15 | 8 | 25 | |
| smallholder rainfed | 15 | 8 | 25 | 10–25 kg/tree typical under moderate management |
| irrigated/intensive | 25 | 15 | 40 | Good cultivars, pruning, and nutrition |
| Country | Region | Planting | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| KE | Highlands | Mar–May / Oct–Nov | Multiple flushes/year |
| KE | Highlands (long rains) | Mar–Apr | Oct–Feb |
| KE | Highlands (short rains) | Oct–Nov | May–Sep |
| UG | Southwest highlands | Mar–Apr | Oct–Feb |
| Country | Region | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| KE | Frost-prone uplands | Low |
| KE | Highlands | High |
| KE | Highlands & cool mid-altitudes | High |
| KE | Hot lowlands (>28 °C mean) | Low |
| TZ | Northern highlands | High |
| UG | Southwest highlands | High |