How to grow Bush Tomato in Australia
Bush tomato, also called desert raisin, kutjera or akudjura (Solanum centrale), is a small native shrub from the sandy deserts of central Australia. Its little fruit dry on the plant into raisin-like berries with a smoky, sun-dried tomato flavour, and they have been an important food for Aboriginal people for thousands of years. Several look-alike native Solanum species are poisonous, so only grow and eat a plant you know is Solanum centrale.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Bush Tomato in Australia
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to November | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to November | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | September to November | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October and November | Marginal. A desert native that hates cold wet soil. Plant Oct to Nov in a pot or the driest, hottest spot and treat it as a summer annual. |
| Adelaide & SA | September to November | |
| Perth & WA | September to November | |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable. Desert native. Tasmania is too cold and wet. |
| Canberra & ACT | November | Marginal. A desert native that dislikes hard frost. Plant in November after the last frost in the warmest, driest, well drained spot. |
| North Queensland | Not suited | Not suited. Desert raisin comes from arid sand country and rots in monsoon humidity. Grow chilli or eggplant instead. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not suited. Desert raisin comes from arid sand country and rots in monsoon humidity. Grow chilli or eggplant instead. |
Where to plant
Bush tomato wants full sun, heat and light, sandy, very free-draining soil. It is very drought tolerant and rots in cold, wet or soggy ground, so a raised bed of sandy soil or a pot of sandy mix suits it best outside dry inland areas.
In the wild a single plant spreads through shallow underground roots that send up new shoots after rain, and one plant has been found covering about a quarter of a hectare. Root pieces left behind sprout again, so grow it in a pot or a contained bed if you do not want it to wander.
- Adelaide, Perth and dry inland areas: the closest match to its home climate. Plant in spring in the hottest, sandiest spot.
- South East Queensland, the Northern Rivers and Sydney: try it in a pot of sandy mix or a raised bed, kept on the dry side through humid, wet summers.
- Melbourne: marginal. Plant in October or November in a pot or the driest, hottest spot, and treat it as a summer plant.
- Canberra: marginal. Plant in November after the last frost in a warm, well-drained spot.
- Hobart, North Queensland and Darwin: not suited; too cold and wet, or too humid in the wet season.
How to plant
- Buy a plant labelled Solanum centrale from a native nursery, so you know you have the edible species.
- Plant in spring into warm, sandy soil or a pot of sandy, free-draining native mix.
- Water in, then water sparingly until it is growing.
- Do not feed with rich fertiliser or manure.
Watering and feeding
Water sparingly once established. Let the soil dry out between waterings, and water less in cool weather. Cultivated plants given water and some nutrients grow larger and flower more, but they rot if the soil stays wet. It needs no rich feeding.
Pruning and care through the year
- In the wild, plants grow fast and fruit most heavily after fire or good rains, when new shoots come up from the roots.
- Pull or cut back suckers that come up where you do not want them.
Harvesting
The round fruit, about 1 to 2 cm across, turn from green to yellow as they ripen, then dry on the plant into brown, raisin-like berries. Collect them once they are fully ripe and dried. Never eat green fruit: unripe fruit contains solanine, the same toxin found in green potatoes.
Dried fruit stores well in an airtight jar.
Growing in pots
A pot at least 40 cm wide filled with a sandy, free-draining mix is one of the best ways to grow bush tomato outside the arid zone. It keeps the roots warm and dry and stops the plant spreading. Place it in full sun and water sparingly.
Using it
- Use dried fruit whole or ground (often sold as akudjura) as a spice, with a smoky, tangy, sun-dried tomato flavour. It suits sauces, chutneys, damper, bread, marinades and spice rubs.
- Only eat fruit that is fully ripe and dried, from a plant you know is Solanum centrale. Several native Solanum species look similar and have toxic fruit.
Varieties
- Desert Raisin (Solanum centrale)
Companion planting
Bush tomato suits a dry, sunny native garden with other plants that like sandy soil and little water.
Good companions
- Native plants Arid-zone natives share its need for sun, sharp drainage and little water.
Pests and diseases
Bush tomato has few pests in dry conditions. Wet, cold soil is the main danger.
Bush Tomato is rarely troubled by pests.
Diseases to watch for
- Root rot Plants wilt, yellow and collapse in cold or waterlogged soil. Grow in sandy, free-draining soil or a pot.
Common questions
Is bush tomato poisonous?
Ripe, dried fruit of Solanum centrale is edible and has long been eaten. The green, unripe fruit contains solanine and must not be eaten. Several other native Solanum species look similar and have toxic fruit, so only eat fruit from a plant you know is Solanum centrale.
What does bush tomato taste like?
The dried fruit has a tangy, smoky flavour often compared with a piquant, sun-dried tomato, and is used as a spice called akudjura.
Can I grow bush tomato in my garden?
Yes, in a hot, sunny spot with sandy, very free-draining soil, or in a pot of sandy mix. It suits dry inland areas, Adelaide and Perth best, and needs protection from cold, wet soil elsewhere.
When is bush tomato ripe?
When the fruit has turned from green to yellow and then dried on the plant into a brown, raisin-like berry. Pick only fully ripe, dried fruit.
Does bush tomato spread?
Yes. In the wild it spreads through shallow underground roots and new shoots come up after rain. Growing it in a pot keeps it contained.
Is bush tomato the same as a regular tomato?
No. It is in the same genus, Solanum, as the garden tomato, potato and eggplant, but it is a small native desert shrub with tiny fruit that are dried before eating.
Sources we checked: The Conversation: The tasty, weed-like desert raisin plant is as big as a carpark; Alice Springs Desert Park: Desert raisin; Ausemade: Bush tomato (Solanum centrale and related species); James Cook University: Sustainable bush produce systems, progress report 2004 to 2006.