How to grow Tamarillo in Australia
Grow in full sun with shelter from wind in rich, moist, well drained soil. Water regularly as the shallow roots dry out fast, and mulch well to keep them cool.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 10 litres a week, watered every 3 days
- Spacing: 300 cm
- Time to harvest: 540 days (about 1 year)
- Time to germinate: 14 days
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Half hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to February | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to February | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | October to January | Plant Oct to Jan in a sheltered spot out of the wind. Crops well on the frost free coast; frost kills young trees in the west. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October to December | Perennial; sow Oct to Nov, mulch heavily, may die in severe frost. Treat as tender perennial; expect winter damage. |
| Adelaide & SA | September and October | Grows well in Adelaide. Plant Sep to Oct after frost in a sheltered spot. Established trees take light frost; shade from hot afternoon sun. |
| Perth & WA | September to November | Grows well in Perth. Plant Sep to Nov in rich, free draining soil out of the wind. The shallow roots hate dry sand, so mulch thickly, water deeply through summer and give shade from hot afternoon sun. Fruit ripens late autumn to winter. |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable outdoors. Frost kills tamarillo. Greenhouse only. |
| Canberra & ACT | Not suited | Not viable. Frost kills tamarillos, and Canberra winters reach about minus 6C in an average year. Greenhouse only. |
| North Queensland | September to February | Wet season. Tamarillo tolerates tropical heat; establish in late dry/wet window. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not viable. Tamarillo is a subtropical highland crop that fails above about 28C. Darwin lowland heat kills it. |
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Ripe when fruit is fully coloured, glossy and gives slightly to a gentle squeeze. Pull with a light twist or snip the stalk; ripe fruit comes away easily.
Storage
Bench until ripe, fridge for 1 to 2 weeks. Freeze pulp well.