The lulo is originally from South America. In the following, you will find out how you can grow the quototomate yourself and what the fruit tastes like.
The lulo is particularly popular in South America, where it is used in numerous dishes and drinks. We present the plant, also known as the Quito tomato, in a profile and give tips for cultivation in the garden and on the balcony.
contents
- Lulo: fruit, properties and origin
- Growing lulo fruit: location and procedure
- Care of the Lulo
- Harvest, use and taste of the lulo
Lulo: fruit, properties and origin
The Lulo (Solanum quitoense) is often referred to as Naranjilla or Quitotomate. The perennial, one to three meter high plant belongs to the nightshade family (Solanaceae) and is therefore closely related to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and eggplant (Solanum melongena) related. Like its relatives, the lulo comes from the Andes and is often grown by the local population at an altitude of over 1000 meters.
The richly branched lulo plant forms wide-toothed, very large, downy, hairy leaves with deep purple leaf veins and individual spines. In the young plant phase, the appearance of the plants is very reminiscent of eggplants. The stalks are just as densely hairy, and some are thorny. With early cultivation, the flowering time of the Naranjilla begins from the fifth month after sowing. In Central Europe it blooms between mid-July and early August. The white to purple colored flowers sit in clusters on short flower stalks in the leaf axils. The fluffy, hairy, round lulo fruit ripens to a size of around 4 - 6 cm after pollination and turns orange-yellow at harvest time from September. The skin of the berry fruits is tough and up to 4 mm thick, which is why it is not eaten. Inside the Naranjilla fruit is yellow-green, juicy pulp. The seeds of the Lulo can be removed, cleaned, dried and then stored in a cool, dark and dry place for future gardening years. The plants themselves can produce fruit over a period of five years, which is why overwintering the Quitotomate is particularly worthwhile.
Growing lulo fruit: location and procedure
Naranjilla plants are grown from seeds early in the year. The Lulo are grown between the end of January and the beginning of March on a light, warm window sill. Like tomato seeds, the seeds should only be sparsely covered with soil. A nutrient-poor potting soil like ours Plantura organic herb & seed compost, promotes root formation and at the same time offers a loose, permeable structure that prevents waterlogging. Young lulo plants are pricked out after the first real leaf has formed and individually converted into nutrient-rich potting soil. The planting takes place from mid-May after the ice saints. Lulos thrive in beds - but a planter with a capacity of at least ten liters is also ideal, especially if the perennial plant is to be overwintered.
The ideal location for the Naranjilla is warm, protected and bright, at best partially shaded. Direct sun should be avoided. Lulos prefer nutrient-rich, rather moist soils that rarely or never dry out. Temperatures around 18-20 ° C are ideal for growth. You should allow around one square meter of space for each lulo plant due to the spreading leaves. For planting in pots, but also to improve sparse garden soils, we recommend the use of nutrient-rich organic quality potting soil, such as ours Plantura organic tomato & vegetable soil. Dig a sufficiently large planting hole and place the young plants in it, no deeper than they were previously in the pot. Now fill up with substrate, press lightly all around and then water the lulo vigorously.
Care of the Lulo
Lulos are generally easy to care for because they neither have to be cut nor stripped, unlike many tomatoes. However, the plants always need sufficient moisture and must therefore be watered. The fertilizer requirements of the lulo can be compared to that of tomatoes. Fertilization makes sense from around mid-June, when the Naranjilla begins to develop the first flower buds and the nutrients from the potting soil have largely been used up. An organic liquid fertilizer like ours Plantura organic tomato & vegetable fertilizer, can be easily spread over the irrigation water. The fertilization takes place regularly, about once a week, in a dosage of 15-25 ml per 5 liters of water.
Is Solanum quitoense hardy? The Naranjilla is not hardy, it only thrives in temperatures above freezing point. However, since it is a perennial plant, it is worth hibernating. Lulos should be relocated to bright, heated winter quarters at temperatures below 5 ° C. If there is sufficient light and temperatures around 15 - 18 ° C that are not too warm, the Lulo can also be overwintered in the house or apartment. Watering takes place extremely sparingly in winter and only when necessary to prevent plant diseases such as Gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) in winter quarters. Fertilization is not necessary until spring of next year.
Harvest, use and taste of the lulo
The berries are harvested as fully ripe as possible for fresh consumption and processing. The fruit of the lulo turns a distinct orange-yellow when ripe and the fruit stalk appears dry and brown. In Central Europe, the first Naranjillas ripen one after the other from September onwards. If the fruits are not yet fully ripe when they are winterized from the end of October, they can still be harvested and ripened indoors at cool temperatures above 10 ° C. When stored in a cool place, ripe berries can be kept for around a month.
The taste of the lulo can be described as fruity and sour. The fruits contain larger amounts of vitamins A and C. The aromatic-sour meat of the lulos is preferably sprinkled with a little sugar and then spooned out of the thick fruit skin. In South America, the fruits are particularly popular in ice cream or the popular soft drink Lulada. Only the fluff is rubbed off the berries and they are then pureed whole with water, sugar and ice. In addition to desserts such as pastries or baked fruits, lulo juice, jams, syrup and fruit wine can also be made to extend the shelf life.
A relative of the lulo is the pear melon or also Pepino (Solanum muricatum). We introduce the exotic species and give tips on how to grow them in your own garden.
