NARANJILLA - THE MOST SAVAGE PLANT IN MY GARDEN
This is one interesting plant!
It is our first year growing these, but they are off to a good start. We purchased the seeds while at Baker Creek and have been eager to see how they would do. They can take a while to fruit, but already have flowers... flowers and a lot of thorns, like, A LOT! On the stems, on top the leaves, on the bottom of the leaves... everywhere!
So far, the six that we have in the garden are flowering and growing, so hopefully we've got time to see them fruit too. The Dwarf Tamarillos are already setting fruit, so they should be ready first. Anyway, I made the video below to share with anyone who is interested. Enjoy!
MY NARANJILLA VLOG
As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:
proof-of-savage-plant
Yes, they are rather a thorny issue. A nightshade of course, originating from high up in the Andes (cool weather but never freezes) and known throughout Latin America as Naranjilla (little orange) or Lulo especially in Colombia where it is very popular as a refreshing drink. Widely available in the frozen food section along with guanábana, mamey, parcha/maracuyá/passion fruit and so on.
There is a thornless variety but nothing special about it. (there are no 'streakers' in a patch of naranjilla)
The fruit does vary in quality from tasteless to very tasty indeed - but especially as a drink. At it's best it's sweet-acidic and really hits the spot like lemonade, orange or grapefruit.
The tree is short lived. We replace them every few years in Miami. Will likely freeze in zone 7 or so. But getting an early start and using a greenhouse you should be able to fruit 'em.
Wow! Thanks for all of that! I knew a bit of it, but you also taught me a lot. I may see if I can get a greenhouse up by winter and transplant a couple into it to extend the growing for them! Thanks!
Sounds like a warm weather plant.
I would agree!
I got excited whenI saw marijuana. But I cant spell ;p
Hehe
Do you think there is a correlation? LOL - jk
I do NOT, and I repeat... I do NOT slither around in that! Nope!
Ouchie... But so pretty to look at!
xx
Snekky
LOL!
That’s awesome @papa-pepper and I just checked to find they grow here in Costa Rica too so I shall keep my eyes open for some of the fruit and get me some seeds. Sounds delicious and wow what a spiky fellow! 😆
Yeah - They would probably do really well there! Keep an eye open for them!
These are the most vicious plants I have ever seen! How the heck are you supposed to pick the fruit without getting injured in the process??
Not sure. I guess I'll be finding out though!
Wow those do look savage! I have never heard of them before. I too like to grow things that normally people wouldn't think to grow, which is a lot of stuff here in Arizona. haha
Yeah, I like to diversify and enjoy what there is to check out! Thanks man!
Totally! I like that you have unusual stuff that you are growing. You are welcome!
I wouldn’t like to fall into a bunch of those bad boys ! 😱😱😱
Good point!
Those are some intense thorns! I was thinking that it was an orange-ish type plant as naranja is orange in Spanish. I figured maybe it was a little orange. I can't remember any orange plants having crazy spikes though. Ha ha.
Some citrus fruits do come with some good thorns, but this one is a little different.
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