Litchi Tomato / Fire-and-Ice Plant (Solanum sisymbriifolium) - Seeds

The spiky beauty with the sweet secret

Don't let the thorns put you off! The litchi tomato (also known in France as Morelle de Balbis) is a true rarity for the garden. It looks like a wild cross between a tomato, an eggplant, and a cactus, yet it produces countless bright red, sweet, fruity berries.

Scope of delivery: 15 seeds each

Growth & Appearance

• Lifespan: Usually cultivated as an annual here (can theoretically be overwintered frost-free).

• Growth height: Reaches an impressive 100 to 150 cm.

• Habit: Very sprawling and robust. The deeply incised leaves are reminiscent of arugula. Attention: The entire plant (stems, leaves, and fruit husks) is densely covered in sharp thorns!

• Flowering & Fruit: From June until the first frost, beautiful, large, white to pale blue star-shaped flowers appear. From these develop the cherry-sized, bright red fruits inside spiky husks.

Origin Its original home is in South America (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay), where it grows wild on barren soils. It was brought to Europe by botanists in the 19th century.

Nutrients As with all nightshade plants, the green parts of the plant and unripe fruits contain the toxic alkaloid solanine. However, as soon as the fruits are deep red and soft, they are completely non-toxic and boast plenty of Vitamin C and natural fruit sweetness.

Usage

• In the kitchen: A great snacking fruit! The ripe, red fruits do not taste like savory tomatoes, but rather sweet-tart and fruity – a mixture of cherry, litchi, and a hint of tomato. Perfect for snacking directly (pick carefully!), for exotic jams, or fruit salads.

• As a utility plant: Potato farmers love them! It is often used as a so-called "trap crop" against potato nematodes (small roundworms in the soil). The pests hatch, but cannot reproduce on the roots of the litchi tomato and die off.

Historical In South America, the plant was already valued and collected by indigenous peoples. In Europe, it was briefly very popular in the 19th century, but then fell into oblivion before being rediscovered in recent years by daring amateur gardeners and collectors of rarities.

Curiosities Due to their massive thorns, the litchi tomato has been planted in some countries as an absolutely impenetrable living hedge to keep stray dogs, wild animals, or unwelcome visitors away from properties. A true "garden terror" with a sweet center!

Location, Care & other important things

• Location: Sunny and warm.

• Soil: Relatively undemanding, but thrives best in loose, nutrient-rich soil.

• Care & Robustness: A huge plus: unlike normal tomatoes, the litchi tomato is extremely robust against the dreaded late blight (Phytophthora infestans)! It does not need to be pruned (de-suckered), but often requires a sturdy stake for support due to its weight. Tip: Always wear thick gardening gloves when planting and harvesting!

Sowing instructions: Litchi tomato (Solanum sisymbriifolium)

Cultivation is uncomplicated and proceeds exactly as you are used to with normal tomatoes.

When to sow?

• Pre-cultivation (indoors): From mid-February to early April.

How to sow?

• Sowing depth: Place the seeds shallowly, about 0.5 cm deep, in seed compost and press down lightly.

• Germination conditions: Keep the soil evenly moist (not wet!). Place the seed trays in a bright and warm spot. For optimal germination, temperatures between 20 and 25 °C are ideal.

• Germination time: Usually, the first spiky little seedlings appear after 10 to 20 days. As soon as they form their first real, serrated leaves, they can be pricked out into their own slightly larger pots.

Planting out & Location

• Outdoors: Only after the Ice Saints (mid-May), when there is absolutely no risk of frost.

• Plant spacing: Give the plants enough space so that they can grow nice and bushy. A spacing of at least 60 to 80 cm is recommended.