Tamarillo-growing from cuttings

Kath starts with ...
I have two tamarillos covered in fruit-a red & a yellow. As they are relatively short-lived I want to get some replacements ready. Has anyone had any luck growing them from cuttings? I've not had much experience growing cuttings & would appreciate any advice. I assume you do it winter/spring after the fruit's finished?
thanks

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paula says...
And this is of a few I have ready to be potted up at the moment.

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paula says...
Good luck Kath, but you shouldn't need it. Mine took a couple of weeks before they showed any signs of roots, but they are off and running now.

paula-f says...
Yes Araich, I took these ones from the trunk of the tree, but just made sure I had a couple of nodes where the leaves were, as this will be where the roots form.
I will post a pic tomorrow of one of the cuttings I showed earlier in the thread, as this one is over my head now an has about 20 large fruit on it, and is just over a year old.
How did your ones go Kath, did you have any luck?????

Julie says...
I know cuttings give you quicker results, but they grow easily from seed too. The last time I grew tamarillo the bl***y parrots picked them all off just before they were ripe and left them strewn on the ground!

Julie says...
Having seen your garden Kath, you definitely don't have a 'black thumb'! I have been gardening for over 40 years, and still have failures and occasional disasters. Some things are just harder to grow than others.

Araich says...
I'm in. I took two shoots off the trunk down low and put them in a glass of tap water. I've wanted a second plant but have max'd out at buying over 100 in our first year here (a plan I hatched when finding a mortgage). Fingers crossed one takes.

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alexander says...
hi Paula,
What sort of water did you use to propagate cuttings?
We have S**T water here.
Do you prepare the cuttings with rooting hormones?
Cut or break the cuttings?
Did you have to change the water during the 2 weeks?
alexander

alexander says...
Thanks, let you know how i go.

Peruvian says...
Hi!I would love to grow a new tammarilo tree from an old one that is now 10 years old,..and still full of life!

As i understand i can grow a new one from a cutting,and..

My question is:d

Do i have to take a small cutting from that tree or can i take off one bigger stemm,about 20cm long that is already with small flowering at the top?

Will it still grow roots from it?

My deepest apreciation

Thanks!

Peruvian says...
Do you plant the new cuttings right into a potting mix?

Dont it have to be first rooted in a jar of water,?

Thanks!

Julz says...
Can someone tell me if I should break a small branch off the bottom of my tree or cut it, to start to propagate a new tree. Also I have noticed that my fruit has been falling off the tree this year while still green. Last year was its first fruiting year and this year it is very heavily laden.

Marie says...
Hi all,
I'm inspired to try cuttings from my tamarillo...and live in one of the colder areas of Gippsland, Victoria.
Anyone from these parts with hints for success, please?
Thanks

betr2garden says...
Thank goodness for you all! I have been trolling the internet trying to find info on Tamarillo. Many mentions, not much useable info though.

I am making jam and chutney (very small quantities) with my first crop from my yellow tamarillo. I planted it in May (bought from a nursery at about 1 metre tall - the label said RED, but hey).

The first picture is after we had a heatwave and, although the tree managed to hang onto some of it's leaves and even some of it's probably 60 fruit, many were burned and/or fell off.

I got about 30 mature fruit. Just enough to play around with. I used fruit on a salad wrap and found it tasted quite nice, but I grow Tamarillos for the jam. Trying Tamarillo and Apricot Jam, Tamarillo and Rosewater Jam and a Tamarillo Chutney this time. Just practice for the big harvest next time.

The second picture shows how I lopped the top off at 1 metre to make it branch out. The tree continued to grow taller while all the branches were forming so don't leave it too long before taking the top out.

I have several branches coming out of my tree down low now, so will try to propogate some new ones.

Thanks again for all the information. You are all wonderful!
Kerri

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Julie 1 says...
Would it be the right time of year to take cuttings of my tamarillo now? It is seed-grown, tall and skinny. I pruned it last year, but it shot up again.

It suffered badly over winter, and hasn't really recovered. Put out quite a few flowers, but all dropped off. Now I have a small greenhouse, I'm thinking I could move shorter, cutting-grown plants in pots over winter.

Julie 1 says...
Thanks John! Fingers crossed that they grow.

Waterfall says...
I've just planted a cutting off one of mine too, the neighbour had his jacaranda pruned which was hanging over our yard and they knocked branches off several of my fruit trees.

Hopefully the cutting takes.

denise1 says...
The tamarillo tree has two stages of growth. If you take cuttings from pieces off the trunk you will end up with a plant that has to complete growing vertically before branching and fruiting. If you take cuttings from the top branches the will avoid having to grow tall and you will get a low and branching bush . It will then be easier to maintain, pick from, and protect from any greedy animals. I normally grow them in deep fine pumice with frostcloth draped over and watered each day. Put in a warm but not hot place.

Vivvy says...
Tamarillo Marmalade.

2 lb tamarillos, 2 sweet oranges, 1 Cup water, 4.5 cups sugar (very sweet - I use 3 cups), 2 Tbs lemon juice.

Skin tamarillos & slice into bowl - sprinkle with 1 cup sugar & leave overnight. Thinly shred orange (discard pips), place in small bowl & cover with 1 cup water & leave to soak overnight. Next day place orange & water in large pot & cook til skin is tender. Add tamarillos & their juice, bring to boil. Add remaining sugar & lemon juice & boil briskly til a little sets on a saucer. Pour into hot sterilised jars. YUMMY. I do a double quantity

Manfred says...
My mother has a tamarillo which matches your description and I examined it for the same purpose.
Where the leaf scars occur along the trunk there are axillary buds which should sprout if you use the stem for cuttings. They should also sprout if you cut the stem above them.
But don't sue me if I'm wrong. Tamarillos might not behave as they should. Assume the opprobrium heaped on me by my mother if my advice on hers fails is sufficient punishment.

Adrian says...
My Tamarillo trees (3) lost all their leaves this last Canberra winter, despite providing cover from frost. We had multiple minus 6 degree frosts in July and August. But amazingly this Spring the trees have sprouted new growth, which is promising for fruit later this summer, and I have extracted two shoots (cuttings but not cut) of about 7 cm for planting in well manured potting mix for next year's fruit. The cuttings are looking healthy and happy in 20cm pots indoors at 20 degrees, with regular sprays of water and indirect light from the sun outside. I expect to be able to place them into full sun in about two weeks when their roots have grown. This process is much faster than growing from seed, and much cheaper than buying plants from nurseries. Cheers all!

Julie says...
Never had any luck with cuttings, so tried again from seed. I have one healthy looking plant about 40cm tall, and I'm wondering if I nipped the top off now if it would stop it growing so tall?

It is still producing new leaves.

Julie says...
Thanks Waterfall.

David01 says...
Hi Nada61,

Tamarillo does not like cold weather. If temp drop below 3C the tree will be suffered and dying. Below 15C there will be no fruits. Check the weather in Serbia if it is warmer than Melbourne then it is okay. Cheers.