Casana seeds (forum)

Phil@Tyalgum starts with ...
Would anyone in the forum have seed to spare of the Casana (Cyphomandra casana) which I could buy or swap for? It is proving a hard plant to track down. I'm also chasing Naranjilla if somebody has a source for these as well. Thanks.
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Time: 30th July 2010 2:22pm

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About the Author TyalgumPhil
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John Mc says...
Hey Phil,
I have a million and one Naranjilla seedlings and seed. In a matter of fact, last season I located two plants from different sources. Both plants have slight differences in the amount and length of prickles. I have a nice thick cutting in the hothouse, if it's struck you can have that one.
I'll swap you some casana seeds if you come across any.

Time: 30th July 2010 5:58pm

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Phil@Tyalgum says...
Thanks John, that'd be great. I tried to grow one from Diggers back when I lived in Vic but it didn't survive the winter, tho I did see a number in the Glowinski garden. I think somehow it would do better up this way. Is it worth growing?

Time: 30th July 2010 6:07pm

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amanda says...
Hi Phil - can u tell us more about the Casana? It looks interesting - how does grow, what does it taste like?
Thanks!

Time: 31st July 2010 11:32am

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Phil@Tyalgum says...
It is very similar in growth to a Tamarillo, but a little more intolerant of the cold. It doesn't seem to have had much improvement since introduction to NZ in the 1970s, although there are some sweeter tasting fruit around. Glowinski is a little dismissive of it - Daley's have had it "In Production" for as long as I've been using this forum.

Time: 31st July 2010 6:20pm

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amanda says...
hey Phil - is that the "Kiwiano"? (or some such name) do u think?

Time: 1st August 2010 9:58pm

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Phil@Tyalgum says...
No - but have just collected a barrow load of kiwano I found growing wild down by one of the local creeks.They were hanging off the trees like Chrismas decorations, and trailing all over the ground. Even bigger than the cultivated ones I grew in the garden myself. The local folk here don't regard them too highly, they usually run over them with the tractor. I took some into work and had trouble giving them away - someone said they tasted like an unripe Lady Finger banana, which is pretty accurate. They sell well in Japan I hear. Kiwano are a type of cucumber, the Casana is definitely tree-like in form.

Time: 2nd August 2010 5:09am

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nick says...
phil you seem familiar with the kiwano i planted a couple of kiwano vines last sept coastal sheltered no frosts all day sun healthy soil the vines finally flowered late summer then around mid june the vine died of leaving me with a barrow of green unripe full size fruit still green i dont know if this is normal i have got a few on a bench to see if they will ripen i dont have high hopes do i go again any info would be appreciated

Time: 2nd August 2010 3:40pm

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Phil@Tyalgum says...
I find if you leave them in an airy bag with an apple or a couple of bananas the ethylene gas given off can make them change color (in theory) - but my green ones I've left on the concrete path in the full sun outside and they're starting to change color. They keep for months so be patient. Don't use an airtight container to ripen them in as they go mouldy quickly if not ventilated well.

Time: 2nd August 2010 3:57pm

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kert says...
Good advice Phil ; but if you have an apple or a bannana you would not eat the Casana. It has an odd ,off -putting aftertaste that has deterred any one I've offered it to. Naturally ,there will be diagreement on this.

Time: 2nd August 2010 5:47pm

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Phil@Tyalgum says...
For some reason I seem to want to collect unusual members of the Solanaceae group - I guess I can't be too disappointed if I have no expectations.

Time: 2nd August 2010 6:05pm

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John Mc says...
Phil,
have you got any Cocona seed?
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/cocona.html



Time: 2nd August 2010 6:54pm

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Phil@Tyalgum says...
No, I don't have any - it kind of looks a little like S. capsicoides which grows wild around here on the side of the roads. Some people use it as a rootstock for eggplants which makes them more cold tolerant. Would love to try some tho John.

Time: 2nd August 2010 7:11pm

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John Mc says...

I've been trying to source it for a while.

Time: 2nd August 2010 7:48pm

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kert says...
I got my seed at Heatherbrae Seeds in NZ . I think the name is right ,something brae ,anyway.

Time: 3rd August 2010 8:33am

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John Mc says...
Hey Kurt,
Is that Cocona you sourced? or casana?
Would you mind going back to when you bought your seed and find out who it was exactly? I just did a reasonably extensive Google of NZ Co's but they will only sell the plants and then only within NZ.
I'd appreciate it very much. I'm sure Phil would be happy to go 50/50 with me if we sourced some.

Time: 3rd August 2010 9:14am

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kert says...
It was casana from nestlebraeexotics.co.nz You've seen my comment on Casana? Regards

Time: 3rd August 2010 9:51am

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Phil@Tyalgum says...
I sent Nestlebrae a cheque and some e-mails a few years ago. I never even got a response.

Time: 3rd August 2010 5:46pm

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kert says...
What can I say? They did OK with me but as before ,I believe Casana ain't worth the effort.

Time: 4th August 2010 9:48am

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PaulW says...
Hi Phil, i got a casana plant from Daleys recently (you had to be quick). It has about trippled its size (its about 3ft high now) in this time and looks for all the world like a tamarillo at the moment. When it fruits I'll send you some seed. By the way, the cockroach berry rootstock seeds you sent me have finally germinated.


Time: 10th August 2010 8:54pm

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Phil@Tyalgum says...
Hey thanks Paul, that'd be great. Your babaco and sweet potato cuttings have all taken well too.

Time: 10th August 2010 9:37pm

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Phil@Tyalgum says...
Hey PaulW if you still read the forum, did your Casana ever fruit? I think they would do well up here if I could locate a source for them.

Time: 6th September 2013 9:14pm

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yry says...
After a long chase and finally obtaining Casana seed from NZ I grew the fruit...and was disappointed . The taste is not pleasant- which probably accounts for why it has not gone commercial. Some fruit is meant to be rare.

Time: 7th September 2013 3:13pm

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Mike says...
I have been told by a sth American grower that cocona,casana and most lulos disappoint people.He suggested baquicha and jacu assu (S.robustum and S,baquicha) as having better fruit and also selected naranjillas.I have a baquicha with small fruit and a S.robutum that won't set fruit.

Time: 8th September 2013 9:25pm

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denise1 says...
Pepino is a great tasting relative ( Solanum muricatum) and really easy to grow. I find them tasting excellent. Some people can only taste soapinessor bitterness, but to most are sweet and similar to rock melon. . They grow best trained upward or to hang downward to get light into the fruit that increases sweetness. I plant mine into a filled bucket that has had the bottom cut out. In which case they need watering nearly every day but produce well. They can be grown by seeds or better yet cuttings.

Time: 9th September 2013 7:27am

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Mike says...
Pepino is just like a watery rock melon alright but unfortunately for me they are not suited to tropical weather.

Time: 9th September 2013 7:55am

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BJ says...
Pepino arent watery, more 'mild' or 'bland' if you want to be brutal. I find them like a mild honeydew with a hint of banana, and have found their best use is as an extender for other fruits in fruit salads and go really well in black sapote muffins! I turfed mine though as the fruit wasnt really worth the endless fruit fly battles... IMHO its still the best of the solanaceae 'fruit' Ive tasted incl 3 types of cocona, casana, tamarillo etc. Lulo juice is quite nice though, but you need the spineless types or the thorns make it not worth the effort and you end up with very tart juice that needs way too much sugar...

Time: 9th September 2013 9:22am

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Mike says...
BJ that is a better description of pepino and the do taste alright.The juice of my lulos would be like lemon juice with a dash of vinegar.

Time: 10th September 2013 6:58pm

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David says...
Grew these in Auckland back in86. Plants prefer shaded areas and are generally leggier in height.Taste was ok to terrible.Remember leaves were very furry, and fruit was smaller than Tammarillos.

Time: 10th September 2013 7:40pm

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