What In The World is a Litchi Tomato Plant?
Our local small town garden center has some unique heirloom variety tomatoes, and peppers. I probably bought one of everything this spring, I just can’t resist heirloom tomatoes.
One of the most unique varieties I purchased was a Litchi tomato (the scientific name is S. sisymbriifolium). It’s a very unusual looking plant, the leaves don’t look like a typical tomato plant, and the plant is covered in thorns.
The guy at the garden center said the plant could get up to 5 feet tall. The fruit is supposed to be small, and taste like a cross between a cherry and a tomato.
I brought it home and planted it between my tomatoes and eggplant. I noticed this week it’s starting to bloom. I look forward to tasting the fruit from this plant, and seeing what it looks like when it is full size. I should have purchased a couple of them, I’ll be upset if anything happens to this one before the fruit is ripe.
Has anyone out there had any experience with litchi tomato plants? I have it planted in full sun, and it appears to be doing well. The bugs seem to like it, they’ve been chewing on the leaves. I would love to hear what experiences others have had with this heirloom tomato variety.
Image (c) Linette
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POSTED IN: heirloom varieties
4 opinions for What In The World is a Litchi Tomato Plant?
LodiTomatoLady
Jun 29, 2008 at 12:17 am
Hi Linette. I planted a litchee tomato for the first time this year. Mine’s about 4′ tall right now, and covered in 50-60 blossoms (and scary thorns). It has been blossoming since May, but I only have one fruit at the moment. I heard they can be invasive if not pulled at the end of the season.
Carole
Jul 7, 2008 at 3:17 am
We have one also that a client gave to my husband. We are finding that the flowers aren’t setting so far. We are wondering if maybe you need a male and female plant. Are your flowers setting? This is written 7/7/08. Not sure when your article was written.
Carole : )
Amanda
Jul 8, 2008 at 12:02 am
Oh wow. I would love to know where you bought this.
Stormy
Jul 14, 2008 at 4:51 am
I, too, purchased one plant as it was very intriguing to me. I understand it gets to be 5′ tall also. I have several flowers on it and hope to see the end result. I have it in direct sunlight but don’t know anything else about it. Any information would definitely help on this unusual vegetable plant. Thanks
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