Strange Tomato Leaves

AlittleSalt · February 7, 2015

Below are Litchi tomato plants. The leaves look different than those on the other 61 tomato varieties I have planted. They smell different too. I don't know if you can see any, but they have prickles growing out of the larger leaves. Some people call them thorns. The middle of the second pic shows some.

KarenO · February 7, 2015

hi Salt,

Despite the name, Litchi "tomatoes" aren't tomatoes, they are a different species within the same family, the nightshade or solonaceae family which includes tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, etc.. They are more of a berry-like or dry seedy red ground cherry- like fruit on large VERY unruly and thorny plants. They reminded me more of Rose-hips in texture and taste than tomatoes.
They are cool plants, something different anyway
Karen

AlittleSalt · February 7, 2015

Karen,

I made a special raised bed just for them. It's about 25' straight in front of our front door. I'm debating on either growing 3 or 4 litchi plants in it. The inside measurements of the raised bed are 3'x12'. I will put a 4' tall 2x4 field fence around it that opens in the middle (Basically, 2 six foot doors on each long side.)

I've read about them being called wild South American tomatoes. Now, I'm going to have to look them up as berry-like nightshades. hmm,

I am excited about watching them grow. I've also read that they have unusually large flowers https://www.google.com/search?q=litc...g&ved=0CB0QsAQ

Thanks for the reply, I got more to go learn

KarenO · February 7, 2015

Google "Solanum sisymbrifolium" which is the botanic name.
They are also known as "morelle de Balbus"

AlittleSalt · February 7, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarenO

Google "Solanum sisymbrifolium" which is the botanic name.
They are also known as "morelle de Balbus"

That is what I looked up, and then used a source link off of Wiki http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-...z09djzraw.aspx

Although I'm not a big fan of wine - you could make it out of them. So many uses. I read another name is, "Fire and Ice" I'm not finding anything that I would think of as negative about Litchi. I have 6 plants growing altogether. Maybe I should plant some with the potatoes too?

Then again, they may taste like dirt? lol, even if it turns out like that - I think out of 61 other varieties I might be able to grow it just for looks

KarenO · February 7, 2015

Always fun to try something new, and your seedlings look beautiful and healthy. Hope you enjoy them
KO

charline · February 11, 2015

great to see my babies grow in Texas!

here is a pic of the flowers, they come in blue and white

and here the fruits/berries

they are sweet fruity when they are dark red
light red they are sweet-sour
they do not taste like tomatoes, more like an exotic fruit
super productive
but.... they get big and large and are full of thorns. But I love them, soooo good!

Nattybo! · February 11, 2015

Wow! those are some serious thorns! The flowers are pretty, and the tropical fruit taste sounds interesting...but those thorns!

One of these days I will have to try and grow those. But first I would need to save up for a suit of armor first

Darren Abbey · February 11, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by charline

great to see my babies grow in Texas!

here is a pic of the flowers, they come in blue and white

I'll be growing them for the first time this year. I don't know which color I would rather hope for.

FredB · March 20, 2015

I have grown Litchi Tomato before. The fruit is tasty, but the thorns are incredibly sharp. It is a relative of eggplant, as you can see from the flowers in the photo.

By the way, animals eat the fruit and spread the seeds around, so you'll get lots of seedlings everywhere. It is hardy into the 20's, so it may survive the winter down south.

Worth1 · March 20, 2015

Looks like they would be right at home with the rest of the thorny plants here in Texas.

Worth

Sun City Linda · March 20, 2015

Cool.

February 7, 2015	#2
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,928	hi Salt, Despite the name, Litchi "tomatoes" aren't tomatoes, they are a different species within the same family, the nightshade or solonaceae family which includes tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, etc.. They are more of a berry-like or dry seedy red ground cherry- like fruit on large VERY unruly and thorny plants. They reminded me more of Rose-hips in texture and taste than tomatoes. They are cool plants, something different anyway Karen

February 7, 2015	#3
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Karen, I made a special raised bed just for them. It's about 25' straight in front of our front door. I'm debating on either growing 3 or 4 litchi plants in it. The inside measurements of the raised bed are 3'x12'. I will put a 4' tall 2x4 field fence around it that opens in the middle (Basically, 2 six foot doors on each long side.) I've read about them being called wild South American tomatoes. Now, I'm going to have to look them up as berry-like nightshades. hmm, I am excited about watching them grow. I've also read that they have unusually large flowers https://www.google.com/search?q=litc...g&ved=0CB0QsAQ Thanks for the reply, I got more to go learn

February 11, 2015	#7
charline Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: France Posts: 688	great to see my babies grow in Texas! here is a pic of the flowers, they come in blue and white and here the fruits/berries they are sweet fruity when they are dark red light red they are sweet-sour they do not taste like tomatoes, more like an exotic fruit super productive but.... they get big and large and are full of thorns. But I love them, soooo good!

February 11, 2015	#8
Nattybo! Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 272	Wow! those are some serious thorns! The flowers are pretty, and the tropical fruit taste sounds interesting...but those thorns! One of these days I will have to try and grow those. But first I would need to save up for a suit of armor first

March 20, 2015	#10
FredB Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 76	I have grown Litchi Tomato before. The fruit is tasty, but the thorns are incredibly sharp. It is a relative of eggplant, as you can see from the flowers in the photo. By the way, animals eat the fruit and spread the seeds around, so you'll get lots of seedlings everywhere. It is hardy into the 20's, so it may survive the winter down south.

March 20, 2015	#11
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Looks like they would be right at home with the rest of the thorny plants here in Texas. Worth

March 20, 2015	#12
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	Cool.