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Cows Udder Fruit

 Solanum Mammosum

 

Solanum mammosum is commonly known as cow's udder, or apple of Sodom, is an inedible tropical fruit. The plant is grown for ornamental purposes.


The striking yellow or orange pear shaped fruits.
A member of the Solanaceae family that includes tomatoes eggplants, potatoes etc. it falls in the higher classification of the “Nightshade” and the fruits are not edible.

In Chinese culture, the plant is known as five fingered eggplant.


Native to South America it prefers a well-drained soil in a protected sunny position. Frost and drought tender.

 

The stems and fruit of this plant are greatly sought after by florists for floral arrangement. They make a rather interesting display and will last for weeks in a vase.

 

Deatails: 

Plant Life Cycle: Perennial

Site : Full sun

Days to germinate: 14-28 days

Height: 78-82 "

Sow: Surface

Plant spacing:78"

Approx seeds per packet: 10

 

How to Grow:

Seed is generally best sown in spring or autumn in temperate climates, avoid the coldest and hottest months of the year. The optimum germination temperature for germination is around 18-22°C for this species.

  • Sow seed on surface of a porous seed raising mix.
  • Sprinkle a very light covering of the seed raising mix over the seed to hold the seed in place. Do not bury seed too deeply.
  • Water with fine mist spray to avoid disturbance of the seed.
  • Place in a warm shaded or semi shaded position to avoid dying out.
  • Keep warm & moist, avoid drying out or waterlogging the growing mix.
  • Germination generally occurs in around 14-28 days in the right conditions.

General note: Seeds of many natives are dormant and require specific conditions or pre-treatment for germination.
Do not be too hasty to discard seed that does not germinate, seeds will often lay dormant until the conditions are similar to their natural requirements for germination to occur. Containers put to one side will often surprise long after they were discarded.

Sow your seeds on a well drained medium such as 75% sand and 25% Peat moss, or a potting mix with 50% coarse sand added to it. Just cover the seed with a sieved layer of sand or potting mix. Keep them in a very bright, filtered light location and maintain consistent moisture levels, not sopping wet, just nice and moist. It may take up to a month for all the seed to germinate, don’t throw them out!

When the seedlings reach 2-3 cm high, carefully transplant them to 5 cm pots using an open potting medium such as Searle’s premium brand with around 25% coarse river sand or 5 mm scoria gravel added to the mix.. Add a pinch only of Osmocote to each pot and water well. Keep your plants in very bright filtered light and do not let them dry out.

Pot on as needed using the same potting medium. Move to early morning sun as they grow, and when they are well established, put them in a location that receives full sun. Give the plants a feed with Osmocote or Dynamic Lifter (Chicken manure pellets) twice a year and water regularly. They have a high water requirement and will wilt easily, so don’t let them dry out totally.

Give your plant a good hard prune yearly to thicken it up, the more branches the more fruit so don’t be afraid to nip the tips of the branches off now and then also.

 

Solanum Mammosum

$4,95Prezzo
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