Solanum Caribbean Jamberry Fruit - 10 Rare seeds
Solanum sisymbriifolium, Litchi Tomato - 10 rare seed
Withania somnifera, ashwagandha, Indian ginseng. - 15 seed (Medical & cheese making only)
Solanum muricatum, pepino - 20 seed
Golden Berry, Physalis peruviana - 20 seed
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Solanum retroflexum, commonly known as Wonderberry or Sunberry.
What you get - 50 fresh seeds
This a historic heirloom fruiting shrub.
It is sometimes called Garden Huckleberry, but that properly refers to the S. scabrum described by Philip Miller.
As its old scientific name that is still often seen, Solanum × burbankii, indicates, it is of hybrid origin. The plant was bred by Luther Burbank in the early 1900s and is a hybrid of S. villosum and S. guineense.
Plants are compact, typically growing to a height of 12"-24", and may fruit at sizes as small as 4". The plant produces diminutive, dark blue-purple fruits that are bland in flavour and often combined with sugar in desserts.
The Wonderberry shrub is an extremely easy to grow plant which is grown similarly to tomatoes. Seeds are sown in the summer in full or part sun. Fruit can be expected in 75 days.
Very easy to grow, pop each seed in it's own pot - 1/2 inch under potting mix, put in a warm spot, keep moist and wait. Plant out at 1 ft high.
Solanum Villosum, Golden Pearls - edible tasty treat - 30 Fresh seeds
This fast-growing, newly discovered plant from the Solanaceae family produces clusters of sweet, yellow or orange berries, (which bear a striking resemblance to yellow currants but are no relation), on long dividing stems which carry slightly hairy leaves. It can be grown in a container, when the plant will produce fruit very quickly indeed, whilst very small, or in the open ground or greenhouse when the plant will carry on growing and producing fruit all summer long and right into the autumn. Unripe berries should not be eaten. This completely new introduction to Western gardens has been around for centuries in Africa (Solanum villosum), where the actual leaves, which are reputedly used like spinach, are sold at high prices in markets, although we cannot recommend this use. Although the leaves of this plant are often smoked, reputedly as a cannabis substitute, we definitely DO NOT recommend this practice :) Very easy to grow, keep moist till germinated in very good light. Sunlight is very important to these guys. Can handle afternoon shade. And do well in pots if given plenty of water.
I found them easily grown in pots or ground and very tasty not unlike "Golden berries" or ground cherries, but easier to find on the bush, even if smaller and a little fiddly to pick.
Mexican Chichiquelite - Miltomate Vallisto, Heavy bearer, Tasty treat
What you get - 15 seed
It is definitely true that Chichiquelite’s berries are smaller, sweeter and shinier than Wonderberry’s’ the flowers have a blue tint making them easier to tell appart.
Chichiquelite is a bushy plant that grows to between 30cm and 60 cm tall. It starts flowering in spring and produces hundreds of berries continuously great continuous supply of berries to eat until the plant is killed by frost. Idealy if protected from frost, it becomes a short-lived perennial. As such it will flower earlier the next season as it does not have to grow big from seed again. Chichiquelite berries are drought tolerant (obviously you'll get bigger berries if the plant is well fed and watered). They are much easier to grow than tomatoes and chillies. A little shading does not greatly affect the berry yield. The berries have a nice flavour and are decidedly sweet, with no bitterness or any other yucky tastes. The seeds are tiny compared to the black nightshade and it felt more like eating blueberries than other berries with gritty seeds such as raspberry or blackberry. Berries are juicy, sweet and ready to harvest when all the berry in a cluster turns a purple/black.
Physalis philadelphica, Rare Pineapple Tomatillo - 15 fresh seeds
This out of the ordinary yellow ground cherry has a flavor that is sweet, fruity, and really does remind you of a pineapple. Makes a unique and wonderful salsa. The short spreading bushes produce abundantly.
Not to be confused with Goldenberries which grow in an upright manner, these little beauties grow only about a foot high have a spreading nature and are completely covered with calix covered golden yellow berries
These tasty summer treats are seldom seen here, so be sure to leave room in your garden.
Both tomatillos and ground cherries are easy to grow. Start indoors as you would tomatoes. Growing tips are the same. Direct sowing outdoors is not recommended in colder areas. Natural genetic plant resistance is the best form of disease control. For diseases like early and late blight, a strict 3 year rotation and a sanitation program that includes destroying all the vines at the end of the year are your best defenses. Contact your local county extension agent for more information.
HARVEST: Fruit is ripe when the light brown papery husk has folded back to reveal the plump berry. Ripe fruit will soon fall to the ground. You’ll find yourself snacking on so much of it in the garden that this sweet yellow tomatillo may never make it to the house! They turn from green to yellow when ripe. Eat out of hand or in sweet salsas. 70-75 days. Easy Grow
Seed grown fresh, from seeds imported from the USA
What you get - 15 seeds (limited number available)
Solanum sessiliflorum, Cocona
What you get - 10 fresh seeds
This a very rare tropical perennail shrub. The cocona plant has sturdy branches and huge, serrate and hairy leaves. Cocona closely resembles a number of close relatives, including naranjilla and pseudolulo. It can be distinguished from those plants by its lack of spines. It will hybridize with those and other close relatives. Cocona also lacks the characteristic purple coloring usually seen in the naranjilla. Its flowers resemble large potato flowers, with light green petals. Cocona is harvested in parts of South America around the Amazon rainforest such as Purús Province in eastern Peru.
The fruit of cocona is a red, orange or yellow edible berry. Cocona is native to the Andean region of South America, where it is occasionally cultivated for human consumption. Cocona can also be grown as an indoor ornamental plant in temperate climates, but it seems to be quite sensitive to spider mites, so care should be taken not to keep it in too dry air during winter. Like the naranjilla, coconas are highly sensitive to aphids and nematodes. As subtropical plants, they can endure cool weather, but will be killed or severely damaged by frost. During summer, it can be grown outside or in a cold greenhouse. When grown from seed, coconas can bear fruit in as little as 9 months, or as long as 24. Extremely Rare in Australia, seeds are easily grown with good germination, sow spring or in hot house.
Solanum quitoense, naranjilla - 10 fresh seed
(Spanish pronunciation: [naɾaŋˈxiʎa], "little orange") in Ecuador and Panama and as lulo ([ˈlulo], from Quechua) in Colombia, is a subtropical perennial plant from northwestern South America. The specific name for this species of nightshade means "from Quito." this plant is a shade lover!
The naranjilla plant is attractive, with large elongated heart- or oval-shaped leaves up to 45 cm in length. The leaves and stems of the plant are covered in short purple hairs. Naranjilla are delicate plants and must be protected from strong winds and direct sunlight. They grow best in partial shade.
The fruit has a citrus flavour, sometimes described as a combination of rhubarb and lime. The juice of the naranjilla is green and is often used as a drink.