Cannibal's Tomato Seeds (Naturally Grown)
The Cannibal's Tomato is native to a number of south Pacific Islands, and has been introduced to Hawaii. In Fiji at the time of contact, human meat was cooked wrapped in this plant's leaves, and a condiment for the meal was made from the fruit. Fruits are rounded, about the size of large cherry tomatoes, and are somewhat similar to small eggplants. Very easy to grow and quite pretty when in bloom and in fruit. Fruits can be eaten raw or fresh and used in many dishes, though they do have a tangy taste. Strangely enough, we found it to go pretty good with chicken. Also works well as a sauce!
This seems like more of an eggplant over a tomato. We believe it was nicknamed "Cannibal's Tomato" because it looks like a tomato when ripe. What an oddity!
| Botanical Name | Solanum uporo |
|---|---|
| Seeds Per Pack | 25 |
| Life Cycle | Annual |
| Min. Time to Germinate | 14 Days |
| Max. Time to Germinate | 21 Days |
| Depth to Sow Seeds | Surface Sow; press seeds gently into the soil to make good contact, but do not cover with any additional soil; these seeds require light to germinate |
| When to Sow | Indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frost |
| Growing Height | 24-36 in. (60-90 cm) |
| Plant Spacing | 24-36 in. (60-90 cm) |
| Hardiness | USDA Zone 9a: to 25F, USDA Zone 9b: to 30F, USDA Zone 10a: to 35F, USDA Zone 10b: to 40F, USDA Zone 11a: to 45F, USDA Zone 11b: to 50F |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun |
| Danger | N/A |
| Bloom Color | White/Near White |
| Bloom Time | Late Summer/Early Fall, Mid-Summer |
| Other Details | Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater |
| Soil pH Requirements | 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic), 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral), 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) |
| Days to Harvest | 70-80 |
| Propagation Methods | From seed; sow indoors before last frost |
| Seed Collecting | Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds, Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored |