Solanum quitoense, commonly called naranjilla or ludo, is a tropical, perennial plant in the nightshade family of solanaceae native to Peru, Columbia, and Ecuador. The plants have spines along the stems, petioles, and along central and lateral veins of the leaves, emerging from both sides. Sometimes spines can be absent on part of the plant, but present in other places, and other times, entire plants are spineless. Solanum quitoense are spreading and herbaceous, becoming woody with age and can grow up to 8 feet tall. The naranjilla fruits are delicious, juicy, and are said to taste citrusy, resembling a cross between a lemon and a pineapple. They have an orange exterior, resembling a persimmon, and juicy green flesh with edible seeds. The fruits are frequently turned into a beverage by adding sugar and water to the fruit pulp and lightly blending it.
Plant the Solanum quitoense seeds on the surface of a well draining potting soil and sprinkle just enough soil over the seeds to cover them. Keep the soil moist but not soaking wet around 75°F and 80°F for best results. Germination typically takes 4 to 6 weeks to occur. Even with optimal conditions, germination may be slow and sporadic.
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING DISCLAIMER:
All packages will be shipped with basic customs information such as; HS codes, VAT numbers, and properly labeled contents. Unfortunately, The Garden of Set is unable to provide phytosanitary certificates for orders at this time. It is the buyer’s responsibility to know local laws regarding the import of plants, seeds, and plant products into their country. It is also up to the buyer to provide any other customs forms or information required to import plants into their country. If packages get stopped by customs, The Garden of Set will not be able to provide a refund for the purchase. Most of the time packages make it to their destinations just fine, this is for the small minority of packages that get stopped without having all the proper customs information required by the country of import. Purchase at your own discretion.