Australian Desert Raisin

The Australian Desert Raisin or Bush Tomato is a small, fast growing shrub to around 40 cm in height with pale yellow-green leaves. It is native to the arid regions of Australia. It produces purple flowers from late summer, followed by the edible small fruits, which are yellow when ripe and dry to brown on the bush, resembling raisins. Attention needs to be taken around using the green, unripe fruit as they are toxic.

With a strong, pungent taste of tamarillo and caramel that makes them popular for use in sauces and condiments. They can be used either whole or ground, and easily added to bread mixes, salads, sauces, cheese dishes, chutneys, stews or mixed into butter.

Whole they have a fresher more pungent flavour and aroma and are have the consistency of hard dates, with high oil content.  A little salt can be added to counter any bitterness caused by its strength.

Prefers a well-drained soil in an warm open sunny position, tolerates dry conditions once establish but produces extended fruiting if an adequate supply of water is provide. Drought resistant and moderately frost tolerant.

Propagation

Although seed can be sown most of the year in many parts of Australia 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

1. Remove seed from fruit by soaking it overnight in warn water.
2. Pre-treatment with smoke recommended.
3. Sow seed on a porous seed raising mix and cover lightly. Do not bury seed too deeply.
4. Place in a warm shaded or semi shaded position to avoid dying out.
5. The growing medium should be well draining but should remain damp between watering.
6. Keep moist but not too wet as the seed may rot.
7. Germination should occur in 14-28 days.
8. 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.
9. Containers put to one side will often surprise long after they were discarded.