Nipple Fruit - Solanum mammosum
 

I just acquired some fresh fruit from the ornamental Nipple Fruit and was looking for any assistance in trying to germinate the seeds: do the seeds have to be prepped in any way or can I just clean and plant?
- thanks

Re: Nipple Fruit - Solanum mammosum
 

I do not have experience with this plant, but in general I have found that seeds from exotic Solanum species are easy to propagate in warm soil -- provided they are from a ripe or over-ripe fruit.

I assume you know the fruit is poisonous?

Here's species information from GRIN and Wikipedia:
Solanum mammosum information from NPGS/GRIN
Solanum mammosum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Re: Nipple Fruit - Solanum mammosum
 

Thank you for the links
......and yes, I am aware they are poisonous. I just thought they were so weird that I had to try; and I was not aware of how large the fruit actually was.

Re: Nipple Fruit - Solanum mammosum
 

I believe you could have success growing Naranjilla (another Solanum) indoors with adequate light. It produces edible citrus-tasting tomatillo-like fruit. They grow outdoors year-round here in coastal San Diego and appreciate partial shade in the summer.

Re: Nipple Fruit - Solanum mammosum
 

Oh I'll try growing anything once if I get the chance, but I just couldn't pass up the opportunity when I saw the fruit being used in a flora display in the lobby of a high priced hotel downtown. I just had to find out who provided it and if I could buy some of the fruit as this is something that would never be found available here.
As for the Naranjilla, I have look at them in the past but my biggest problem is acquiring seeds here in Canada; not everything makes it across the border :(

Re: Nipple Fruit - Solanum mammosum
 

I grew it in Pennsylvania maybe 10 years ago. It has the same culture as an eggplant and the plant is rather unpleasantly prickly.

Re: Nipple Fruit - Solanum mammosum
 

That genus can be pretty prickly. But then, that's part of the appeal, right? Solanum pyracanthum is on my wish-list...