From store-bought fruit to fantastic houseplants: sprouting carambola, kiwi, and 8 other tasty treats

Kiwi—a surprising growth habit

According to Essi Parkkasaari, kiwi is easy to grow. The only problem is its rapid growth: “The challenge is finding a good place for it.” Photo: Essi Parkkasaari

“My kiwi is about half a year old. I removed the seeds from the fruit and rinsed them in a glass of water: viable seeds sink to the bottom, non-viable ones float to the surface. Luckily, kiwis have plenty of seeds to choose from! I usually start by germinating seeds between moist paper towels in a container. That way, you can select the best sprouts for further growing. Germination took about two weeks in the container. I’ve also germinated some in soil, it took about three weeks.

During the winter, the plant was under additional lighting. It’s not worth growing the plant in very dark conditions, as it will just stretch upward without leaves. Because it’s fuzzy, the plant collects a lot of dust. Cleaning can only be done in the shower, but that’s a small inconvenience compared to the joy it brings.”—Essi Parkkasaari

At first, Essi didn’t know that kiwi is a vine. “I just wondered how unusually it grew compared to other trees.” Photo: Essi Parkkasaari

Passionfruit—a lush charmer on the south-facing window

“The passionfruit turned into such a lovely vine that I can’t bear to part with it, even though it takes up more and more space on the south-facing window every year,” says Suvi-Päivikki Jänkälä. In the picture, the plant is about 1.5 years old. Photo: Suvi-Päivikki Jänkälä

“I carefully removed the fruit flesh from the seeds by rubbing them on paper, and then planted them in seedling soil. I covered the pot with perforated cling film, under which I frequently misted water. The small passionfruit sprouts emerged in a few weeks. I transplanted them into their own pots when they were about two months old. Later, I planted the passionfruit into a coconut fiber-perlite mix, but it also did well in regular potting soil.

In the summer, the passionfruit is quite a heavy drinker, and during hot spells, it needs watering every few days. Even in winter, it accepts weekly watering, and sometimes I add a dash of seaweed extract. I don’t believe I’ll see the passionflower vine bloom indoors, although every spring I secretly hope for it. The flowers are beautiful, white and purple, and only last for a day.”—Suvi-Päivikki Jänkälä, on Instagram @wild___thoughts (with three underscores)

Suvi-Päivikki has found it interesting to watch the passionfruit’s growth. As it ages, the leaves become three-lobed. “The tendrils, which resemble the coiled cords of old landline phones, are also endearing. The plant clings to its surroundings with them.” Photo: Suvi-Päivikki Jänkälä

Pitaya—spiky tendrils

In this picture, Suvi-Päivikki Jänkälä’s pitaya, or dragon fruit, is almost a year old. “Although pitaya belongs to the cactus family, it’s thirstier than other cacti. I’ve watered it weekly throughout the year, which would be too much for many other plants during the darkest winter months. The pitaya hasn’t minded, even though it lives in a pot without drainage.” Photo: Suvi-Päivikki Jänkälä

“I removed the fruit flesh from the seeds and placed them on damp paper towels in a plastic container in a warm place. The first seeds germinated in about a day! After a few days, I planted the germinated seeds into potting soil. I kept perforated cling film over the delicate sprouts for a couple of weeks to maintain consistent moisture.

I was surprised when the pitaya grew into a tentacle-like cactus. Since then, I’ve read more about growing pitaya and was maybe a bit shocked at how huge the plant can become under favorable conditions.”

Mango—a lush bush that drops its leaves in winter

In summer, Galina Kakkonen takes her mango outdoors. The photo is from 2018, when the plant was about 5 years old. Photo: Galina Kakkonen

“I planted my mango 6–7 years ago. The hard shell of the seed was already slightly open. I buried it in the soil at the base of another houseplant so that the seed would get watered. After a couple of months, I noticed it was sprouting, and I moved the mango into its own pot.

In winter, my mango stays in a cool room, about 10–12 degrees Celsius, and drops all its leaves. It spends summers outdoors. I prune the plant occasionally, otherwise it would probably be several meters tall by now! Currently, it’s about a meter high. I’m now excited to try growing kumquats: they’ve grown about five centimeters so far.”—Galina Kakkonen

Suvi-Päivikki Jänkälä has also grown mango. This is what it looked like at the seedling stage. Photo: Suvi-Päivikki Jänkälä

Carambola—this enchanting feathery friend grows rapidly

Wow! Pauli Mankonen’s carambola has grown this big in 1.5 years. “I’ve often trimmed the carambola to make it smaller. It hasn’t minded at all, instead, it branches out twice as vigorously afterward.” Photo: Pauli Mankonen

“I placed the seeds directly from the fruit between damp paper towels and put them in a warm place. I changed the towels to clean ones every few days. When the root began to peek out, I moved the seed into soil. It took just over a month before I started to see something green in the soil.

I planted the carambola in an airy mix of potting soil and perlite in a clay pot. I’ve upgraded the pot to a larger one from time to time. I’ve watered the plant quite frequently so that the soil doesn’t dry out completely. If I forget to water, the carambola certainly lets me know by drooping its leaves. Since the plant has been growing continuously, I’ve added fertilizer to the water regularly throughout the year.

Since elementary school, I’ve been enthusiastic about growing plants from fruit seeds, and I’ve tried almost all the exotic fruits I’ve found in stores, including salak, tamarind, tamarillo, longan, langsat, custard apple, lychee, and several others. Some plants have fared better than others. Carambola is among the easier ones, as long as there’s enough light and water. The only plant I’ve harvested from is the cape gooseberry. Even though it’s usually pointless to expect a harvest, the hobby itself is rewarding and interesting!”—Pauli Mankonen

Johanna Huttunen has also grown carambola. “Carambola is my absolute favorite of the plants you can grow from fruit,” she says. Photo: Johanna Huttunen

This is what carambola leaves look like up close. Photo: Johanna Huttunen

Turmeric—a root spice that surprises with its large leaves

This is how fun turmeric looks! At the time the photo was taken, the plant was a few months old. “I have large south-facing windows in my living room, so the plants have thrived there. I also mist my plants diligently, which helps.” Photo: Johanna Huttunen

“I grew my turmeric from a turmeric root. They’ve been sold at least in Lidl’s vegetable section. I planted the root directly into soil. I fertilize all my plants in the spring with chicken manure, and then I gradually switch to liquid fertilizers. I try to monitor how much water each plant needs and act accordingly. In the winter, my plants are under additional lighting; their summers they spend on the south-facing window or outside in the sun.”—Johanna Huttunen

Pomegranate—an easy-care bush that filled the entire dining table in no time

The pomegranate in this picture is about four months old. There are multiple seedlings in the pot. Photo: Johanna Huttunen

“Germinating pomegranate seeds was really easy. I took them from the fruit pulp, rinsed them, and put them directly into soil. Germination took just a few days, I think.

The plant grew on the south-facing window. It was very thirsty, so it needed lots of watering. Otherwise, I think the pomegranate is easy to care for. I topped the plant often, so it branched a lot. However, I threw it away this winter—it was only eight months old, but the plant was so big that it completely filled my 1.5-meter dining table!”—Johanna Huttunen

Lemon sprouted almost unnoticed beneath another plant

Johanna Huttunen’s lemon spends its summers outdoors. The photo is from summer 2019, when the plant was just over three years old. “None of my plants have flowered yet, as they’re all so young. Lemons only start to flower after they’re over 10 years old,” Johanna says. Photo: Johanna Huttunen

“I absent-mindedly stuck an organic lemon seed into a pot at the base of another plant. I don’t even know how long it took to germinate, but it wasn’t very long. I moved the seedling into its own pot after the first proper leaves emerged.”—Johanna Huttunen

Pineapple—a frilly houseplant started from a leaf rosette

Johanna’s pineapple in the picture is two years old. In summer, it gets to enjoy the outdoor air in a sunny spot. Photo: Johanna Huttunen

“I grew the pineapple from a leaf rosette, that is, the tuft on top of the fruit. I detached the rosette from the fruit and removed enough leaves to expose the root buds hiding under them. This also allowed the stem to be planted firmly into the soil. There must not be any fruit flesh left on the stem; otherwise, it will start to rot. Then I just stuck the stem into the soil.

In winter, the pineapple doesn’t need much watering, as it dwells in a somewhat cool room with the lemon. In summer, I water the pineapple by pouring water into its leaf funnel, and I occasionally water to the soil, too.”—Johanna Huttunen

Papaya—this tropical fruit tree grows like a palm

Papaya grows sheltered among Johanna’s other plants. In this picture, the papaya is a few months old. Photo: Johanna Huttunen

“I germinated the papaya seeds between wet paper towels in a plastic container with a lid. I washed the seeds so that there was no fruit flesh left on them. After germination, I put the seedlings into soil. The fun thing about papaya is that it grows like a palm: it sheds its leaves from the stem and keeps a tuft of leaves at the top. I asked other hobbyists about this, and apparently, it’s a natural growth habit.”—Johanna Huttunen