It spontaneously hybridizes with the typical var. The medium-sized cocona is in greatest demand in Peru and especially for juice. The range of variation indicated that seedling coconas represent a great reservoir of characters to be utilized in improvement of the crop, to enhance nematode resistance, reduce seed count, and increase sweetness. In Florida and Trinidad, the cocona is grown at near sea-level. Unlike the naranjilla, the plant needs full sun.
Good drainage is essential.
The cocona is self-fertile. Bees are always visiting the flowers and carrying pollen, and natural crosses are common. Fruits mature about 8 weeks after pollination. There are from 800 to 2,000 seeds in each fruit. New plants spring up voluntarily from seeds clinging to discarded rinds in full sun on disturbed ground in northern South America.