Pepino grow and care – shrub‎ of the genus Solanum also known as Pepino melon or pepino dulce, Pepino is perennial evergreen plant, grow in mediterranean, subtropical, tropic climate and growing in hardiness zone 10b+.
Flower color purple with light purple in the edge,
Fruit color rind is yellow with sometimes purple spots or stripes, fruit shape is oval. The flavor remind melon and sometimes cucumber, sometimes the flavor strong but mostly anemic
Well drained soil, trellising
What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Vegetative Reproduction
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction?
Yes
Difficulties or problems when growing:
Need to dominate a lot of ground before bearing fruits, sometime the fruits have anemic taste
Planting season:
Spring, summer
Pests and diseases:
Aphids, ants
Pruning season:
Winter
How to prune:
Week and dead branch
Size of the plant:
20-60 cm, 8-24 inches
Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing / Medium growing
Water requirement:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun / Half Shade (bear less fruit)
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No
Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes
Bloom season:
Spring / Summer
General information about the flower
Purple flower with light purple in the edge
Thinning the bloom:
Until the plant is not fully establish recommend to thinning
Pollination is done by:
Bee, fly
Fruit harvest season:
Summer / Autumn
Fruits pests or diseases:
Birds, aphids
What can be done with big quantities of Pepino fruits?
Juice, eat raw
Work requirements on the fruit:
Trellising (sometime the fruit heavy to the plant)
How long does it take to bear fruit?
1-2 years
Ripening of fruit:
If the fruits attack by birds recommend pick before it’s ready, and let it ripening at home
How to make Vegetative Reproduction in Pepino?
Cutting, Bending a branch over and covering it with earth
The best time for vegetative reproduction in Pepino:
Spring / Summer
How much time does it take to grow roots in vegetative reproduction?
2-3 weeks
What is the treatment for vegetative reproduction in Pepino?
Moist, half shade, the cutting can be put in water
Solanum muricatum
Planting Season: Spring Planting, Summer planting
Light exposure requirements: Full sun Plants, Part shade Plants
Climates that the plant can grow: Mediterranean Climate, Subtropics Climate, Tropics Climate
Growing speed of the plant: Average growing plants, Fast growing plants
Plant life-form:
Plant Uses: Edible plants
Requirements for watering the plant: Big amount of water, Regularly water
Hardiness zones: Hardiness zone 10, Hardiness zone 11, Hardiness zone 12, Hardiness zone 13
Ornamental parts:
Leaf color:
Blooming season: Spring flowers, Summer flowers
Flower colors: Purple flower
Harvest Season: Autumn Harvest, Summer Harvest
Edible Parts: Edible Fruit
Culinary uses: Eaten raw, Ice pop & Ice cream plants, Jams, Juice