Pepino fruit

Pepino growing 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,

Pepino flower

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

Pepino for sale – Seeds or Plants to Buy

Requirements for Pepino growing and care:

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 as houseplant?
No

Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes

Blooming information

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

Edible fruits

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

Vegetative Reproduction

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

Scientific name:

Solanum muricatum