Pepino (Dulce/Melon)

Plant family

Solanums (Solanaceae)

Synonyms

Melon Pear, Tree Melon

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Very humid

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

High

Seeding distance

60 cm

Row spacing

80 cm

Seeding depth

1 cm

Instructions

Description

Delicious fruity tasting egg-shaped pear melons, melon pears or pepinos belong to the nightshade family (Solanaceae). It is related to tomato, chili and eggplant. They fit well on balconies and terraces, as well as in the mini garden. From the purple-yellow flowers, the bushy growing plants develop many yellow-orange, purple-striped and -spotted fruits. They reach the size and shape of goose eggs. The flesh tastes pleasantly sweet aromatic, about between pears and melons. (Source: Kiepenkerl seed bag)

Growing tips

Growing from seed succeeds as with tomatoes. In height, the branching shoots can reach about 80 cm, on strings in the greenhouse up to 180 cm. Can only withstand 12 degrees plus, so must be overwintered indoors (cuttings) or reseeded. The pepino is ripe when the fruit has a light yellow to sunny yellow coloration with dark purple longitudinal stripes and the flesh is golden yellow-yellow-orange. Can be eaten with skin. Sensitive to cold. Does not need to be budded out. Propagated and overwintered by cuttings. Needs a lot of heat. cutting shoots without flowering promotes fruit growth and size.