Pepino – Solanum muricatum

Plant family: Solanaceae

Plant origin: Andes Mountains in South America.

Fruit description: The fruit is a smooth skinned oval fruit about 6 to 12cm long with a juicy yellow flesh like a melon and sweet flavour similar to rockmelon or honeydew melon. The few seeds are edible. The skin is yellow with a purple stripes.

Flowers: Small star shaped mauve flowers with a yellow centre

Growing conditions: The Pepino is an evergreen perennial bush growing 1 metre in height and width. It likes a warm sunny sheltered position and moist fertile soil. Mulch the bush well and feed it with animal manure in Spring. To support the fruit, the plant may need staking like a tomato.

Uses: Eat the fruit fresh, in a fruit salad, or use on a fruit platter.

Medicinal uses:

Pollination requirements: Self-Pollinating.

Harvest time Fruit is ready in Spring, Summer and Autumn, pick it when it is fragrant and gives slightly when pressed. Pick the fruit carefully to avoid bruising it.

Plant relatives Other species in the Solanum genus include Cape Gooseberry, Naranjilla, Tamarillo, chillies, potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant.

Special features:

Grown by method: Cutting Grown Pot size: 140mm

Plant growing Height and Width for pots or in the ground planting: Grows to 1 metres high by 1 metres wide if Planted in a Pot. Grows 1 metres high by 1 metres wide if Planted in the Ground.

Shipping plant pot or planter bag size: 140mm