Pepino melon plant: how to grow Solanum muricatum

Today I present to you Solanum muricatum, better known as pepino or caciuma. This bizarre plant seems to have laid golden eggs in your garden! But don’t worry, it’s not a miracle of nature, but rather its delicious fruits. With a flavor fresh and delicate, halfway between cucumber and melonthe pepino will surprise you.

Strange but true it is one very simple plant to growLet’s find out everything about this chicken, er, plant!

How to grow the pepino melon plant: Solanum muricatum and the Solanaceae family

Be careful not to be fooled by the name! Even though in Spanish “pepino” means “cucumber”, our protagonist, the Solanum muricatum, belongs to the Solanaceae family and therefore an immense club with prominent protagonists such as tomatoes, aubergines and peppers but also very poisonous plants such as Datura stramonium and Atropa belladonna. In short, a fascinating and slightly disturbing world!

Although I have not found information on the toxicity of the green parts and roots, I recommend limiting yourself to consuming the fruit which I would consider, in the absence of other information, to be the only edible part of the plant.

The fruit is common in the markets of Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Kenya, but is more difficult to encounter elsewhere due to its delicacy in handling which makes it unsuitable for long journeys.

And if you are passionate about exotic fruits, you can’t miss the tamarillo, another nightshade that I have already told you about that will surprise you! 😋

How to grow the pepino melon plant: the habitat of Solanum muricatum

The origins of pepino are shrouded in mystery. Although it is believed to come from the temperate regions of the Andes, in Colombia, Peru and Chileit has never been found in the wild.

The first Spanish explorers already found it cultivated on the Peruvian coasts, where it was also appreciated as a decorative element in local art.

In the second half of the 19th century and then in the 20th century, the pepino conquered new territories, from California to New Zealand, passing through Japan and Europe, where it was the subject of selection for commercial interest.

Pepino’s plant

I said it’s easy because it’s a plant that needs little attention and It also lends itself well to growing in pots.

Pepino is an evergreen and bushy shrub (not herbaceous), which usually does not exceed one meter in height. Ha evergreen or semi-persistent leaves and its purple and white flowers give way to fruits with yellow and striped skin purple, similar to small eggs.

The dimensions of Solanum muricatum are compact, sometimes it takes on an almost carpet-like, creeping habit but it is certainly not a tree. Let’s say it reaches 50-100 cm in height and the same in width. In greenhouse cultivations it can even reach 2 meters.

How to grow the pepino melon plant and where to plant the Pepino?

Indicated forexposure in full sunThis plant adapts well to the vegetable garden. However, if grown in a pot, it is advisable to protect it from the most intense sun in the central hours of the day to avoid leaf burn.

How to grow the pepino melon plant: ideal temperatures for Pepino

The pepino plant is relatively hardy. In its native range it grows at altitudes ranging from sea level up to 3,000 m. (this doesn’t make much sense to me but perhaps it refers to the type species and not to the cultivars we find on the market, selected starting from the wild plant).

Pepino works best in a warm and relatively frost-free climate. The plant can survive down to temperatures of around -2.5 °C if the frost is not prolonged, although it may lose many leaves. Personally I recommend sheltering it from the intense cold, perhaps in a cold greenhouse.

Water the Pepino plant

In winter, the Pepino plant enters a phase of vegetative rest, in this period watering can be stopped or in any case significantly limited. Once an adult, it develops a moderate resistance to droughtalthough regular irrigation is recommended to obtain abundant fruit production, as in the case of tomatoes.

Supporting the Pepino plant (stacking)

Due to the weight of the fruits, the pepino plant requires a adequate support. I recommend installing a brace or stringing wires to which the branches can attach, facilitating vertical growth and preventing breakages.

What type of soil is needed for Pepino?

For cultivation in pots, pepino prefers light, well-drained soil, with a neutral or sub-acid pH. I, even with Pepino, use one plus.

In open ground, fertile vegetable soil is ideal. The use of organic soil improvers and organic fertilizers is recommended to promote healthy and vigorous growth of the plant.

Fertilize the Pepino

To fertilize the Pepino plant we can use something organic to give it the right boost! In particular, I recommend a liquid or granular fertilizer for fruit and vegetable plants.

Pepino parasites

Like their relatives tomatoes, eggplants, and tamarillos, pepini are extremely attractive to aphids, whiteflies, and mites. My advice is always to use the defense kit, excellent in these situations 😉

Mebotrix is ​​very effective against red spider mites (also keeping other parasites well under control).