Melon Pear: Tips from Growing to Harvesting

Have you ever eaten a melon pear? You should do that! And if you like it just as much, then here are tips from growing to harvesting the melon pear.

The extremely tasty melon pears (also known as pear melons), known in their South American homeland under the name Pepino, have recently attracted more and more attention in our gardens. The small melon pears got their Germanized name because of their appearance. While pepinos are the size (up to about 20 centimetres) and base color of a pear, their purple stripes and shape are far more like a melon.

The purple-white blossom of the Pepinos is fascinating in the summer months. Especially since it turns much more purple in cooler temperatures, while its white component increases significantly in heat. At the same time, the yellow fruit forms inside the flower, creating a great contrast to the color of the flower.

Great looks and great taste

They also became popular with us because of their sweet and fruity taste, which is particularly popular with children.

Tip:
Melon fruits are ideal for garnishing cakes or desserts. However, you can also use them to decorate salads.

Melon Pear: Tips from Growing to Harvesting

Cultivation of the melon pear

You can now buy the melon pears, which grow up to 1 meter high, as ready-to-plant sticks for the balcony, terrace or garden bed in specialist shops.

» Order here & check availability

Of course you can also sow the seeds (also available from the inside of the fruit) on a windowsill. Ideally, you should use soil that is as sandy as possible, such as cactus soil.

Tip:
However, it is also perfectly sufficient if you stick a slightly larger cutting (cut off a shoot that is approx. 10 centimeters long in autumn) in moist sand or place in a glass of water and when the fine roots sprout, transplant into a sandy potting soil. (Link tip: Propagating plants - 4 techniques)

Until next spring develops fromThis cutting then creates a sturdy plant that you can then use outdoors. Here you should then decide on a wind-protected, very sunny location.

Care of the melon pear

» watering/fertilizing:

Pepinos need enough water - but you should strictly avoid waterlogging. In addition, they usually do not need to be fertilized.

» Thin out plants:

Melon pears, like tomatoes, belong to the nightshade family, which is why you have to pinch out the plants for a good harvest (link tip: thin out tomatoes for plenty of fruit).

» Fight pests:

From time to time, melon pears are also visited by pests, such as flies, lice or a fungal infestation. Pest control should then be carried out as with tomatoes. However, a thorough shower can sometimes work wonders against pest infestation, especially with potted plants.

» Hibernate:

In the icy winter months, the perennial melon pear has to overwinter in a frost-free room.

Tip:
Take Pepions from the field, plant them in pots and put them in a conservatory, a glass house or a light-flooded basement, for example.

Of course, fruits that have not yet been harvested continue to ripen on the stick. You can also pick them off the plant and let them ripen in a bowl.

Harvest melon pears

Pepinos ripen in late summer and fall. You can tell when they are ripe by the fact that the color of the fruit changes from light green to yellow, the fruit yields to gentle pressure and also smells wonderful.