Melon Pepino (Solanum muricatum) is one of our favorite fruits of all time! This eggplant related produces fruit with a cream-colored rind that often has attractive purple stripes, ranging in size from a chicken egg to a giant goose egg. It has melon-like flesh that is sweet and mellow. Let’s get into the topic; How to eat Pepino Melon.
Pepino melon is a type of fruit that looks like it’s the size of a giant’s teardrop. In terms of naming, it technically fits, but it is not actually a melon. It grows throughout South America and is part of the nightshade family, which includes foods like tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, and jalapeno peppers.
The inside of the pumpkin typically consists of edible seeds. It’s easy to prepare a Pepino. Just cut it in half, scoop out the seeds and wash well.
Pepino melon is a colorful fruit, with edible skin that ranges from pale yellow to deep golden, speckled with purple and green. The tissue of this fruit has a light, pleasant scent of vanilla and notes of honey. Amazingly, the flavor is a combination of the taste of cantaloupe and honeydew melon put together.
Growing Pepino Plants
Growing the plant is easy, and there are many types of soap you can use to keep the plant healthy. It thrives in warm climates, but any soil you choose will be fine. More on the topic; How to eat Pepino Melon.
Requirements
- Right climate
- Sunlight
- Soil
Pepino plants are best grown in a temperate climate with a hardiness zone of 8 -11. So, you may want to make sure your Pepino gets enough sun each day. Pepinos require a slightly alkaline soil level of 6.5 – 7.5, similar to other fruits such as blueberries and raspberries.
It will need to be watered on a daily basis until it becomes established. After that, water twice weekly in hot weather and once weekly during the rest of the year. Healthy soil is required for successful Pepino melon production.
Improving with organic mulch, similar to sugar cane, can assist the bush to produce larger and sweeter fruit. Peppino plants are known to be very resilient and can grow in various soil types, like sandy or loamy dirt, clay, or loam. You can trim them to keep them smaller but it’s not necessary and remove broken branches. More on the topic; How to eat Pepino Melon.
Growing Pepino Melon In Ground And In Pots
People who live in colder climates may prefer to grow a plant in the ground. Those who live on the coast or have a balcony or terrace might opt for a pot. Here are some techniques for growing the Pepino melon, whether indoors or outside
Ground
Pepino bushes are 3 feet by 3 feet, which in some cases, you may need to cage them or grow them on a trellis to give them more support. It has been documented that this particular shrub can grow abundantly without being restrained. They will attract various insects and animals with their sweet-smelling fruit, becoming an excellent ground cover plant.
Pots
To protect your Pepino plant, it is important to make sure that you need to provide well-draining soil. Otherwise, the roots might grow too close together and become waterlogged.
Get the greatest soil you can because this is where your plant’s nutrition will come from.
Make sure the pot is the right size for the bush and that there is enough room for the plant to grow. There should be a lot of drainage holes in it. Potted plants can learn to grow in full sunlight by slowly increasing their exposure time.
Leave it out for 2–3 hours in the morning on the first day. Then, on a daily basis, increase the time by 1–2 hours. It shouldn’t take more than 10 days for your Pepino bush to be totally exposed to direct sunlight.
When it’s time for your Pepino plant to handle sunlight, you can move it into a bigger pot and place it outside. It can also be grown indoors year-round if you prefer.
Propagate from Cuttings
You can easily grow new Pepino from cuttings by following a couple of simple steps. First, cut a stem and discard the lower leaves. Place in a pot or bucket and water as needed. Place in soil or use a hydroponic system for more consistent results.
It should be planted in a bright spot that is not directly exposed to sunlight, but out of direct sunlight will also work, if necessary. Plant your new Pepino in moist dirt and water it every day. Roots should start to grow in about a month.
Keep it growing and you could place it in your garden or pot size will be determined when the roots fill the pot. If you’re growing the cuttings in water, put them in a glass jar with water and keep them in a bright, out-of-the-way location. By doing this, you can keep your plants healthy while they are rooted and stem growth is not compromised by any other factors.
What Does Pepino Taste Like?
Pepino melons have a milder, sweeter taste than cantaloupe or honeydew. They have the watery and soft texture of a cucumber that many people enjoy. There are several ways to eat Pepino melon, but we recommend trying the approach in this article first.
Pepino fruits are said to have many health benefits, including a great taste. The fruit can be eaten alone or in combination with other ingredients to sweeten it up a bit. Just make sure that you avoid the tough skin if it is ripe so that you don’t choke on it.
Here are a few different ways to consume Pepino. Scoop out the inside and eat it, cut them up and mix with salad greens, or roast it for 20 minutes for the best squash substitute. When cooking Pepino, if the fruit is not yet ripe, you can cook it like squash by throwing it in the oven or steaming it.
Conclusion
Pepinos are a tender fruit that you can eat at any season of the year because of their flavor and sweetness. This can be either a meal by itself or in many recipes like salads or stir-fries. Either way, it is healthy and relatively simple to prepare.
It’s an easy snack to grab while you’re on the go, just in time for a refreshing afternoon coffee break. Pepinos are a good source of vitamins and antioxidants. They also contain a large number of high-quality nutrients and minerals, including vitamins A, B, C, fiber, and more.
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