Beschrijving
Pepino 'Pepino Gold' (Solanum muricatum), also known as Melon Pear or Apple Melon, is a fun and unusual plant that will give your patio or garden something special. This set of 4 plants, delivered in 9 cm pots and 15 cm high, brings exotic fruit within reach. Originally it comes from the highlands of South America, such as Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, where it has been growing for centuries. It belongs to the nightshade family, like tomatoes and aubergines, and tastes sweet and juicy, a bit like melon. The fruits are pale yellow with purple stripes, oval in shape and perfect for desserts, pies or just as is with some cheese and spices.
This bushy plant grows up to 90 cm tall and grows wide with emerald-green leaves and pretty white-purple, star-shaped flowers with a yellow pistil. It flowers quickly, sometimes as early as 4 months, and from August you can pick the first fruits. The melon pear likes a sunny spot and loose, cool soil with some compost in it - ideal for a pot on your balcony or patio. Water it regularly, especially in summer, and some manure to keep it happy. As with tomatoes, you can pick the leaves a little so that the sun gets good access to the fruit. Prune away extra branches and support the branches with canes if they get heavy with fruit.
The Pepino is not hardy, so you should harvest all fruits before frost. They ripen after to orange-yellow and start smelling like melon - then they are at their tastiest. Keep them cool, and you can enjoy them until February. This plant is easy to grow as an annual in a pot or outdoors, and tying it up helps for larger, riper fruits. Combine it with plants such as bitter melon or kangaroo apple for a colourful effect. A simple, healthy and delicious addition for fruit lovers!
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