Pepino, melon pear, melon tree, pear melon – all these names were given to the South American shrub for a reason. Pepino fruits are very similar in shape to a pear, and the taste is very reminiscent of a sweet melon. Ripe melon pear fruits quench your thirst and perfectly refresh. Pepino can be eaten as a separate fruit, or you can add it to all kinds of salads, jams, side dishes, and even first courses. It can also be frozen, dried and canned. Fresh fruit without processing can be stored for about 1,5-2,5 months at a temperature of 5 degrees. The shelf life depends solely on the variety.
Botanical description
Relatives of pepino by the genus Solanaceae – potatoes, eggplant, pepper, tomato. It grows at an altitude of up to 3 thousand meters above sea level. Fruit bushes are usually branched and reach 1,5 meters. The diameter of the stems is approximately 6-7 millimeters. Leaves are arranged alternately on them. The leaves can also be different: lobed or simple. It depends on the type of melon tree. The color of the leaves can also be either dark green or light green. At low temperatures or during severe drought, they can fall off.
The root system of pepino is not very deep, it can be called compact. Just like tomatoes, pepino can form aerial roots. This is due to high humidity. At the same time, the plant perfectly tolerates transplanting and rooting.
The flowers of the plant are collected in inflorescences, up to 20 units in each. In most cases, they have a pronounced aroma and look very similar to potato flowers. Fruits, from a botanical point of view, are considered berries. Despite the fact that pepino is related to vegetables, it is usually referred to as a fruit due to its sweet taste and aroma. If this plant is grown in the shade or in any other unfavorable conditions for it, the taste will be similar to the taste of cucumber. By the way, this effect is also possible if the fruits are unripe.
In total, pepino has 25 varieties, including the popular Valencia and Ricosta. They differ in size, shape and color. One variety can grow 17 centimeters long and have a diameter of 12 centimeters. Another may be the size of a cherry tomato. Often, the fruits are covered with a transparent and fairly strong skin, through which juicy yellow flesh is visible. The skin can have a bitter taste, so the melon tree should be peeled before use.
The seeds of the plant are very similar to those of eggplant and tomato, but are slightly smaller and lighter in weight. Some varieties have a lot of seeds, and in some they are completely absent.
Pepino is quite popular and is grown for export to Chile, New Zealand and Australia. The popularity of Pepino increased due to the fact that at the end of the 20th century they began to grow promising plant varieties in greenhouses. The yield of these varieties exceeds the yield of other plants by 2-3 times. Due to the fact that tender fruits are quite sensitive to transportation, the development of exports is slowing down. Each fruit must be carefully wrapped so as not to damage it.
Useful Properties
It is worth noting that pepino is not only a delicious fruit, but also very healthy. It contains a lot of ascorbic acid, iron, carotene, vitamins of groups B and PP. It is also rich in healthy sugar, which is well absorbed by the body. All this gives the right to attribute pepino to dietary products. In our time, interest in pepino is reviving, not so long ago, special varieties Ramses and Consuelo adapted to Russian conditions were created.
Cultivation of pepino
It seems that such a useful vegetable crop must be present in every gardener and summer resident. But for some reason, a melon tree in vegetable gardens and gardens is quite rare. Why so? Can it be grown at home?
Firstly, pepino is a late-ripening plant, 3-5 months pass from the first shoots to fruit picking. Secondly, the acceptable temperature for the normal cultivation of pepino is from 18 to 25 degrees Celsius. If the temperature is higher, the fruits simply will not tie. And yet, some gardeners manage to get a good harvest, for this they use temporary shelters. How to grow pepino?
Even though the melon pear is a perennial plant, it still needs to be planted annually. The same thing happens with the usual tomatoes and peppers. To see seedlings in May, the seeds of the plant are sown in November or December. Any plastic containers with small lids are great for sprouting. The bottom of the container is covered with a napkin or cotton pad, moistened and then the seeds are laid out. Germination should occur at a temperature of 28 degrees. After 1-2 weeks, roots appear in almost half of the seeds. During this period, the container must be sent under the lamp until the cotyledons appear. Once a day, you need to ventilate the seedlings, for this you need to lift the lid for 10-20 seconds. You can also add water if necessary. At first, seedlings need to be illuminated for 24 hours. After a month, the time can be reduced to 14 hours. In March, the illumination stops. It happens that the peel from the seeds sticks to the cotyledons, which does not allow them to turn around. In this case, the seedlings need to be sprayed with water several times a day. In separate pots, pepino is placed in the phase of 2-3 leaves, while the seedlings need to be deepened to the cotyledons.
pepino care
Proper care of the plant will allow you to grow a healthy bush. Fertilize pepino with manure and mineral fertilizers. 7 days after planting, foliar top dressing should be carried out, which is repeated every 10 days. To reduce the number of waterings, preserve the substrate from drying out and weeds, the soil can be mulched with rotted sawdust. During the period of fruit ripening, the melon tree should be watered more often, but strong waterlogging should not be allowed. Very useful for pepino ventilation of greenhouses. This will contribute to better pollination and protect it from various diseases.