Pepino Melon - Solanum muricatum - Exotic touch for the garden - Fresh Seeds

Pepino melon (Solanum muricatum) is an exotic plant valued for its creamy yellow fruits with delicate purple streaks. It forms a well branched plant with shoots reaching about 80 cm tall. The real highlight is the fruit, juicy, sweet, and fragrant, with a flavour often compared to a mix of melon and pear. It is refreshing and aromatic, ideal for eating fresh and also a distinctive addition to salads, desserts, smoothies, and preserves. Although pepino is a perennial, it is commonly grown as an annual with excellent results.

Sowing depth

Sow the seeds about 0.5 cm deep. This shallow sowing helps support quick germination and healthy early growth.

When to sow under cover

Sow under cover in March. This gives the plants time to develop well before planting out, and good warmth and light at this stage supports strong fruiting later in the season.

Planting out

Plant out in the second half of May, once the risk of frost has fully passed. Warm, sunny days help the plant settle in quickly and grow vigorously.

Spacing

Allow 60-70 cm between rows and about 50 cm between plants. This provides enough room for growth and good airflow, which helps reduce disease risk and supports better fruit ripening.

Harvest period

Harvest ripe fruits from September to October. They are ready when the skin turns a rich yellow and the flesh feels slightly soft. At this stage, pepino reaches its best flavour and aroma, becoming sweet, juicy, and pleasantly refreshing.

Growing

Pepino grows best in a warm, sunny position sheltered from wind. Choose fertile, free-draining soil kept moderately moist. Regular watering is important, especially during flowering and fruit set, to achieve a good crop. During active growth, light feeding helps provide the nutrients needed for well developed, juicy fruit.

Why buy from GardenSeedsMarket

At GardenSeedsMarket, every batch of pepino seeds is carefully selected and tested to ensure strong quality and reliable germination. Orders are prepared quickly and shipped securely so seeds arrive fresh and in excellent condition. The GardenSeedsMarket team is also happy to help with plant selection and practical growing advice, giving you confidence and satisfaction from your own harvest.

Pack contents

The pack contains about 10 pepino seeds. The packaging includes key growing guidance and a sow-by date.