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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: lottie lou on January 10, 2009, 23:19:13

Title: pepino
Post by: lottie lou on January 10, 2009, 23:19:13
Has anyone tried to grow pepino (melon pear).  T & M have them in their catalogue and I think I once ate one when I was travelling and liked it.

Wondered if it grew okay in our climes.
Title: Re: pepino
Post by: Baccy Man on January 11, 2009, 07:27:15
I grow them, they produce better in a greenhouse or poly but will grow outside too if it doesn't rain constantly through the summer.
Title: Re: pepino
Post by: manicscousers on January 11, 2009, 08:42:04
got one last year, from lidl, it grew really well, produced fruit but, as our weather from july on, sucked, the fruit wasn't ripened, I'm putting it under cover this year, just watch, it'll be scorching now  ;D
Title: Re: pepino
Post by: realfood on January 11, 2009, 20:44:19
Lottie Lou, you do not say where you are, but from my experience in growing pepinos in the North, protection will increase your chances in getting them to fruit.
Title: Re: pepino
Post by: Lauren S on January 11, 2009, 21:25:42
And what do they taste like? More like a melon or more like a pear?
Title: Re: pepino
Post by: nilly71 on January 12, 2009, 09:02:54
Quote from: Lauren S on January 11, 2009, 21:25:42
And what do they taste like? More like a melon or more like a pear?

I was tempted too, and would like to know the answer.

Neil
Title: Re: pepino
Post by: Baccy Man on January 12, 2009, 10:29:15
They taste like a cross between cantaloupe & honeydew melons.
If you grow them in pots you can bring them into the house through the winter where they will continue to produce flowers/fruit for a while.
Title: Re: pepino
Post by: realfood on January 12, 2009, 18:51:46
I was forced to bring my potted pepinos, grown from seeds, indoors 2 years ago to ripen the fruit. You can see the photos on my website below at http://www.growyourown.info/page145a.html