Pepino

COMMON NAME: Pepino

BOTANICAL NAME: Solanum muricatum

HABIT: The plant is best described as a sprawling ground cover. With its lime green leaves and small purple flowers it moves around garden beds and spills neatly over edging.

HEIGHT: Can get to about 30cm before they fall over themselves and grow out laterally.

WIDTH: The plant can sprawl around to about 50cm.

CLIMATE INFO: It will grow in a variety of climates, although it prefers warmth. It will withstand short periods around 0°C if cut right back after fruiting and covered during frosts.

GARDEN USES: A good small sprawling shrub for areas of the garden that aren't really utilised.

CULINARY USES: They taste like rockmelon/honeydew melon with a hint of cucumber flavour. They can be used in deserts or in savoury dishes. They make useful additions to fruit salads and can be turned into sweet sauces and chutneys. Try wrapping slices in prosciutto, mixing cubes with yoghurt or tossing in with lemon juice in savoury salads.

CONTAINER TYPE: 55mm Nursery Tube. (Tube diagonal width is 55mm, Tube height is 85mm).

CURRENT PLANT HEIGHT: Approximately 100mm to 150mm.

                       (Seasonal pruning and/or packaging may occasionally reduce height)

PROPAGATION TYPE: Cutting grown.