How to Grow Pepinos in a Pot

The pepino (Solanum muricatum), also known as pepino dulce, is a small, herbaceous shrub that produces small fruit that tastes similar to cantaloupe. Because pepino bushes grow to only about 3 feet high, you can grow them in pots if you meet the correct growing conditions. Growing pepinos is similar to growing tomatoes. Their purple and white fruit takes nine to 12 months to grow, making them ideal for anywhere that doesn't receive frost, even though the plant itself is hardy down to the upper 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Manure
Soil
Pot
Pepino cutting
Mulch
5-10-10 NPK granular fertilizer

Instructions

- 1
  Mix well-rotted manure with fertile and free-draining soil in a pot a few weeks before planting your pepino. Pepinos prefer soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Pepinos do not handle salinity as well as tomato plants.
- 2
  Plant your pepino cutting in the pot. Although you can grow pepinos from seeds, they generally do better when you start with a cutting.
- 3
  Place the pot in a place where it will receive full sunlight. Shelter the pot so it's not damaged by wind. For best results, place the pot near a south-facing wall or on your patio. Move your pot inside if there is even a remote danger of frost.
- 4
  Add a small amount of mulch to the soil to prevent the growth of weeds in the pot.
- 5
  Water your pepino a few times a week, but do not allow the soil to get too damp. Pepinos have shallow roots and do not do well in soaked soil.
- 6
  Add a 5-10-10 NPK granular fertilizer once in the spring, following the instructions on the product's label.

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