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Solanum muricatum - Aiton.

Pepino

Author	Aiton.	Botanical references	200
Family	Solanaceae	Genus	Solanum
Synonyms	Solanum guatamalense - Hort.
Known Hazards	Although no specific mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, it belongs to a genus where many if not all the members have poisonous leaves and sometimes also the unripe fruits.
Range	S. America - Chile, Peru.
Habitat	Not known
Edibility Rating	4 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	0 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen Shrub growing to 1m by 1m.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit.

Fruit - raw. A juicy, sweet aromatic and very agreeable flavour[1, 46, 61], somewhat like a honeydew melon[183]. The skin of some varieties has a disagreeable flavour[196]. The fruit contains 35mg vitamin C per 100g, 7% carbohydrates and 92% water[196]. The fruit should be harvested just before it is fully ripe and will store for several weeks at room temperature[196]. The fruit is about 10cm long and 6cm wide[200].

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Succeeds in most well-drained soils in a sunny position[1, 196]. If the soil is too fertile fruit production will suffer due to excess vegetative growth[196]. Requires a pH above 6 in order to avoid disorders such as manganese toxicity or iron deficiency[196]. Frequently cultivated for its edible fruit in S. America, there are some named varieties[183, 196]. Yields of 40 - 60 tonnes per hectare have been achieved[196]. Plants are not very hardy in Britain, being cut to the ground by fairly light frosts. Seedlings show no resistance to frost, established plants are cut back at -3°c[196]. In a warm position and given a good mulch however, the roots can survive the winter and regrow from the base in the spring. Cuttings are exceedingly easy and these can be overwintered in a greenhouse to provide fresh plants for the following year[K]. Plants do not appear to have a sensitivity to day-length[196]. Plants can set fruit parthenocarpically (without fertilization or seed being formed) but self-fertilization or insect fertilization greatly encourages fruiting[196]. High temperatures, particularly above 30°c, at flowering time can cause the flowers to abort[196].

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a warm greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Give the plants some protection from the cold for at least their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Very easy. Overwinter in a greenhouse and plant out after the last expected frosts.

Cultivars

'Lima'

'Otavalo'

'Quito'

Links

This plant is also mentioned in the following PFAF articles: Conservatory Plants.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[196] Popenoe. H. et al Lost Crops of the Incas National Academy Press 1990 ISBN 0-309-04264-X
An excellent book. Very readable, with lots of information and good pictures of some lesser known food plants of S. America.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Readers Comments

Plants for a Future does not verify the accuracy of reader comments, use at your own risk. In particular Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. You should always consult a professional before using plants medicinally.

Solanum muricatum

Malcolm Revis Fri Sep 1 2006

When is the fruit ready to be picked? About October? And are there any indications eg colour to show a fruit is ready to be picked?

Solanum muricatum

Jay Mynott Sun Apr 12 2009

I have just planted 3 pepino in my greenhouse. They are sturdy but only about 4 inches tall. My soil is on the acid side and keeping the plants well watered is not a problem. I am hoping to harvest fruits later on the year. Am I being too optomistic? What amount does one hope to harvest from one plant? Thanks for your help. In anticipation Jay

Solanum muricatum

Louis Tue Sep 8 2009

Can you please tell me if information is avalable about this fruit if it is alkaline or acidic to the body? I have many of these plants in the garden and eat them regularly. Thanks Louis

Solanum muricatum

Raffi Sun Oct 11 2009

Gardenology.org - Garden wiki & Plant encyclopedia Solanum muricatum article

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