Pepino Melon farm at White House estate in Nakuru. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Pepino melon (Solanum maritacum) is a perennial shrub grown mainly for its juicy and aromatic fruits. The plant bears fruits that are bright green or yellow-green with some red or purple variegation. The flesh is golden when ripe with a narrow seed cavity.

Pepino melon fruit is edible, sweet and juicy. Dedan Maina, a farmer from Molo, Nakuru county, raises seedlings of various trees and fruits like tree tomatoes, Pepino melons, and pawpaw and sells them to other farmers.

“For Pepino, I get cuttings from the plants that I have already grown,” says Maina.

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He says it takes a month to prepare pepino melon seedlings for the market, which he sells at Sh100 each.

According to Maina, farmers are starting to acquaint themselves with pepino melon farming because of the fruit’s health benefits. However, birds are a  major threat to the fruits.

Ecological requirements

The plant requires well-drained deep soil with an optimum pH of 6.5 to 7.5. It does not tolerate saline soils. It is a cool season crop and does best in regions that receive an annual rainfall of between 800 and 1,200mm.



“For optimal performance, a temperature range of 12 to 24 degrees celcius is suitable. Production is affected by relatively high temperatures,” says Maina.

Varieties of pepino melon grown in Kenya are golden, purple and kiwi pepino. Others include Golden Nugget, Sweet Treat, Consuelo and Ambrosia.

Soil preparation

Prepare the soil by clearing it of weeds and debris. Conduct soil testing to determine nutrient levels and pH. Amend the soil with organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, to improve fertility and water-holding capacity.

Propagation



Propagation is by seeds or cuttings. The crop is however easily and often propagated from cuttings.

The cutting are planted at a spacing of three by three feet. Cuttings should be soaked overnight in order to help increase uniformity in rooting as well as break dormancy. A mature plant can attain a height of 1.5 metres.

“It is grown in a manner similar to its relatives such as the tomato, though it grows naturally upright by habit and can thus be cultivated as a free-standing bush, though it is sometimes pruned on trellises,” says Maina.

Pepino has a fast growth rate and bears fruit within four to six months after planting. It is a perennial but is usually cultivated as an annual.

Pests and diseases

Common pests are aphids, whiteflies, thrips, spider mites, fruit flies and nematodes.

Diseases include powdery mildew, bacterial wilt, leaf spot, cucumber mosaic virus and tomato spotted wilt virus. To manage pests and diseases, ensure you use clean planting material, use resistant varieties and remove and destroy infected plants and plant debris to prevent the spread of diseases.

“Do proper irrigation and fertilisation, practice crop rotation and in severe cases, do chemical control,” says Maina.

Harvesting and storage

Fruits mature within 30 to 80 days. They however do not mature at the same time. Fruits should be picked only when completely mature in order to ensure the highest flavour and sugar content. Ripe flesh of the fruit is pale yellow-orange. Fruits should be handled carefully because they bruise easily. They can be stored at room temperature for four to six days or refrigerated for several weeks.

Market and yield

The main market for pepino melon in Kenya is domestic. Maina does local markets and direct sales to consumers in Nakuru and Nairobi cities. The prices of pepino melon in Kenya vary depending on the time of year, the quality of the fruit, and market. Supermarket chains and grocery stores are an important distribution channel for reaching urban consumers.

“You can calculate your total revenues assuming a yield of 12 tonnes per acre and a market price of Sh50 per kilo,” Maina says.