Pepino Melon – Ginseng Fruit – Chinese

Description

Pepino Melon (Ginseng Fruit)

 

Price: 200 Taka / packet

Brand: Somatic Seed 

Origin: China

 

**Seed quantity is not mentioned on the packet but it contains enough seeds for gardening

 

Germination Rate (Approx.): 85%

Physical Purity (Min): 98%

Genetic Purity (Min): 98%

 

Scientific Classification

• Scientific Name: Solanum muricatum
• Family: Solanaceae
• Common Names: Pepino Melon, Pepino Dulce, Melon Pear, Sweet Cucumber

Native Region

• Andes Mountains of present-day Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Chile.

Germination Temperature

Recommended Range: 22–25°C (Ideal)

Acceptable: 20–28°C

Below 18°C germination becomes slow and erratic.

Germination Time

Average: 10–21 days

Typical:

• Fast germination: 7–14 days
• Normal germination: 14–21 days

For Bangladesh:
Expect 12–18 days under ideal conditions.

Plant Height, Span & Seed Depth

Height

• 80–120 cm
• Occasionally 150 cm

Plant Spread

• 90–150 cm

Seed Sowing Depth

• 0.5 cm
• Maximum 1 cm

Plant Spacing

24–36 inches (60–90 cm)

Row Spacing

30–40 inches (75–100 cm)

Trellis Requirement

Not mandatory but strongly recommended.

Benefits:

• Cleaner fruits
• Better air circulation
• Reduced disease
• Easier harvesting

Best support:

• Tomato cage
• Bamboo tripod
• Vertical trellis

Seed to Harvest Time

• From Seed: 120–180 days
• From Cutting: 90–120 days
• Average Bangladesh:: 4–6 months

Seed to Bloom Time

Approximately: 60–100 days

Cuttings: 45–75 days

Pot Size

Ideal Container

Diameter:

• 18–24 inches

Depth:

• 16–18 inches

Volume:

• 40–60 liters

For rooftop gardening: 24-inch drum-type container preferred

Soil Type & pH

Ideal Soil

• Well-drained loamy soil
• Rich in organic matter
• High aeration

Ideal pH: 6.5–7.5

Best: 6.8–7.2

 

Sunlight Requirement

Germination

• Light: Not essential.
• Temperature is more important.

Mature Plant

• Minimum: 6 hours direct sunlight
• Ideal: 8–10 hours
• Bangladesh rooftop: Full sun with slight afternoon protection during May–June.

Water Requirement

Plant Size	Water
Seedling	0.2–0.5 L/day
30 cm plant	1–1.5 L every 2 days
60 cm plant	2–3 L every 2 days
Fruiting plant	3–5 L every 1–2 days

Avoid waterlogging.

Essential Nutrients

Target Nutrient Ratio

Vegetative Stage

• NPK: 4-2-3

Flowering/Fruiting

• NPK: 3-5-8

Organic Sources

Nutrient	Organic Source
Nitrogen	Mustard Cake, Horn Meal, Vermicompost
Phosphorus	Bone Meal
Potassium	Compost
Calcium	Oyster Shell Powder
Magnesium	Epsom Salt
Micronutrients	Trichocompost

Organic Fertilizer Program (24-inch Pot)

At Planting

• Trichocompost = 1 kg
• Vermicompost = 1 kg
• Cow Dung Compost = 2 kg
• Bone Meal = 150 g
• Horn Meal = 100 g
• Neem Cake = 150 g
• Oyster Shell Powder = 100 g

Every 30 Days

• Vermicompost = 500 g
• Cow Dung Compost = 500 g
• Mustard Cake Powder = 50 g
• Neem Cake Powder = 50 g

Every 45 Days

• Bone Meal = 50 g

Every 30 Days

• Epsom Salt = 10 g dissolved in 2 L water

Chemical Fertilizer Schedule

Vegetative Stage

Per plant/month

• Urea = 10 g
• TSP = 10 g
• MOP = 10 g

Flowering

• Urea = 5 g
• TSP = 15 g
• MOP = 20 g

Fruiting

• Urea = 5 g
• TSP = 10 g
• MOP = 25 g

Split into two applications monthly.

Rooftop Potting Mix (Perfect Bangladesh)

Recommended Mix

Ingredient	%
Loamy Soil	30
Coconut Coir Dust	15
Cow Dung Compost	15
Vermicompost	10
Trichocompost	5
Brown River Sand	8
Perlite	5
Coconut Husk	3
Wood Bark	2
Wood Charcoal	2
Cinder/Jhama	3
Oyster Shell Powder	1
Neem Cake Powder	1

Produces:

• Excellent drainage
• High aeration
• Good nutrient retention
• Suitable for Dhaka rooftops

Companion Plants

Good companions:

• Basil
• Marigold
• Garlic
• Onion
• Chives
• Parsley
• Lettuce
• Spinach

Avoid:

• Potato
• Eggplant
• Excess tomato crowding

Fruit Taste

Sweetness Rating: 8.5/10

Flavor resembles:

• Honeydew melon
• Pear
• Cantaloupe
• Mild cucumber

Leaf Taste

Leaves generally not consumed.

Taste: 2/10

Slightly bitter.

Pests

Pest	Chemical	Organic
Aphids	Imidacloprid	Neem Oil
Whitefly	Thiamethoxam	Yellow sticky trap
Spider Mite	Abamectin	Neem oil
Mealybug	Buprofezin	Alcohol swab

 

Diseases

Disease	Chemical	Organic
Powdery Mildew	Sulfur	Baking soda spray
Early Blight	Mancozeb	Trichoderma
Root Rot	Metalaxyl	Trichocompost
Leaf Spot	Copper Oxychloride	Neem extract

 

Harvest Maturity Signs

Harvest when:

✓ Creamy yellow skin develops

✓ Purple stripes become pronounced

✓ Sweet aroma present

✓ Fruit slightly soft

✓ Fruit detaches easily

Monthly Yield for Family of Four

Assuming occasional use as fruit:

Recommended: 4–6 kg/month

Requires: 3–4 productive plants.

Average Yield Per Square Foot

Approximately: 0.8–1.5 kg/sq ft per season

Good management: 2 kg/sq ft

Average Lifespan

Perennial shrub

Productive: 3–5 years

Can survive: 5–8 years

Nutritional Values (100 g)

• Calories: 26–35 kcal
• Water: 90–92%
• Carbohydrate: 6–8 g
• Fiber: 1–2 g
• Vitamin C: Moderate
• Potassium: Good
• Beta-carotene: Moderate

Health Benefits

• Supports hydration
• Rich in antioxidants
• Supports immunity
• Helps digestion
• Low-calorie fruit

Popular Recipes

Bangladeshi

• Pepino Fruit Chaat
• Pepino Mixed Fruit Salad

International

• Pepino Smoothie
• Pepino Salsa

Best Germination Month in Bangladesh

Considering recent climate patterns:

Best:

• October
• November
• February

Acceptable:

• December
• January

Avoid:

• May–July extreme heat

Average Seeds Per Gram

Research comparison suggests: 180–250 seeds per gram

Average: 220 seeds/g

Best Propagation Method

Stem Cuttings

• Success: 90–95%
• Rooting: 7–21 days
• Preferred worldwide.

Storage

Fruit

Room Temperature: 5–10 days

Refrigerator: 3–4 weeks

Leaves

Not commonly stored or consumed.

Specialties

• Fruits taste like melon and pear combined.
• Botanically related to tomato and potato.
• Can fruit for several years.

Quotes

• “A ripe Pepino is nature’s blend of pear sweetness and melon fragrance.”
• “Among rooftop fruits, Pepino rewards patience with golden striped treasures.”

Few Lesser-Known Facts

• Pepino is technically a berry.
• Many commercial plants are propagated only by cuttings.
• Fruit can develop without pollination but yields improve with pollination.

Native Region

Western South America (Andean region).

Origin Story

Pepino was domesticated by pre-Columbian Andean civilizations thousands of years ago before European contact. It was cultivated extensively in Peru and Ecuador long before tomatoes became globally popular.

Reference Sources

• PlotMyGarden Pepino Guide
• Growables Pepino Information
• Greg App Pepino Lifecycle Guide
• 123Seeds Pepino Cultivation Data
• Gardenish Solanum muricatum Encyclopedia
• Seeds and Plants Growing Pepino Melon
• Edible Plant Database Solanum muricatum
• AmongSeeds Pepino Seed Guide
• Botanikks Solanum muricatum Propagation Guide

Disclaimer:

 The germination percentage given above is mentioned in the packet by that particular brand. We are not responsible if the results differ from the information stated.

 In general, successful germination of seeds depends on lot of variables like, germination temperature, planting media, present weather condition of the area where you are planning to grow that particular item, soil pH, watering, sunlight, process and validity. So before complaining about the quality of seeds of any particular brand, kindly try all possible methods maintaining all conditions.

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