The melon pear comes from the nightshade family. Just like the gardener's favorite plant child: the tomato. Just like these, it bears its fruits above the earth, on the numerous tendrils. Does she also save energy by stinging it, which benefits the fruit? Read for yourself.

By cutting out the melon pear saves energy

Not all tendrils bear flowers

From around May, the growth of the melon pear, also known as pear melon or pepino, progresses visibly. While the first flowers are already appearing on strong shoots, side shoots remain without flowers for a long time. However, their growth consumes valuable energy.

In our latitudes, the climate is not reliably warm as in the region of origin of these plants. In order to get its fruit big and ripe here, the pear melon needs more time and, most importantly, all the energy it can get. So that she doesn't waste her energy on the formation of "useless" shoots, pinching should be an integral part of her care.

The ideal time for the Ausgeizen

Whether you put a melon pear outside after wintering or plant a new specimen in the garden bed in May, new shoots will not be long in coming. Now you have to watch carefully to find the right time to max out.

First wait until the first flower buds appear. In this way, you can reliably distinguish between promising shoots and shoots without flowers.

tips

If not all the fruits are ripe by late summer, you can move your harvest to the winter quarters, where the fruits can continue to ripen on the plant away from the fresh air.

This is how you skimp on the melon pear

Most hobby gardeners are already familiar with stinging from tomato plants, which, like the melon pear, also belong to the nightshade family. Similar to the tomato, the melon pear is also pinched.

  • Pinch off thin shoots at the base with your fingers
  • carefully cut off stronger shoots with scissors

tips

You can also cut back long fruit-bearing shoots. As a result, the energy will be concentrated in fewer fruits, making them bigger.

Category:

Vegetable garden