- This is what winter hardiness looks like
- Their cultivation in the field
- Plant the melon pear in a bucket right away
- Winter quarters and winter care
The melon pear comes from regions of the world that are warm all year round. What happens when she gets up close and personal with the local frost? Unfortunately, it can be assumed that this encounter cannot end well for them. Can you still spend the winter outside under certain conditions?
The melon pear does not tolerate cold very well
This is what winter hardiness looks like
Melon pear, also called pear melon or pepino, is not considered hardy. When it was created, nature did not plan for this plant to go on a global conquest at some point.
- Melon pear does not tolerate frost
- Melon pear also does not tolerate temperatures below 10 °C
Notice:
The popular melon pear "Sugar Gold" also has to overwinter, because all varieties of this South American nightshade plant are not hardy.
Their cultivation in the field
In our latitudes, the melon pear can definitely be planted in the garden bed, where it will open many flowers in a sunny location and give us a good harvest in late summer. But since our winters are notoriously chilly, expect a year-long existence in them.
This plant is so sensitive to cold that the usual protective measures are never sufficient for it to survive the winter outside. The melon pear can only grow for several years if it is allowed to overwinter indoors.
Plant the melon pear in a bucket right away
If the melon pear is still in the bed in autumn, it must be carefully dug up and planted in a pot for the winter. The decisive factor is only the outside temperature and not the end of the harvest. Fruits that are not ripe can continue to ripen on the plant in winter quarters.
Against this background, it is better if you plant the melon pear in a bucket right away. In it, it can stand outside in a warm, sunny and sheltered place from about April to October. In autumn, the mobile pot can be easily brought to the winter quarters.
Winter quarters and winter care
A bright, about 5-10 °C cool room is ideal for overwintering the melon pear. For example, a basement with a window or the unheated stairwell. If the available space is tight, you can cut back the melon pear vigorously.
During the winter rest phase, care is reduced to a minimum. The soil must not dry out completely and the plant should be checked regularly for pests. Fertilizers are usually not used or only in very small amounts.