The melon pear is primarily cultivated for its fruit. But even a pretty flower is always welcome to the hobby gardener. A fruit plant can also be useful and decorative at the same time. Can the melon pear, also known as pepino, do this?

The blossom of the melon pear is very similar to the blossom of the potato

Long flowering period with new flowers all the time

From May, as soon as there is no frost outside, the growing season of the melon pear begins. Already in June she manages to show us her first flowers. However, it should not stop there. It regularly opens new buds well into October. So during the summer it is a normal sight for a plant to have both flowers and fruit hanging from it.

Resemblance to the potato flower

Anyone who looks at a melon pear blossom will not be able to avoid recognizing its great resemblance to the potato blossom. This is not surprising either, as both plant species come from the nightshade family.

  • Several stalked flowers appear at the tip of the shoot
  • Flowers are about 2-3 cm in diameter
  • the five petals are funnel-shaped
  • the yellow stamens together form a tube
  • this protrudes in contrast from the center of the flower

An interesting color change

The flowers of different Pepino varieties differ in color from each other. Mostly, however, they are striped purple and white or red-violet. A special feature is their color play depending on the temperature. If it is colder than 20 °C, they tend to be white. On the other hand, if it is warmer than 27 °C, they appear in a strong purple-blue.

Pollination succeeds smoothly

The melon pear is one of the self-pollinating plants, so there is no need to worry about a lack of pollination of the flowers. In addition, the flowers are cross-pollinated by insects.

tips

Blossomless shoots should be used up as soon as possible. The energy that would otherwise be used for their growth can benefit flowering shoots.

From the flower to the fruit

A rich bloom should result in a rich harvest to fulfill the goal of cultivation. But when does the melon pear bear fruit? Here is the answer:

  • Fruit setting occurs only in warm phases
  • it must be at least 18 °C during the day and at night
  • and several days in a row
  • ripe fruits are available after about 80 to 105 days

Category:

Vegetable garden