How to Grow Pepino Dulce UK

By the SoilCommander Editorial Team, under the guidance of Nitin Sharma, Co-Founder · · How we check our facts

On this page
  1. Pepino Dulce (Solanum muricatum)
  2. When to Plant Pepino Dulce in the UK
  3. Quick Facts
  4. At a Glance
  5. Soil & Growing Conditions
  6. Growth Stages
  7. Harvest & Storage
  8. Diseases
  9. Pests
  10. Pepino Dulce Photo Gallery
  11. Plan your Pepino Dulce planting
  12. Growing Pepino Dulce in another region
  13. References
  14. Frequently Asked Questions

In the UK, pepino dulce goes in the ground early February to late March.

Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: sowing early February, and that same window applies across all 4 regions covered here.

The short answer

Plant
Early February to late March
Site
soil pH 6.5–7.5
Biggest risk
Phytophthora blight

Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural sources — see References.

Pepino Dulce (Solanum muricatum)

Pepino dulce flowers and fruit on the plant — “Starr-091020-8375-Solanum muricatum-flowers and fruit-Kula Experiment Station-Maui (24868470622)” by Forest and Kim Starr is licensed under CC BY 3.0 us.

3 sources cited · Verified

When to Plant Pepino Dulce in the UK

When to plant pepino dulce in the UK: in Southern England, sow early February to late March. Find your area in the table below.

Region Sow
Southern England early February to late March
Midlands early February to late March
Northern England early February to late March
Scotland early February to late March
Southern England - detail & sources

CRFG's frost-relative rule (plant out after frost danger passes, February-April in California) is applied as one UK-wide indoor propagation window across all four sub-regions -- this frost-tender crop is raised under cover before ever going outside.

Midlands - detail & sources

CRFG's frost-relative rule (plant out after frost danger passes, February-April in California) is applied as one UK-wide indoor propagation window across all four sub-regions -- this frost-tender crop is raised under cover before ever going outside.

Northern England - detail & sources

CRFG's frost-relative rule (plant out after frost danger passes, February-April in California) is applied as one UK-wide indoor propagation window across all four sub-regions -- this frost-tender crop is raised under cover before ever going outside.

Scotland - detail & sources

CRFG's frost-relative rule (plant out after frost danger passes, February-April in California) is applied as one UK-wide indoor propagation window across all four sub-regions -- this frost-tender crop is raised under cover before ever going outside.

A page from the UK Vegetable Garden Planner PDF: the crop rotation planner, with a planning grid and four-bed rotation tips

Plan your pepino dulce — and the rest of the plot

This page covers pepino dulce. For every crop's sowing months on one chart, use the free UK vegetable planting calendar, and browse the UK vegetable growing guides for what else to grow alongside it. When you want the whole season on paper, the UK Vegetable Garden Planner is a printable PDF:

  • Twelve month-by-month sowing and harvest spreads
  • Raised bed, allotment and container layout pages for your own plot
  • A four-year crop rotation planner
  • Seed inventory, sowing log and harvest tracker
See inside the UK Vegetable Garden Planner →

Instant PDF download · reprint every season

Quick Facts

Pepino dulce flowers and fruit on the plant
Pepino dulce flowers and fruit on the plant. Photo: “Starr-091020-8375-Solanum muricatum-flowers and fruit-Kula Experiment Station-Maui (24868470622)” by Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 us.
Factor Value
Soil pH 6.5 - 7.5
Minimum survivable temp -2°C
Soil texture Loam, fertile and well-draining (RHS; CRFG)
Drainage Moist but well-drained; shallow roots are sensitive to both drought and waterlogging (RHS; CRFG)
Lifecycle Tender perennial shrub (RHS; CRFG)
Edible parts fruit

At a Glance

The overall growth habit of a pepino dulce plant
The overall growth habit of a pepino dulce plant. Photo: “Starr-091020-8374-Solanum muricatum-habit-Kula Experiment Station-Maui (24868468492)” by Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 us.
Solanum muricatum Pepino Dulce Phytophthora blight Alternaria leaf blight Honey fungus Bacterial spot (Solanac… Glasshouse red spider m… Fruit flies Leaf miners Glasshouse whitefly Colorado potato beetle Aphids Cutworms Flea beetles Hornworms DISEASES PESTS

Soil & Growing Conditions

A pepino dulce plant grown in a container against a wall
A pepino dulce plant grown in a container against a wall. Photo: “Solanum muricatum R.H. (7)” by Rob Hille, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Soil pH range

6.5 7.5

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

A purple and white pepino dulce flower
A purple and white pepino dulce flower. Photo: “Solanum muricatum R.H. (2)” by Rob Hille, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Stage BBCH Notes
Propagation and establishment 0 Usually propagated from 3-5in stem cuttings with rooting hormone under mist with bottom heat, rather than seed (CRFG). Plant out after frost danger passes, February to April.
Vegetative growth 3 Grow in full sun in a sheltered spot, ideally against a south-facing wall; space 2-3ft apart. Shallow roots need consistent moisture -- avoid both drought and waterlogging (CRFG).
Flowering and fruit set 6 Fruit production needs night temperatures above 65°F/18°C (CRFG). Feed with a high-potassium tomato-type fertiliser for maximum crop (RHS).
Harvest 8 Harvest only fully mature fruit, once ground colour turns yellow to light orange (CRFG); ripe fruit bruises easily.

Harvest & Storage

Pepino dulce plant with multiple fruit forming
Pepino dulce plant with multiple fruit forming. Photo: “Starr-091020-8378-Solanum muricatum-fruiting habit-Kula Experiment Station-Maui (24359607403)” by Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 us.

When to pick: Pick only once fully mature -- ground colour turns yellow to light orange -- for the best flavour and sugar content (CRFG). Fruit bruises easily; stores 3-4 weeks at 38°F/3°C under high humidity (CRFG).

Diseases

Phytophthora blight
low

Phytophthora spp.

CRFG names this disease directly, shared with tomato and other Solanaceae.

Alternaria leaf blight
low

Alternaria dauci

CRFG names this disease directly, shared with tomato and other Solanaceae.

Honey fungus
low

Armillaria spp.

RHS notes honey fungus rarely affects this crop.

Bacterial spot (Solanaceae)
moderate

CRFG names bacterial spot as a risk, noting pepino is managed much like tomato for pests and diseases.

Pests

Two-spotted red spider mite with silk threads, magnified — Gilles San Martin, CC BY-SA 2.0
Gilles San Martin, CC BY-SA 2.0
Glasshouse red spider mite (two-spotted spider mite)
low

Tetranychus urticae

Named directly by RHS or CRFG for this crop.

Fruit flies
low

Tephritidae (various spp.)

Named directly by RHS or CRFG for this crop.

Leaf miners
low

Agromyzidae

Named directly by RHS or CRFG for this crop.

Glasshouse whitefly adult on a leaf — Sanja565658, CC BY-SA 3.0
Sanja565658, CC BY-SA 3.0
Glasshouse whitefly
low

Trialeurodes vaporariorum

Named directly by RHS or CRFG for this crop.

Colorado potato beetle
low

Leptinotarsa decemlineata

Named directly by RHS or CRFG for this crop.

low

Aphididae (various spp.)

Named directly by RHS or CRFG for this crop.

Cutworms
low

Noctuidae

Named directly by RHS or CRFG for this crop.

Flea beetles
low

Chrysomelidae: Alticini (various spp.)

Named directly by RHS or CRFG for this crop.

Hornworms
low

Manduca spp.

Named directly by RHS or CRFG for this crop.

Plan your Pepino Dulce planting

When to sow and plant Pepino Dulce depends on your own frost dates. Check the UK vegetable planting calendar. To work out where it fits in your beds, sketch your plot in the free Garden Layout Planner.

Growing Pepino Dulce in another region

Sowing dates, frost timing and local advice differ by country. Use the guide for where you garden.

References

  1. Native to temperate Andean regions of Colombia, Peru and Chile (not found wild -- exact origin unclear). Warm, frost-free climate; survives brief freezes at 27-28°F but may lose leaves; fruit production needs night temperatures above 65°F. Soil pH 6.5-7.5, fertile, well-draining, neutral; less salt-tolerant than tomato; mulch suppresses weeds. Sunny or semi-shaded, frost-protected, wind-sheltered site; south-facing walls/patios ideal. Space 2-3ft apart. Shallow roots make it sensitive to moisture stress; microjet irrigation preferred over drip; overhead sprinkling may help pollination. Propagate from 3-5in stem cuttings with rooting hormone, mist and bottom heat; plant out after frost danger (Feb-April). Pests/diseases similar to tomato: bacterial spot, anthracnose, Alternaria and Phytophthora blights, spider mites, cutworms, hornworms, leaf miners, flea beetles, Colorado potato beetles, fruit flies. Harvest only fully mature fruit (ground colour yellow to light orange) for best flavour; bruises easily, stores 3-4 weeks at 38°F/high humidity.

  2. PFAF entry for Solanum muricatum. Fetched and parsed directly for the USDA hardiness rating.

  3. Loam, moist but well-drained, neutral pH. Full sun, any aspect, sheltered. Hardiness H2 (1-5°C min, cannot survive freezing). Height/spread 0.5-1m, 2-5 years to maturity. Propagate by seed. Egg-shaped fruit, smooth creamy-yellow skin with purple stripes. Feed with high-potassium (tomato) fertiliser for maximum crop. Pests: aphids, mealybugs, glasshouse whitefly, glasshouse red spider mite. Diseases: honey fungus (rarely), tomato leaf mould, tomato viruses. Family Solanaceae.

3 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I sow pepino dulce in the UK?

In Southern England, from early February. In Scotland, wait until early February. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.

When do I sow pepino dulce?

Sow early February to late March.

What soil pH does pepino dulce need?

A pH of about 6.5–7.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.

What problems affect pepino dulce?

Our data links 4 diseases and 9 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.

Plan next season before the problems start

Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.

Get the UK Garden Planner →

Instant PDF download · Written for UK growing conditions

SoilCommander Editorial Team — under the guidance of Nitin Sharma, Co-Founder

Every growing guide is checked against RHS, USDA Cooperative Extension, and other named horticultural authorities before publishing. How we check our facts.

How this guide is put together

The growing data on this page — sowing windows, pests, diseases, soil and site requirements — comes from named horticultural sources, listed in References below, checked against RHS and Met Office guidance. An automated pipeline assembles that verified data into the page you're reading: it selects which facts to lead with and builds the surrounding prose and layout. It does not invent a date, a source or a number — where a verified value for a field isn't available, the page leaves it out rather than guessing. A person reviews and publishes each page; nothing goes live unverified.

Vegetable Growing Guides UK

Crops With the Same Problems

Related Problem Guides

Last verified 2026-09-03

Plan Pepino Dulce by month

The months this guide gives for sowing or planting, each with the full list of jobs for that month in the UK:

More from the same group (the potato & tomato family):

Relevant next steps

Where To Go From Here

Take this crop from reading into a written plan for your own beds.

UK garden plannerTurn this crop guide into sowing dates, bed layouts and a harvest record. All growing guidesBrowse every crop we cover for your region, A to Z. Planting CalendarSee how this crop fits alongside everything else you are growing.

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