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__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
| name = ''Solanum muricatum''
| name = ''Solanum muricatum''
'''Adaptation''': The pepino dulce is a fairly hardy plant that grows at altitudes ranging from near sea level to 10,000 ft. in its native regions. However it does best in a warm, relatively frost-free climate. The plant will survive a low temperature of 27 to 28° F if the freeze is not prolonged, but may loose many of its leaves. It can be grown in many parts of central and southern California, although it does best in locations away from the coast and is not well suited for hot, interior gardens. Pepino dulce has been grown and has fruited in the milder areas of northern California (Sunset Climate Zones 16 and 17). The plant is small enough to be grown satisfactorily in a container.
'''Adaptation''': The pepino dulce is a fairly hardy plant that grows at altitudes ranging from near sea level to 10,000 ft. in its native regions. However it does best in a warm, relatively frost-free climate. The plant will survive a low temperature of 27 to 28° F if the freeze is not prolonged, but may loose many of its leaves. It can be grown in many parts of central and southern California, although it does best in locations away from the coast and is not well suited for hot, interior gardens. Pepino dulce has been grown and has fruited in the milder areas of northern California (Sunset Climate Zones 16 and 17). The plant is small enough to be grown satisfactorily in a container.
:''More information about this species can be found on the [[Solanum|genus page]].''
{{Inc|
Solanum muricatum, Ait. (S. guatemalense, Hort.). Pepino. Melon Pear. Melon Shrub. An erect spineless bushy herb or subshrub 2-3 ft. high, the branches often with rough warty excrescences, and usually glabrous or nearly so: lvs. entire or with slightly undulate margins, rarely ternate, oblong-lanceolate, or ovate, tapering to the more or less margined petiole and also toward the more or less obtuse or sometimes acute apex, the surface sparingly soft-pubescent: fls. in a long-stalked cluster, rather small, the corolla bright blue, deeply 5-lobed, puberulent on the outer surface, inclined or nodding: fr. ovoid or egg-shaped, long-stalked, drooping, yellow overlaid with splashes of violet-purple, 4-6 in. long when cult., flesh yellow and seedless under cult. Said to be a native of Peru and cult. in other parts of Trop. Amer. at temperate elevations.—This plant attracted some attention in this country about 25 years ago. It appears to have been intro. into the U. S. from Guatemala in 1882 by Gustav Eisen. The fr. is aromatic, tender, and juicy, and in taste suggests an acid eggplant. In a drawer or box, the fr. may be kept till midwinter. In the N. the seasons are too short to allow the fr. to mature in the open, unless the, plants are started very early. The pepino is properly a cool-season plant, and when grown in pots in a cool or intermediate house will set its frs. freely. It is readily prop. by means of cuttings of the growing shoots. The plant will withstand a little frost.
}}
==Cultivation==
==Cultivation==
'''Location''': The plant likes a sunny or semi-shaded, frost-free location, sheltered from strong winds. It does well planted next to a south-facing wall or in a patio.
'''Location''': The plant likes a sunny or semi-shaded, frost-free location, sheltered from strong winds. It does well planted next to a south-facing wall or in a patio.
==References==
==References==
* [http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pepino.html CRFG: Pepino Dulce]
* [http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pepino.html CRFG: Pepino Dulce]
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
<!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 -->
<!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 -->
<!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 -->
<!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 -->