How to Grow Pepino Melon

Updated June 2026

A warm-season fruit for the home garden across the warmer US.

Pepino Melon is a rewarding warm-season crop for backyard growers.

When to plant

Plant Pepino Melon in spring once the soil has warmed and all frost has passed. In the warmest regions a second crop is possible in late summer. See your region on the pepino melon page for exact timing.

Varieties

Pepino Dulce, Sweet melon-flavored fruit (nurseries)

How to grow it

Sun & soil: full sun, rich well-drained soil with even moisture.
Spacing: about 24 in between plants.
Sowing: sow about 0.5 in deep.
Water: roughly 1.3 gal per plant every 3 days in hot weather.

Pests & problems

Watch for Aphids. In humid regions, Few can appear, so space for airflow and water at the roots in the morning.

Harvest

Pepino Melon is usually ready to harvest in about 4 months. Pick regularly to keep plants productive.

When to plant in your region

Pick your region to see exactly when to plant pepino melon where you garden.

See what to plant this month

Pick your region for a month-by-month calendar tuned to your climate.

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