Pepino Dulce (Solanum muricatum)

Pepino Dulce, aka Sweet-Cucumber, is a delightful exotic fruit native to South America, but cultivated world-wide. It is a member of the potato, eggplant, and nightshade family of plants. The Pepino is a perennial, herbaceous fruiting plant that's grown for it's delicious sweet fruit, which is said to resemble a crossover between the honeydew melon and the cantaloupe. It is a fast growing plant, that will generally bear fruit within it's first season.

It is grown like a Tomato would be, with the support of trellis or frame, although in the wild it commonly develops as a free standing bush or climbs with the support of a neighboring tree.  Solanum muricatum requires moisture rich soil, with a sunny or semi-shaded location for best growth and fruiting. It does not tolerate frost or strong winds.