When to Plant Pepino in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
What this month normally looks like in Arid / Semi-Arid
In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.
Jump to section
This Pepino guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Sep to Oct
- Days to harvest
- about 26 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
Pepino is a sprawling Andean shrub to about 1 m that gives melon flavoured fruit with cream skin striped purple (SGA, ABC).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Arid / Semi-Arid
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. No arid grower was found. The shrub wants rich moist soil and regular water (SGA), so give drip irrigation, mulch and afternoon shade. Plant in spring after frost (Diggers).
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Arid / Semi-Arid zone right now, Pepino included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Pepino in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Rich, moist, well drained (SGA).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun; afternoon shade in the hottest areas.
- Keep away from
- Frost pockets
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Pepino
Key Challenges
- Dry air
- Heat
Pro Tips
- Drip and mulch
- Shade cloth
Pests and problems for Pepino in Arid / Semi-Arid
Harvesting Pepino
When ready: Skin turns cream to gold with purple stripes and the fruit gives slightly and smells of melon.
How to harvest: Cut with a short stalk; handle gently.
Storing and preserving pepino
How to keep it
- Freezing. Peel, cube, tray freeze. Keeps: 6 to 8 months.
- Fresh storage. Bench a few days, fridge several weeks above 5C (SGA). Keeps: Several weeks.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Pepino
When do you plant pepino in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Sep to Nov
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Sep to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Oct to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Nov to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Sep to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
When should I plant Pepino in Alice Springs?
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. No arid grower was found. The shrub wants rich moist soil and regular water (SGA), so give drip irrigation, mulch and afternoon shade. Plant in spring after frost (Diggers).
How do I know when Pepino are ready to harvest?
Skin turns cream to gold with purple stripes and the fruit gives slightly and smells of melon.
Are pepino salt tolerant?
No. Pepino are salt-sensitive, one of the more sensitive veggies. Use rainwater if your bore water is salty, or grow them in a raised bed of fresh mix if your soil is.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.