When to Plant Pepino in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide
What this month normally looks like in Cool Temperate
In October the Cool Temperate zone normally runs 19°C by day and 8°C overnight, with about 67 mm of rain over 9 or 10 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -3.0°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 28 postcodes, SILO.
Jump to section
This Pepino guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Oct to Dec
- 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 Cool Temperate
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
Frost sensitive, but it withstands short periods around 0C if cut right back after fruiting and covered during frosts (SGA); Melbourne and Tasmanian growers report on it. Diggers says plant in spring and summer in cold areas. Take cuttings in autumn as insurance (SGA).
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cool Temperate 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 Cool Temperate 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
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Pepino
Key Challenges
- Frost
Pro Tips
- Cover in winter (SGA)
- Autumn cuttings as insurance (SGA)
Pests and problems for Pepino in Cool Temperate
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 Melbourne?
Frost sensitive, but it withstands short periods around 0C if cut right back after fruiting and covered during frosts (SGA); Melbourne and Tasmanian growers report on it. Diggers says plant in spring and summer in cold areas. Take cuttings in autumn as insurance (SGA).
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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.