When to Plant Pepino in Sydney, Warm Temperate Guide
What this month normally looks like in Warm Temperate
In October the Warm Temperate zone normally runs 24°C by day and 13°C overnight, with about 66 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -1.5°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 153 postcodes, SILO.
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This Pepino guide is written for the Warm Temperate zone, which takes in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Sep to Nov
- 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 Warm Temperate
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Growers at Maitland and Newcastle report on it. It is related to tomatoes and gets the same pests (SGA): rich soil, full sun, support and regular water. Plant in spring after the last frost (Diggers).
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How to Grow Pepino in Warm 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
Warm Temperate Growing Tips for Pepino
Key Challenges
- Snails and slaters
- Fruit fly
Pro Tips
- Lift fruit off the ground (ABC)
- Watch for tomato pests (SGA)
Pests and problems for Pepino in Warm 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 Sydney?
Growers at Maitland and Newcastle report on it. It is related to tomatoes and gets the same pests (SGA): rich soil, full sun, support and regular water. Plant in spring after the last 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 Warm Temperate zone, Sydney is its reference city.