Climbing Tzimbalo / Wild Pepino (Solanum caripense ‘Reptans’) – Seeds – Climbing variety of Tzimbalo

A miniature melon growing on a lush green bush? The sight of this fascinating plant is sure to leave you speechless! Tzimbalo (also known as the wild melon pear, Andean melon, or, in Spanish, pepino silvestre) is not only a true rarity from South America, but also a fascinating botanical original—the wild, unaltered ancestor of the cultivated pepino. If you’ve always wanted to try a completely new, authentic taste experience, look no further: these small, spectacularly striped berries combine the flavors of honeydew melon and cucumber with a wonderfully zesty tang, just as nature originally created them.

This fascinating rarity is an absolute must-have in my collection of unusual nightshades. The 'reptans' form lives up to its name, growing as a creeper, trailing over the edge of a pot, or—given a suitable support—climbing with ease. This makes it the perfect choice for large hanging baskets, tall balcony planters, or as a fruit-bearing screen on small trellises.

What’s included: 10 seeds

Unlike its upright-growing relatives, this species produces soft shoots that can reach several meters in length. They can trail over the edge of a pot to great decorative effect or be easily trained upward on a trellis. It thrives in a warm, sheltered spot in full sun. On hot summer days, Tzimbalo needs plenty of water, but it absolutely cannot tolerate waterlogged roots. For growing it in containers or hanging baskets, I like to mix a generous amount of structural material such as pumice, perlite, or lava grit into good, nutrient-rich potting soil. This provides excellent drainage and ideal aeration for the fine roots. Avoid applying too much nitrogen fertilizer, as this will cause the plant to produce masses of foliage but very few flowers and fruits.

Patience at harvest time really pays off: the small, distinctly striped fruits are ripe and truly flavorful only when they yield to gentle finger pressure and come away from the stem easily.

Warning: As with almost all nightshades, the unripe, hard fruits and all green parts of the plant contain toxic solanine and must not be eaten.

Since the plant is native to the Andean regions of South America, it is not hardy here. However, it is a perennial, so it is well worth overwintering. Before the first nighttime frosts, I bring the plant indoors, cut back the long shoots considerably, and overwinter it—much like my Physalis—in a bright, cool spot at around 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. Water it very sparingly during this time. This gives it a significant head start the following spring and much greater yield potential in the new season.

Botanically, Solanum caripense belongs to the large nightshade family (Solanaceae). Its natural range extends across the slopes of the South American Andes, from Colombia through Ecuador to Peru. Since it often grows at somewhat higher elevations in its native habitat, it thrives in our Central European summers.