Riyadh: Farmers in Taif are aiming to reap the financial rewards of investing in the cultivation of a fruit native to South America.
Growers in the governorate have been turning their attention to the business potential of producing the pepino plant, known for its sweet taste similar to mangoes and melons.
The evergreen shrub offers high productivity and salt tolerance, allowing it to thrive in a variety of soil types and greenhouse environments.
Naif Al-Maliki, who studies rare plants, noted that pepino (scientific name, solanum muricatum) originated from Chile and Peru.
He said: “It grows to around one meter in length. It is found at high altitudes in tropical and humid regions and can also be grown at high altitudes in subtropical regions.
“It grows under direct sunlight in areas where the temperature ranges between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius, with a tolerance of up to 30 degrees Celsius, and thrives in light and medium sandy soil, as well as well-draining clay soil. It can also be grown in moderately fertile soil.”
He added that the fruit was best consumed ripe when it had a sweet aromatic flavor. However, it could be harvested before ripening and stored for long periods.
After experimenting for a year, he said he had successfully grown it in Taif, and that it had yielded fruit in every season, although most abundantly in milder months.
“Its production continues in winter and the ripening process is delayed, and the plant can live for more than five years, with a life span exceeding five years.”
Al-Maliki pointed out that pepino could be harvested within around three months of planting.
He said: “The harvest season varies in length depending on various factors, such as the soil type, planting time, prevailing weather conditions, and disease and insect infestations.”
