Pepino Melon

(Solanum muricatum) This eggplant relative produces fruit that are the size of a large goose egg with a cream-colored rind that usually has beautiful purple stripes. It has a sweet, mild flesh that is somewhat melon-like. Used fresh in salads or cooked. Beautiful, glossy ornamental plants require a very long season and are grown like eggplants. This fun plant can be grown indoors. Pepinos are popular in New Zealand and have just recently started to become common in U.S. markets. This plant is native to the Andes Mountain region.