Melon pears are harvested when they are ripe because only then is their flavor optimally developed. Unripe fruits, on the other hand, can be described as inedible. But what do you do if some specimens have to be removed from the bush before their time, for example because frost is approaching?
How do you let melon pears ripen?
Melon pears can continue to ripen at room temperature, developing their typical aroma within a few days. To speed up the ripening process, they can be stored next to apples, which release the ripening gas ethylene.
Late harvest season may overlap with frost
About 90 days after flowering, it's time to start harvesting. During the late summer, melon pears are harvested one after the other depending on their level of ripeness. But a not so favorable summer can push the harvest time back. It may be that some unripe fruits are still hanging on the plant while it becomes uncomfortable for them outside.
End of harvest season due to weather conditions
The melon pear, also called twisted pear melon or pepino, is not winter hardy, so it cannot overwinter outside. There are then only two options left:
- Cultivate plants as annuals
- Overwinter the plant brightly and at 5-10 °C indoors
Let harvested fruits ripen
You should not sacrifice the fruits of annual cultivated plants to frost. Pick all fruits in good time. Even those who are still immature. At room temperature they will ripen within a few days and develop their typical aroma.
Tip
If you want to speed up ripening, place a few apples next to the melon pears. These give off the ripening gas ethylene, which also makes the melon pears ripen faster.
Natural ripening on the bush
If the shrub is lucky enough to get a place to overwinter from you, it can keep its unripe fruits for the time being. They are allowed to mature on it in their winter quarters until they also show the following characteristics:
- a sweet scent
- changed shell color
- softer pulp that yields under pressure
Extend shelf life
If the fruits have ripened sufficiently, which you can easily check based on the ripeness characteristics mentioned above, they should be used up promptly. Alternatively, you can store them in the refrigerator for a maximum period of 2-3 weeks.
You can also put the unripe fruits in the fridge and gradually take out and let them ripen as many as you need.
