African horned melon (kiwano)

Description

This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: ‘Another name for this wonderful fruit is Cuke-a-Saurus and we think that’s the best name to describe something so odd and weird. It is also called kiwano and is a traditional food source in Africa. It is one of the few sources of water in the dry season in the Kalahari Desert. It is primarily used as a snack or salad, and rarely for decoration. It can be eaten at any stage of ripening, but when overripe, it will burst forcefully to release seeds. The plants bear lots of fruit towards the end of summer and can be eaten with a spoon at the green or ripe yellow stage. We find the taste to be just like cucumber with a sweetness almost like jelly babies. The plants will vine and sprawl across the ground and can take up quite a bit of space if not grown vertically. Be careful where you step as their thorns are not just for show. They don’t need much water, love warm summer days, are not fussy at all, but they take quite a while to produce and mature.’ 

15 seeds