Kiwano Melon – 10 Seeds

Kiwano Melon Seeds. Kiwano Melon Eruit (Cucumis metuliferus), commonly called the African horned melon or African horned cucumber, spiked melon, jelly melon, or kiwano, is an annual vine in the cucumber and melon family, Cucurbitaceae. Its fruit has horn-like spines, hence the name “horned melon”. It is is a traditional food plant indigenous to Southern and Central Africa. It grows naturally in Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland. It is a self-fertile climber with tendrils and hairy leaves and stems and bears white or yellow flowers.

Kiwano Melon Culinary Uses

• African Horned Cucumber can be eaten at any stage of development – young, mature green or when ripe.
• Its taste has been compared to a combination of cucumber and zucchini or a combination of banana, cucumber and lemon.The fruit’s juicy flesh is green and translucent and contains a lot of seeds covered in a gelatin-like substance and it has a slight sweetness.
• It can be eaten fresh, made into juice, cut open, sprinkled with sugar/salt (to enhance flavor) and scooped out of the shell with a spoon/ or used in fruit salad.
• A jelly can be made from the fruit by boiling it until soft, straining it and boiling the fruit pulp again with a cup of sugar for each cup of water.
• The fruit can also be cubed and pickled in vinegar.
• The seeds are edible and some eats the skin as well.

Kiwano Medicinal Benefits

• Kiwano  contains vitamin C, vitamin A, zinc, and lutein. Together, these nutrients play a role in reducing inflammation and preventing certain chronic diseases.
• It is a good source of iron and provides about 13% of your daily needs. The amount of vitamin C in the fruit can improve the absorption of the iron present within the fruit, making it more effective for supporting red blood cell production and oxygen transport as well as boosting the immune system.
• Kiwano is also a rich source of magnesium, potassium and zinc.

Growing Kiwano

• Plant Kiwano Melon Seeds at a depth of ½ to 1 inch, in groups of two or three seeds. Allow at least 18 inches between each group.
• You can also start the seeds indoors, then plant the young jelly melon plants in the garden when the seedlings have two true leaves and temperatures are consistently above 15 C.
• Plant Kiwano melon where it receives full sunlight, keep in mind that full sun exposure is a must for growth and productivity.
• Provide good air circulation but avoid windy places.
• Kiwano prefers well-drained, loamy soil.
• If you are growing it in a pot, ensure that it has proper drainage holes.
• Add a lot of organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure to the potting soil to enrich it.
• Although Kiwano is slightly drought tolerant, it needs to be watered regularly and deeply. Allow the topsoil to dry out between watering, especially in containers. Also, avoid overhead watering to prevent wetting the foliage.
• When the fruit is about to ripen, reduce watering, as it enhances the taste of the melon.
• Like other cucumber family plants, it has tendrils, which support the growth by clinging to adjacent objects.
• Each plant has male and female flowers, and only the female flowers have fruits.