Okay, it’s cucumber time. Emma already posted about her achocha ‘mouse melons’, and even devoted an entire podcast episode to it on Alternative Kitchen Garden last year, as well as a squidoo lens.
[update: I just realized Emma probably posted about something else, ‘Melothria’, a few days ago. Achocha is something she grew and reported on last year]
A look in the Seed Savers Exchange yearbook shows my friend Frank in Belgium as the sole member offering seeds for it. I suspect he’s been growing it for years, and probably one of the people who introduced it to Europe.
I feel behind when it comes to posting on this one.
The insides look like this:
The black things are the seeds, which you take out before eating and save for replanting.
Raw they taste something like a cucumber, and after being fried a bit like green pepper.
Except for the seeds, you can eat the whole thing. I’m looking forward to trying this in different foods. I’m not sure if I like it yet.
What an interesting plant is this 🙂 I have never seen it before 🙂 thanks for posting about it.
I have a question: have you send the strawberries seeds?
greetings,
Ewa
I have grown these for years now, I like them most when they are about 2-3 cms. long, they are very easy to grow (easier than cucumbers)and extremely prolific. They belong to the cyclanthera family ( probably cyclanthera brachystachya).Some other species are interesting too: a cyclanthera pedata, which hasn’t got the (soft)spines; another brachystachya: the ‘wild’ exploding cucumber, which has got moderate eating applications; and some bigger fruited-species, sometimes known as ‘caihua’ in their native lands, which can be filled up with all kinds of goodies and placed in the oven for about half an hour
Fascinating! I saw these in a seed catalogue early this Spring. Thank you for posting the photos and description. Do you think they are delicious enough to grow again?
You’re right, my post was about Melothria, but I’ve got achocha as well this year Patrick 🙂 I’ve had a few fruits so far, but have been a bit lax in picking them. I’ve also got kiwano in the Grow Dome, but they have yet to flower.
Hi Matron,
I’m not sure yet.
Like Frank said, it’s very easy to grow. It has long vines, but otherwise doesn’t take up a lot of space. You can grow it in between other plants and just let the vines do their thing, or grow it up a trellis. It’s a light weight plant, not like a squash, so it doesn’t cover the ground or smother other plants. Honestly, if you think it might be interesting, I would give it a try. It’s very easy to save seeds from, and if you like I can send you some.
As far as taste goes, I just haven’t had a chance to try it yet. Like Frank seemed to be suggesting, the ones in the picture might have been on the mature side, and it may be better to pick them younger. I found the taste of what I just had to be a little strong, and the texture a little tough, but I want to keep experimenting with it.
What a totally weird plant. Never seen anything like it.
Wow, that is so strange. I’ve never seen those before, anywhere. Anywhere but here, that is.
I’m participating in the cucumber stories too–I just put up my cuke post. Woohoo!
I find the best way to eat these is to pick very young – about 1 inch long, scrape of the spines and then to fry. They are more tender and the taste more pronounced, though they are essentially a novelty rather than a must have ingredient.
Does anyone know whether you can freeze achocha fruit (deseeded) to make the harvest last longer, and to avoid wasting the prolific crop?
Hi S Fewell,
I’m sorry but I really have no idea. If you try it, it would be great if you came back and left a comment sharing your experiences!
I have being looking for this vegetable for a long time now In my country Ecuador we grow and eat alot this plant Achocha we eat it in a soup it taste delicious I live in NJ i wounder if i bring some seeds here can I grow them in here and Indoors?
Hi Dayan,
Yes, I don’t think it would be a problem to grow this in NJ. In the winter, the freeze will kill the plants that are outside. I don’t think it would be any problem to grow it outdoors in the summer.
The only problem growing it indoors is the plants can get quite large, but you should be able to keep it small by not putting it in too large a container and cutting it back sometimes.
Good luck!
Hey there. do you still have any of these seeds? I would be willing to PayPal you some money if you could send me some. I really want to find the fat baby variety and can only find the “smooth” versions for sale online. Please let me know. Thanks!
-zac
Hi Zac,
I don’t have any more, but I’m going to send you an email with some suggestions.
Hey, can you help me too. I live in the USA and I’m looking for the fat baby variety too. But only found the smooth lady slippers variety online.
Hi Robert,
I suggest searching and asking on this discussion forum:
http://alanbishop.proboards.com/
I know at least one person there has it in their garden. It can also be purchased in the UK from Real Seeds, and several people on the forum live in the UK, and one of them might buy it for you and send it.
There’s a Zac on this forum, who I think is the same that left the comment above. If you are both looking for it, maybe you can cooperate and share the seeds when one of you gets it…
I hope this helps.
Hi, I’ve grown the spiny version this year and have loads of fruit if anyone wants seeds.
Hi Diana,
Thanks. I’ll pass your message on to Zac and Robert.
I would love to get some seeds. I could trade some other fun seeds for these.
Hi Daiva,
You didn’t leave an email address with your comment, and neither did Diana, so I can’t put you in contact.
I’m afraid I don’t have any seeds anymore. If you give me your email address, I’ll give it to anyone who offers seeds.
I planted 5 seeds and got 5 plants they are now growing up my runner been poles (my beens failed first time ever) these fat baby plants seemed almost to know to head in that direction. Almost overnight I’ve go hundreds of tiny spikey little fruits but no idea what to do with them, any ideas appreciated
Hi Davy,
Sorry about the beans, and good luck with the achoca.
Achoca is a popular plant among seed savers. Save some seeds and spread them around. Let the pods mature as much as possible on the plants, then harvest the seeds after they turn black.
As far as eating it goes, like someone above said, it’s really a sort of novelty plant… Try eating them young, sliced and cooked. On pizza they taste like green peppers.
I grew the smooth and the spikey ones last season here in Tasmania. And that was it! I just left a few lying around up the fence and on the ground and they self-seeded this summer. Once you’ve had a crop you won’t need to save seeds next season!