Increasingly, on the shelves of supermarkets you can see outlandish fruits and vegetables that are imported from various countries peace. Despite the fact that such delicacies are prohibitively expensive, they are sometimes in greater demand than familiar vegetables and fruits. Today we will discuss african fruit, find out what it is, how it is used, how it is grown from seeds, how difficult it is to grow in your garden.
Introduction to exotic fruit
It is for this reason that many people believe that most of the product after cleaning will go into the bin, respectively, only a small part of the pulp will remain, which will not cover the costs.
However, it is worth noting that the African cucumber has good fruiting, so if the fruit is grown for personal use, then you should not think that resources and land will be spent to end up with a kilogram of an edible product.An important question is what tastes like horned melon. Kiwano has a specific taste that cannot be identified with any familiar fruit in the same way as if you first tried a banana and tried to compare it with what can grow in the garden. 
Generally speaking, the fruits are enough moisture and sweet and sour taste which quenches thirst well. When you try it for the first time, you will feel similarities with cucumber, melon, banana and lime, but each person has his own analogy, so in this case it all comes down to subjective opinion.
Did you know? The plant is used not only to produce fruits, but also as an ornamental plant, planting it in personal plots.
Seed preparation before planting
Before sowing, the seeds must be soaked for a day in a pre-prepared solution. To do this, we buy in a specialized store that has an identical name (do not confuse it with potassium humanate).
You can also use the fertilizer "Epina-extra", which gives the same effect. 
Sowing seeds for seedlings
It’s worth saying right away what to sow directly in open ground it is impossible even if you live in the southern latitudes. Recall that in the spring there can be serious temperature drops, respectively, there is a risk of losing all the seedlings at once.
Location selection
Kiwano demands a large number of space, as it has accelerated growth and "spreads" quickly enough. However, like ordinary cucumber, it will not interfere with the support to make it easier to assemble the products.
Important! In no case should you plant under the dense crowns of trees, since you will not get a harvest before frost.
Therefore, it is worth planting on a flat surface near a mesh fence or wall. You need to leave enough for landing large area. In this case, the priority will be precisely a warm, calm place, and not the presence of a support. 
Landing pattern
The optimal landing is considered as such, if per 1 sq. m. there are no more than two bushes. The standard picking pattern is 40x35 cm.
How to care for an African cucumber
Now let's talk about the care of the African cucumber in the open field. Let's discuss the main points on which the productivity of the bushes depends.
Watering, weeding, loosening
Watering. You should not think that if a plant is from Africa, then for it you need to “arrange” the Sahara in the garden. Under such conditions, the nod will quickly die, and you will waste your energy in vain. You need to water at least 2-3 times a week, if it is not very hot outside.
If the sun bakes so that the earth cracks, then we water daily, checking the soil near the bushes for moisture with a stick or special electronic devices. 
Please note that watering is carried out before sunrise or after sunset, otherwise the plant will suffer greatly from such irrigation.
Weeding. Be sure to remove all weeds in the area where the crop grows. Do not forget that for the formation of the green mass of kivano, a large amount of mineral and nutrients is required, which are drawn from the soil.
Loosening. Loosening allows you to give the roots access to oxygen. It should be carried out when the earth is covered with a crust. This is best done in the early morning or evening. You can’t do this during the day, otherwise your actions will lead to evaporation huge amount moisture from the soil.
Did you know? The fruit contains a large amount of ascorbic acid, as well as a complex of other vitamins and minerals. Calorie content of 100 g of products - 44 kcal. This determines the usefulness of the fruit for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases and obesity.
Escape pinch
If you are not growing horned melon, then pinching is a must. 
Be sure to pinch the side shoots, otherwise the volume of green mass will affect fruiting. We form the bushes so that they look like a circle or, if so intended, stretch into one continuous line.
Hilling
It is not an important part of the care, however, if the soil overheats during the day, or just as strongly supercools during the night, then it does not hurt to hill up to protect the roots from overheating or hypothermia.
Hilling also helps retain moisture in the soil, which is especially important for southern latitudes, where summers are very hot.
top dressing
Top dressing is carried out without fail, while it is necessary to introduce not only organic matter, but also “mineral water” in order to ensure rapid growth and a set of green mass. 
From organic matter, you can make an infusion, chicken manure or
The kiwano plant is also called horned melon or African cucumber. This is a herbaceous liana from the gourd family, subspecies - cucumber. This fruit has horns in the form of spikes on the surface - hence the name, horned melon. ripe fruit kiwano necessarily has yellow-orange skin and yellow-green, jelly-like flesh with tart taste and a texture very, very similar to cucumber. Its length can reach 15 centimeters. It has numerous seeds that reach a length of one centimeter. Look at the kiwano in the photo illustrating the appearance of the fruit:
The territory and natural habitat of this fruit is Africa, and to be more precise, the territory south of the Sahara: mainly Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Nigeria. Currently, it also actively grows in California, Mississippi, Chile, Australia (it was brought here at least 70 years ago) and New Zealand.
Growing kiwanos from seeds at home
Seedlings of the plant appear at a temperature of 25 to 35 degrees Celsius. Germination may be delayed if the room temperature is kept at 12 degrees, and inhibited if the temperature is below 12 or above 25 degrees.
After the appearance of the first shoots, it is necessary to transplant them into open trays or beds. The best time for planting seedlings is spring, when the soil and air temperature rise to 15 degrees Celsius. Growing kivano at home from seeds can be both a stage in growing seedlings and a full-fledged plant development cycle.
Compared to cucumber, it is not as demanding on soil, but prefers good drainage and nutrients in the mail. The main advantage of the plant is that it is resistant to many diseases characteristic of the pumpkin family. Like most plants, the kiwano is propagated in three ways: cuttings, seeds, and seedlings. We propose to pay attention to the most fruitful - with the help of seeds. The vegetative period of the plant (from the first shoots to full maturity) is an average of 75-77 days. As a result of growth and development, the creeping stem can reach a length of 3 cm.
It is recommended to prepare seeds for seedlings a month or two before the planned planting on open space April-May is fine. The day before, it is necessary to soak the seeds in a container in a pre-prepared solution of sodium humate or epin-extra. The seeds should swell, after which they are immediately placed in pots or other containers with a diameter of at least 8-10 centimeters, which are filled with a very nutritious soil mixture. Before planting in open ground, it is recommended to keep them in the greenhouse for at least a couple of weeks (this is approximately mid-May). We strongly recommend transplanting to the beds only after the frosts have completely passed.
The fruit is planted in two or three rows (the distance between them should be at least 40 centimeters) at a distance of 35-40 centimeters between them.
When landing on open ground, it is necessary to choose a place that will reliably protect the seedlings from the wind, and tie it with twine to vertical racks. As it grows, it is necessary to twist the stem on its surface.
To get beautiful fruits and not destroy seedlings, you should know a few important rules for care: loosen the soil around the plant, regularly weed weeds and water 2-3 times a week during dry and hot summers.
How are kiwano fruits eaten?
Kiwano fruits are traditionally used in Africa as one of the main food ingredients, and it has great potential to address nutrition and food security, promote rural development and support land use along with Acanthosicyos naudinianus and Tsamma. This is one of the few opportunities to get moisture during a drought in the Kalahari Desert. In Northern Zimbabwe, kiwano is used as an appetizer or salad, and very rarely for decoration. It can be eaten at any stage of ripening, but it is worth knowing that when fully ripe, the fruit bursts with great force to release the seeds. Let's look at the question of how Kiwano fruits are eaten and what this exotic fruit can be combined with.
Many compare the taste of kiwano to the combination of cucumber and zucchini, or the combination of banana, cucumber and lemon. There are those who believe that the taste of the fruit is similar to an unripe, diluted banana. If you want to increase the flavor of this ingredient, we recommend adding sugar or salt. Some also prefer to eat the peel, which is high in vitamin B and fiber. Modern Cooking also uses fruits in the preparation of some dishes, but if you decide to choose raw product, it is best to suck out the pulp and discard the seeds.
In salads, it is best to combine kiwano with pepper and salt, in lemon sauce. To add zest to the drink, they are often used in the production of fruit and milkshakes. Due to its low calorie content, it is often recommended by nutritionists in special nutrition and for weight loss.
Kiwano is also currently being promoted as a delicacy fruit for export to markets. Western Europe and the USA because its fruits have long term storage and external attractiveness, which persists for many months, provided that it is kept under room temperature. Currently, commercial varieties of the fruit have a rather bland taste, which severely limits its potential as a delicacy fruit and its use in food. If it nutritional qualities improved by increasing sugar, acidity, and flavor, then it may be marketed as a new fruit.
The material was prepared by Sysoeva Irina
It is not necessary to wait for the seeds to spit, but the procedure increases the likelihood of germination.
For germination, take pots with a diameter of 8-9 cm, the soil is suitable for purchased, universal for seedlings or indoor plants. Each seed is planted separately, deepening it by no more than 3.5 cm.
seedling care
Pots with sown seeds are kept in a warm, well-lit place. The required temperature is 25°C, drops of more than 5 degrees are not allowed. Therefore, when airing the room, the crops are covered.
Seedlings should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Usually, to protect them from burns, window glass is sealed with plastic wrap.
The duration of daylight hours is 12-14 hours, at first additional illumination will be required.
The soil in pots is regularly loosened and moistened, drying out is not welcome.
Rules for planting seedlings in open ground
Timing. With strict observance of the agricultural technology of growing seedlings, by the end of the 3rd week, the seedlings are ready for transplantation. In cool climates, they are given another week or 10 days until the weather is consistently warm.
On a note!
If the seedlings are already outgrowing, and the weather is not good, the seedlings are planted under the film.
Place for landing. Although the horned melon is thermophilic, it does not tolerate the direct rays of the hot sun: burns appear on the leaves, flowers and ovaries crumble. Therefore, the place is selected in such a way that at noon the exotic liana is shaded.
Do not plant nod in full shade, there will be neither flowers nor fruits.
Anguria does not like drafts and wind. Therefore, the site for its landing must be protected from them.
The soil you need loose, light, moisture and breathable, well-drained - stagnant water destroys the root system of the African cucumber.
The horned melon grows quickly and is capable of a short time spread throughout the area. They usually plant it near the fence, arbors, or immediately install supports.
Landing scheme. It is optimal to place two vines on one square meter.
Outdoor care
Water the horned melon 2-3 times a week in moderately hot weather. If the air temperature exceeds 30 ° C, watering is required daily.
Water only in the early morning hours or after sunset.
Weeding is required not only for young, but also for adult plants.
Loosen the ground as needed, preventing the formation of a crust on the surface. As for watering best time- early in the morning or at dusk, when the rate of evaporation of moisture decreases.
Pinching is carried out with excessive growth of green mass: side shoots with barren flowers are completely removed, the rest - on the ovary. If the kiwano is grown as an ornamental plant, it is not necessary to pinch the shoots.
Hilling is advisable to carry out with a large difference between day and night temperatures. The measure will protect the roots from overheating or hypothermia, in hot areas it helps to retain moisture.
Feeding is done every 10 days. Organics alternate with mineral complexes. Mullein, bird droppings, herbal infusions are recommended as organic top dressing. Mineral fertilizers must contain an NPK complex.
To diseases characteristic of pumpkin, the vine is resistant. Pests rarely attack.
Harvesting and storage
The first fruits begin to ripen in August. The pale green color gradually changes to yellow, then to a rich orange.
Cut "cucumbers" as they ripen, without waiting for mass ripening, otherwise the formation and ripening of new ones will be slowed down, the harvest will be less than expected.
On a note!
Horned melon juice helps to eliminate toxins from the body, especially useful in chemotherapy.
Store fruits without additional processing in a cool room. Shelf life does not exceed 6 months.
Growing Kiwano at home
5 (100%) 1 voteKiwano - unusual fruit from the pumpkin family. Known as horned melon or African cucumber. Used as a fruit or vegetable, and sometimes kiwano is grown as an ornamental annual vine. Juicy pulp has a jelly-like texture. The taste is similar to banana, cucumber and melon at the same time. Interestingly, "horned melon" can be used in both sweet and savory dishes.
- a heat-loving plant, does not tolerate even a slight cold snap. Growing at home is possible only with very careful care. Kiwano is actively cultivated in Israel, New Zealand. Most endemic varieties do not survive in the middle lane, but there are specially adapted species. For kiwanos, the best way to get a fruit is to grow it from seeds in your area.
Description of the fruit
Kiwano is an annual herbaceous vine, part of the cucumber genus. It grows rapidly, the length of the shoots is 3-6 meters. It is bred for edible fruits and as an ornamental plant. The birthplace of the fruit is Africa. How a vegetable is grown in South America. In Israel, New Zealand, Italy, it is a fruit.
Kiwano fruit resembles a melon with spikes up to 15 centimeters long, weight - up to 150 grams. Outwardly, it looks like a yellow-orange fruit with a jelly-like pulp of light green color, and inside - white seeds, like a cucumber. The hard skin is inedible, covered with rare spines. The ripe fruit is elastic to the touch, the spines are flexible, soft: they are not able to scratch the hands. In mature fruits, the peel has a characteristic cucumber aroma with hints of lemon. The taste combines notes of cucumber, banana, kiwi, melon.
Dense foliage can be used as an impromptu backstage for other plants. Liana can be put on a fence or as an unusual landscaping for a veranda, a forged metal gazebo.
How do you eat kiwanos?
"Horned melon" is eaten raw, added to salty salads, desserts, fruit drinks. Prepared from it original jam, jam, canned juice. The ovary, 3-4 days old, can be pickled like cucumbers. The fruit sometimes causes allergies, so the first time you should try it carefully.
AT fresh Kiwano is recommended to be eaten immediately after it has been plucked. This ensures maximum safety of vitamins C and PP. The pulp should be selected with a spoon, and the seeds should be collected and dried. Seed material retains good germination up to 7 years.
reproduction
Growing kiwanos in temperate climates is easy and fun. The variety "Green Dragon" was developed, designed specifically for not the most favorable weather conditions. It is an annual vine resistant to diseases, major pests. Important feature varieties - the plant bears fruit regardless of the length of daylight hours. Unlike cucumbers, there are no special varieties for growing in greenhouses. When bred indoors, kivano has to be pollinated artificially, with a brush.
At home, "African cucumber" has 3 methods of reproduction:
- cuttings;
- seeds;
- seedlings.
It is easiest to grow a kiwano from seeds. You need to buy a ripe fruit, choose planting material with a spoon, and eat the pulp with pleasure. Even easier is to buy ready-made seeds that do not require special preparation. african cucumber can grow outdoors or as indoor plant in a pot.
Landing
In temperate climates, kiwanos are grown in seedlings. When planted immediately in open ground, plants will die during a sharp cold snap. The grown shoots can be planted in May, after the end of frosts, on a site specially designated for exotic.
How to grow a kiwano yourself:
- Training. For a day, the seeds are soaked in an aqueous solution of "Epin Extra" or succinic acid. This will speed up germination. Seeds must pre-swell. If they are collected from ripe fruit, they must be wrapped in cotton cloth, poured with water. The skin of the seeds will become soft, which means they are ready for planting.
- Germination. Seeds are planted in pots with a diameter of 10 centimeters with a nutritious soil mixture. Planting material is buried 3 centimeters into the ground, moderately watered. The pots are covered with foil or glass. The soil should be moderately moist and loose. Optimum temperature for germination - 25 ° С.
- Landing in a greenhouse. Hatched seedlings with 2 true leaves are transplanted into a greenhouse. The process of growing seedlings before moving to open ground takes approximately 31 days, of which in a greenhouse - up to 14 days.
Planting in open ground is carried out only after the end of spring frosts. Temperatures lower than + 10 ° C are detrimental to nods. Full cycle cultivation takes 75-77 days. The minimum temperature is from + 15°С. The plant does not tolerate temperatures below 0 ° C, the seedlings will die in the soil.
Landing rules:
- the site should be bright, protected from drafts and cold wind (the plant bears fruit well if it is under direct sunbeams no less than 6-7 hours every day);
- kiwano does not grow well in shady areas, acidic soils are not suitable;
- it is recommended to plant vines in 2 rows, at a distance of at least 1 meter from each other (you will need a place for the active growth of shoots);
- this is a climbing plant: support is required in advance, on which the shoots are fixed with twine (it is good to plant near the fence as decorative landscaping);
- drainage is needed to prevent stagnant moisture in the soil.
After planting in open ground, it is advisable to immediately tie a young vine to a support. When growing in a pot, you will also need a vertical stand. Kiwano is immune to most diseases that are dangerous for the pumpkin family. Since this is not an endemic plant, pest attacks can not be feared.
For closed ground, you will need a container with a volume of up to 20 liters. Liana can be placed on a balcony or insulated veranda.
Care
Exotic Kiwano does not require complex care when grown at home. The only danger for him is sudden changes in temperature. In such a situation, it is better to cultivate the plant as indoor, in pots. The main stages of caring for a liana include watering, regular loosening of the soil, fertilizing, which forms the pinching of shoots.
A growing stem is recommended to be regularly twisted onto a support. Do this only in a clockwise direction. For this purpose, it is good to use a cucumber net. On it, long lashes will curl freely like an ornamental plant. With proper care, the kivano bears abundantly, regardless of the length of daylight hours.
Watering
The plant needs regular watering, the surface of the soil must be constantly wet. In dry weather, it is recommended to do this at least 2-3 times a week. The soil will need regular loosening, weeding.
Many of us like to try something new from time to time, some little-known exotic fruit. Such lovers of the new and surprising will definitely like kiwano fruit. The fruits of this extraordinary fruit have oval shape, covered with thick soft spikes, a bit like a chestnut. However, they are about the size of an average orange. Orange skin as if covered with marble stains. The taste of kiwano will also leave few people indifferent.
Inside the Kiwano fruit is a green pulp resembling jelly, and in it are white seeds.. The entire interior is divided into sectors by soft partitions and veins. Sometimes this fruit is confused with another exotic representative - anguria. However, apart from some external similarity, there is nothing similar in them.
AT different countries and at different peoples Kiwano is called differently: both horned melon, and jelly melon, and even African cucumber.
This fruit grows mainly in subtropical and tropical countries. South Africa and South America. He has different types and grows in different countries. However, this plant is grown on a large scale in the USA, Israel, New Zealand and Colombia. Kiwano is both decorative and vegetable crop . The plant itself is a vine that branches into many thin, faceted stems. Such stems are quite strong, and their length is from 3 to 6 meters. Branching in this way, the kiwano can braid huge areas during the growing season. Kiwano leaves are similar to cucumber leaves - they have 5 lobes and hard pubescence, only smaller in size. To grow kiwanos, special nets are stretched, and over time, the foliage fills the entire space and creates a continuous green cover.
During the flowering period, the kiwano stems along the entire length are covered with small yellow flowers that open in the morning, but bloom only until noon. This plant is quite prolific. With proper care and good season up to 200 fruits are harvested from one kiwano plant.
Kiwano fruit composition
Kiwano is a very watery fruit., 88.97 g of water per 100 g of its mass. The content of carbohydrates in it is several times higher than the content of proteins and fats. a small amount ash (0.44 g per 100 g).
Among the vitamins, vitamin C is especially abundant in kiwano, it also contains vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), B3 (PP or niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), A (beta-carotene), B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin) and B9 (folic acid). acid).
Kiwano is rich in macronutrients such as potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, it also contains calcium and sodium. Of the trace elements, it contains the most iron, there are also manganese, copper and zinc.
This exotic fruit contains P-active substances, organic acids, alkaline mineral salts and sugars.
As for the calorie content of the fruit, it is quite low. There are about 44 kcal per 100 g of kiwano.
Benefits of Kiwano
Due to its rich in vitamins, micro and macro elements composition kiwano is excellent source useful substances for the body. This is especially true in the cold season. And if you take into account low calorie, then this fruit can be safely used for diet food. Since kiwano contains quite a lot of vitamin C and many B vitamins, it is an excellent tonic.
Of particular value is the content in this exotic fruit potassium macronutrient, because it is indispensable for the proper functioning of the human body. It is potassium that creates the conditions for muscle contractions, it supports acid-base balance in cells, normalizes the water balance and maintains the osmotic concentration of the blood. Therefore, kiwano is recommended to be eaten by people suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Yogurt with Kiwano juice is especially popular among lovers of this fruit. It is also useful in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
A separate branch of the use of kivano is cosmetology. Face and body masks are made from it, adding honey, yogurt and other components that are good for the skin to the juice of this fruit.
Since ancient times, peoples who grow kiwano have used its astringent properties. The juice of this fruit is excellent for healing burns and wounds.
How to eat kiwano
This amazing fruit It has an unusual but delicate taste at the same time. It immediately resembles melon, cucumber and banana. And some claim that it has a flavor of lime, kiwi and avocado. Therefore, kiwano can be used both as a fruit and as a vegetable, adding it to both sweet and spicy dishes.
Kiwano fruit is eaten raw, added to various salads , as well as salt and pickle just like cucumbers. You can add kiwano to berry jam and compotes. It will give the usual sweets and drinks unusual taste and aroma.
Thanks to interesting appearance kiwano, it is also used for decoration various dishes. You can cut the fruit into slices, or you can put the jelly pulp with seeds on top of any dessert. The peel of this fruit is also used for serving. holiday table. If you cut the fruit in half, take out the pulp, and put the halves of the peel on the spikes, they will turn into unusual dishes for desserts, as well as fish, meat and vegetable snacks.
In countries where kiwano grows, they do it with interesting dish. Soft cheese mixed with seafood and garnished with fruit pulp. This dish is served just in the "dishes" of the peel. One of the advantages of this fruit is its long shelf life. Therefore, you can enjoy their taste for a long time after harvest.
Pickled kiwanos are made from unripe fruits . Many say that they tastier than cucumbers prepared in the same way. It should be noted that they are not only tastier, but also contain more nutrients.
Raw kiwanos are eaten cut into slices. You can also cut the fruit in half and scoop out the pulp with a spoon.
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