African Horned Cucumber
Cucumis metuliferus

Also known as Kiwano this native to Africa and annual climber grows in the wild as well as in cultivation. The fruits are oval, green and ripen to red-orange. The skin is covered with short, blunt unique looking spikes. The plant grows just like other cucumber plants with vines reaching 5 - 10 feet long. Flowers form with two to four pale yellow male flowers, a leaf petiole, and occasionally a fruiting branch. Hardy to Zone 10. Although edible and most often squeezed into juices it is primarily grown for its ornamental cool, prehistoric look.

In Zimbabwe, this cucumber is called gaka or gakachika, and it is primarily used in fruit-snacks, salad, and, rarely, for decoration. Its taste has been compared to a combination of cucumber andzucchini or a combination of banana, cucumber and lemonA small amount of salt or sugar can increase the flavor. The fruit can be used in cooking, but when eaten raw, most suck out the pulp and spit out the seeds.

Uses:
The skin can be dried and cooked either as vegetable together with meat or fish or included in soup recipes.
The fruit pulp can be strained to make a juice.
Seed Sowing:
Grow as you would a normal cucumber
Sow seed directly at 68°F - 95°F in flats then transplant
Sow outdoors when soil is warm 60°F or above

Fun Facts:
1. Member of the Cucurbitaceae
2. Can remain in storage for 6 months at 50°F
3. Species Cucumis metuliferus E. Mey. ex Naud or ex Schrad
4. Mainly grown as an ornamental fruit
5. Fun for kids gardens
6. 105 days from seed sowing to fruit harvest
7. Don't hesitate to prune back plants and keep old fruits picked up to avoid future plants from becoming a weed or invasive
8. Also called Horned Melon and Jelly Melon

=====Seed is a live perishable product =All sales are Final
The pictures are representative only - seeds are exactly as described here produced by professional growers

=====When Germinating seeds – FOLLOW instructions provided. All varieties have growing instructions. Do not use alternate methods then want us to replace when failure occurs. Do not use paper towel method. This will lead to molds and rot and failure of germination.
= = =All Seed counts are approximate. Sometimes you will get a few extra, sometimes there may be a missing one. Seeds vary in size and appearance – this is how nature made them. Don’t expect big seeds when a particular variety is a small seed.

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= = =We are a seed company that sells to experienced gardeners. If you are new to planting / gardening, take time to research what you are buying. ALL SEED SALES ARE FINAL! We are not responsible for gardeners’ success- WE DO NOT Guarantee that you as a gardener will be able to grow any particular seed. This is standard in the industry. We do not guarantee germination success but always send the very best viable seeds most of which are being tested and grown ourselves in our own greenhouses.

= = = Plants with the same common name MOST LIKELY will be different botanically. Pay attention to scientific name. This is what is being sold. DON’T BE confused. Some are extremely tiny – some are large. Some are flakes, round, hard, soft, or concave. This is how they look -this is how nature made them -this is normal.

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NOTE: We are a small family business. We do not use expensive, glossy packaging- all seeds are hand packed, with care, on demand with label and growing instructions.