CUCUMBER-KIWANO-PRICKLY CUKE
CUCUMBER-KIWANO-PRICKLY CUKE
A$3.50
Availability: 112 in stock
Cucumis metuliferus
CUCUMBER-KIWANO-(PRICKLY CUKE) is a member of the melon & cucumber family & is native to southern & central Africa. Very unusual fruit with spiny horns. The green-yellow skin turns a bright deep orange when ready to harvest. It tastes like a combination of banana, melon, cucumber & lime. The seeds & pulp of the kiwano are very nutritious as the seeds contain Vitamin A in the form of carotenoids such as Beta-carotene, which promotes the health of the eyes, & skin as well as having free-radical scavenging properties & boosting the immune system. The seeds contain oleic & linoleic fatty acids too making them very good for blood pressure & overall health. Also known in Australia as ‘Prickly Cuke’.
Sow two seeds per final position. When the plants have the first true leaves, thin to one plant per position. Must have warm soil & conditions for growing.
| Germination Time (Days) | 10 – 15 |
| Maturity Time (Days) | 60 – 90 |
| Sowing Depth (mm) | 10 |
| Plant Spacing (cm) | 40 – 60 |
| Row Spacing (cm) | 100 – 120 |
| pH | 5 – 7.5 |
| Soil Temperature (°C) | – |
| Hardy / Frost Tender | Frost Tender |
| Sow Direct / Raise Seedlings | Sow Direct |
| Seed Preparation | – |
Scoville Heat Units (SHU)
Plant Height
60 - 90 cm (2 - 3 feet)
Season of Interest
Summer
Temperature Range
20 - 35 °C
Determine / Indeterminate
Annual / Perennial / Biennial
Annual
Frost Hardy / Tender
Frost Tender
Full Sun / Part Sun / Shade
Full Sun
Sow Direct / Raise Seedlings
Raise seedlings
Soil
Well-drained, sandy loam
pH
6.0 - 7.0
Soil Temperature
20 - 30 °C (68 - 86 °F)
Seed Preparation
Soak seeds for 12–24 hours before planting
Sowing Depth
1 - 2 cm (0.5 - 1 inch)
Plant Spacing
45 cm (18 inches)
Row spacing
60 cm (24 inches)
Watering
Moderate, keep soil slightly moist
Germination Time (Days)
10 - 14 days
Harvest Time (Days)
90 - 120 days
Good Companion Plants
Corn,Radishes,Basil
Bad Companion Plants
Potatoes,Sage,Melons
Pests
Cutworms,Aphids,Spider Mites
Diseases
Downy Mildew, Powdery Mildew, Root Rot
More About Us
When I started this journey in 2009, I found nothing existed commercially, that was reasonably priced and easy to use. There was a homemade system which I also found was not that user-friendly.
Then a friend of mine told me about a homemade method she used. However, when I tried her method, I found this also didn’t suit my needs, as it too had flaws that I considered where important. It did not keep vermin out, did not have a lockable lid and (to me) looked unsightly in the garden
