The following request for assistance was received from Sally James of the Sydney Food Fairness Alliance. She passes the request on for a friend whose message follows Sally’s below.
If anyone can identify the thing, could you respond in the ‘Comments’ box below.
I recall seeing a vine of these fruit growing on the fence at Glovers Community Garden in the 1990s but cannot recall their name.
Thanks…
…Russ Grayson.
SALLY WRITES:
Hi gardeners…
I am passing on this request form a friend. Any ideas??
It looks as though someone has GMO’d a pumpkin
Thanks.
Sally
PIPPA WRITES:
Hi everyone,
I’ve just taken a photo of a mysterious pumpkin/zucchini/squash??? that I found growing in my garden.
Does anyone know what it is? This is a big one and a little one. The leaves are scratchy and pumpkin-like.
Mystery vegetable.
May 7, 2010 at 2:11 am
It looks to ne like a type of cucumber, probably one of two types of ‘Russian’ cucumber.
Cut it open and see if it has cucumber like flesh and seeds. Quite safe to eat but the skin is thick and bitter from memory unless you get them very young.
May 7, 2010 at 2:24 am
I believe it to be an African Horned Melon, also called African Horned Cucumber, Cucumis metuliferus.
see http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Cucumis+metuliferus
Woz
May 7, 2010 at 2:28 am
Cool lookin’ vegie! Looks like it’s a Horned Melon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horned_melon
Similar image at: http://www.jungleseeds.com/images/HornedMelon.jpg
From Wikipedia:
In Zimbabwe, this cucumber is called ‘gaka’ or ‘gakachika’ and it is primarily used as a fruit-snack, salad and rarely for decoration. It is eaten young, mature green or when ripe – bright yellow/orange (eaten at any stage of its development). It grows naturally in the fields and also in the bush. However, some people leave some to rot in the fields for next summer seeds/plants. Its taste has been compared to a combination of cucumber and zucchini[1] or a combination of banana, cucumber and lemon.[2] Some eat the peeling as well. It has a replica that does not have horns, but looks and tastes similar. The seeds are covered in a gelatin-like substance. The skin is very rich in vitamin c and fiber. Before being eaten, adding a small amount of salt or sugar can increase the flavor.
May 7, 2010 at 2:47 am
The horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus), also called African horned cucumber or melon, jelly melon, hedged gourd, English tomato, melano, or kiwano. Check Wikipedia
May 7, 2010 at 2:47 am
The horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus), also called African horned cucumber or melon, jelly melon, hedged gourd, English tomato, melano, or kiwano. Check Wikipedia
May 7, 2010 at 3:14 am
Alasdair says:
Its called an African Horned cucumber.
Has large seeds loved by our ducks , but not very interesting for human
consumption
Regards
Alasdair
May 7, 2010 at 3:49 am
Its called an African Horned cucumber.
Has large seeds loved by our ducks , but not very interesting for human
consumption – too watery for my taste – but grows very well in Sydney
May 7, 2010 at 5:57 am
Julie Firth says:
Looks like a Kiwano to me..
An african horny cucumber..
Julie Firth
Drylands Permaculture Nursery/Research Farm
T/as Yilgarn Traders
333 David Rd, Waggrakine
Geraldton, W.A. 6530
Tel. +61 (0) 899 381 628
http://www.permaculturenursery.com.au
__________________________________
May 8, 2010 at 2:26 am
Can confirm it’s the cucumber mentioned above… we grew an insane amount of them one year in Nth NSW – gave them away, sold them, pickled them, etc… in the end we used them as missiles to help keep possums off the garden…
May 11, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Terry Leahy says:
Hi,
I have seen it before.
I think it is a sort of bitter cucumber that is eaten in Indonesia,
Terry
June 17, 2010 at 12:15 pm
if you don’t like EATing it as you might be exPECTing a cucumber to be, try juicing it (with other veges/fruits) – it’s pretty good that way, kind of as a “filler”….
October 31, 2010 at 2:06 am
Delicious in salads as a cucumber. It appears in our garden year after year and grows straight after normal cucumbers have disappeared. Has a more sour taste then normal cucumbers. I love to eat it. Can be also eaten as a snack with a spoon.
November 12, 2010 at 3:30 am
We used to call it a Prickly Cucumber when we had a vine as kids in Queensland. Cucumis Metuliferus. Cut in half with a little salt and sugar makes a tasty snack.
April 5, 2011 at 4:41 pm
Where can I get this cucumber in Australia??? I am 9 weeks pregnant and craving it. Help????