African Horned cucumber, Kiwano

A tropical plant. It requires conditions similar to cucumbers. It prefers light well drained soil. It needs a protected sunny position. It is drought and frost tender. It grows at low and medium elevations in Zimbabwe. It grows between 210-1,800 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Also known as:

African horned melon, Afriška bučka, Chicuachavate, Chicuapuruto, Gaka, Gakachika, Hedged gourd, Horned melon, Jelly melon, Kangamkhwani, Magabala, Melano, Mokapana, Mugagachiga, Mugaika, Mugaka, Mugamganam, Mugumudsambwa, Mukake, Mushonja, Mutete, Nku, Okuju, Uhufafa, Umhlagahlaga

Synonyms

Cucumis tinneanus Kotschy & Peyr. The correct spelling in probably now metulifer

Edible Portion

Fruit, Seeds, Vegetable, Leaves

Where does African Horned cucumber grow?

Found in: Africa, Australia, Angola, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, Congo DR, Cook Islands, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, France, Gambia, Guinea, Guinée, Israel, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Marquesas, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, North America, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, United States, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are about 25 Cucumis species.

Status: It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Fruit are sold in local markets. Improved varieties have been produced.

Growing African Horned cucumber, Kiwano

Cultivation: Plants are grown from seed. They take 8-16 days to germinate in warm soil.

Edible Uses: The peeled fruit are eaten raw. They can also be cut open and sun dried for storage and use in preserves. The young leaves are stripped and cooked then eaten. The seeds are pounded and used for flavouring. CAUTION: If the plants are bitter they need to be used with caution.

Production: Plants grow rapidly. They flower and set fruit in 6-8 weeks. It is then 7 weeks to maturity.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part	Energy (kcal)	Protein (g)	Iron (mg)	Vitamin A (ug)	Vitamin c (mg)	Zinc (mg)	% Water
Fruit	33	1.1	0.5	-	18.6	0.3	91

African Horned cucumber, Kiwano Photos

African Horned cucumber, Kiwano

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