Cucumis metuliferus
Kiwano
Common names: Hornmelon, Horn cucumber, Spring cucumber
Photo: Joseolgon · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
Kiwano, botanically Cucumis metuliferus, is a climbing pumpkin family plant native to southern Africa. It produces distinctive orange, spiky fruits with bright green, jelly‑like flesh. The plant is closely related to the cucumber and prefers warm conditions, making it best grown in a greenhouse or on a protected, sunny trellis in temperate regions. It develops long, climbing stems and yellow flowers that give rise to the characteristic horned fruits over the summer. A full crop requires a long, warm season; in cooler areas the fruit often ripens late in the year. Mild, edible varieties exist alongside bitter ones that can be toxic like many cucurbits, so only consume fruits that taste mild.
Care instructions
Kiwano needs a sunny, wind‑protected spot and a trellis for the vines to climb. Keep the soil consistently moist; the plant does not tolerate waterlogged soil. Fertilize every two to three weeks with mature compost or nettle tea once the first fruits appear. Harvest when the skin turns orange and the spines are firm, usually from September onward. If nights drop below 12 °C, cover the flowers with a cloth for protection.
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, sandy, nutrient-rich, dry
Feeding
Heavy feeder
Companion planting
Good neighbors
legume family (Fabaceae)
Beans and peas enrich the soil with nitrogen, which cucurbits, as heavy feeders, can make good use of.
For example PeaBush beanPole beanBroad beanMarker peaSugar pea and 31 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
Rather not
nightshade family (Solanaceae)
You should avoid planting potato and cucumber together because they share disease pathogens such as leaf and brown rot and stand in each other's way as strong feeders.
For example PotatoTomatoSweet pepperCocktail tomatoEggplantCape gooseberry and 9 more species in the catalogue
Source: basic crop-rotation rule
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
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