General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Vine
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Water Preferences: Mesic
Plant Height: up to 9 feet - provide support
Plant Spread: 9 feet if allowed to creep on the ground.
Leaves: Other: Leaves are edible, prepare as for cooked spinach.
Fruit: Other: Each vine can produce up to 100 fruits.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Flower Color: Yellow
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Summer
Underground structures: Taproot
Uses: Vegetable
Cooked greens
Edible Parts: Fruit
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Birds
Butterflies
Resistances: Humidity tolerant
Toxicity: Other: Fruit pulp, rind and seeds are edible; leaves are edible - can be cooked as spinach.
Propagation: Seeds: Self fertile
Needs specific temperature: 58+ F
Days to germinate: 5 - 21 days
Depth to plant seed: 1.5 - 2 inches
Start indoors
Can handle transplanting
Other info: Start seeds indoors for earlier harvest.
Pollinators: Various insects
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Miscellaneous: Monoecious

Image
Common names
  • Kiwano
  • African Horned Cucumber
  • Horned Melon
  • Spiked Melon
  • Jelly Melon
  • Cuke-a-Saurus

Photo Gallery
Location: Ingleside. Illinois
Date: 2022-09-14
Location: Augusta GA
Date: 2015-09-29
Location: Savannah, Georgia, USA
Date: 2014-01-15
Ripe fruit
Location: Savannah, Georgia, USA
Date: 2014-01-15
Cut fruit showing pulp and seeds.
Location: Ingleside. Illinois
Date: 2022-09-12
Immature fruit.

 Photo Courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Used with permissi
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Savannah, Georgia, USA
Date: 2013-07-29
Horned melon plant before supports were added.
Location: Harrogate Autumn Flower show, Yorkshire
Date: 2018-09-15
Location: My house
Date: 2021-09-22
Location: Savannah, Georgia, USA
Date: 2014-01-15

 Photo Courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Used with permissi
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Augusta GA
Date: 2015-08-24

photo credit: Anagoria
Photo by farmerdill
Location: My neighborhood
Date: 2021-09-22
Location: Denver Metro CO
Date: 2016-07-13
At a local grocery store
Location: Savannah, Georgia, USA
Date: 2014-02-19
Seeds saved from fruit (even from the grocery store) can have a h
Photo by farmerdill
Photo by farmerdill

Photo Courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Used with permissio
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-08-12
Location: Augusta GA
Date: 2015-05-30
Comments:
  • Posted by farmerdill (Augusta Georgia - Zone 8a) on Sep 29, 2015 9:32 AM concerning plant:
    Listed as 140 days, it seems to take forever to fruit. Planted the first of May, the fruits are just beginning to ripen, the last of September. Beautiful vine during the summer months. It really looks good on a trellis. Surprise: Although the vine grows 10-15 feet, the fruits set in the first couple of feet, and after that the vine becomes worn and ratty looking. Altho they sell for a high price at the grocery store, I can't find anyone here who will eat them. They are really prolific , self seed become more invasive than morning glories. Add to that they are a pretty much bullet proof plant.
Plant Events from our members
antsinmypants On May 25, 2022 Plant emerged
antsinmypants On May 21, 2022 Seeds sown
Indoors under lights on heat mat
» Post your own event for this plant

« Add a new plant to the database

« The Plants Database Front Page

Today's site banner is by Zoia and is called "Volunteer"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.