Kiwano - African Horned Cucumber

These looked interesting and wanted to give him a try. They were slow to sprout but then took off, everywhere! Certainly easy to grow. The flavo and texture were not for me. I did let one get really orange and the flavor certainly was improved but still not worth it for me. One unexpected bonus is that the plants and fruit are very spiky and I put them around my raised beds to keep the raccoons out and it seems to have worked! And I am now sure to wear shoes in the garden!

I started this plant last January and grew it in the house until it was planted outside when the weather warmed up. I planted it in a large raised bed (about 16 foot by 4). It took off and is pretty much taking over that whole area. The problem is that I cannot reach in and get stuff off the other plants without touching this one. The vines have tiny sharp spines on them that break off into your skin when you touch it. It is almost like a cactus. For as big as it is, it does not have many fruits on it and they are not ripe as of yet (August). If I was to raise this one again i would throw it in the most remote, neglected area of the garden, but never again in a raised bed with more civilized vegetables.

Bought a small one at a local farmers market, grows rapidly, Easy to grow but no fruit yet. Had to separate Audry (Yes from Little Shop of Horrors) from other plants. The runners try to strangle everything and reach out to anyone or thing around it. The plant is fun to watch. It prefers just plain water or ph balanced water, doesn't like added nutrients.

Easy to grow, pretty and smells good but didn't enjoy the taste. I'd still grow it again.

Put seeds in the ground once in 2009 and had volunteers until 2016. Highly recommend trellis. Great for fruit smoothies and self-defense.