Kiwano, Orange (Cucumis Metuliferus)

Available only in the Spring!

Kiwano, also known as Jelly Melon or African Horned Cucumber is an annual fruiting vine. The plant produces a gorgeous, eye-catching a cucumber melon-like fruit. When ripe, it has bright orange skin and refreshing lime-green juicy interior with many soft cucumber-like seeds. 

Native to center and southern Africa, Kiwano thrives in a hot, dry environment and is the perfect plant to grow in late summer. Kiwano’s flavor is a combination of cucumber, lime, melon with maybe even a mellow hint of banana.  The flesh of the fruit is juicy and succulent and can be scooped from the fruit with a spoon.  Kiwano fruit is great raw alone or in salads but can also be boiled down into a jelly or even pickled.

The Kiwano vine likes to climb on trees, shrubs, grass and throughout low-lying disturbed areas. One hardy Kiwano vine can produce up to 100 fruits in one season!