Poona Kheera

Andrey_BY · July 31, 2006

Poona Kheera has rather mild sweet taste, but their skin is rather thick and firm compatirably with most of common green cucumbers. Most of our neighboors thought these were mature green cucumbers after several weeks of storing under the sun

Worth1 · July 31, 2006

Ooh so they do have a sausage vine.

I wondered where they came from. :wink:

Worth

Andrey_BY · July 31, 2006

Yes, they a huge, have potato/sausage shape and came originally from India as far as I know there they are called Puneri as well.

http://www.seedsofindia.com/CukesRootsCauliflower.htm

supergirl · July 31, 2006

Thanks for posting the picture. I've seen a lot of references to people growing Poona Keera, but hadn't looked it up yet myself. I didn't realize it was such an orangey color!

I would definitely have thought it was over-ripe. I pull all the lemon cukes before they turn yellow, since I think they're too seedy then.

Adenn1 · July 31, 2006

I started a post asking for cuke recommendations this spring...Mischka and Carolyn brought this great variety to my attention and I added it to my garden. Poona Kheera has survived attacks by cuke beetles, high temperatures, 18" of rain and anything else mother nature has thrown at it. It is a great tasting cuke...stays crisp and sweet in salads and is a hit with my wife and friends. They say it looks strange...but tastes great. Going to be on the grow list for some time...

duajones · January 18, 2007

saw this thread and just had to add: I grew it for the first time this fall and although i started them late, the produced well for me and were extremely early ( 42 days from seed) that may not be the norm but it was a pleasant surprise as was the taste. Of the ones I gave out to friends and such, it was everyones favorite

**Mischka** · January 20, 2007

I usually pick mine right before they get their full "russet potato" coloration.

Peel a couple of these, slice them up with some wedges of Cherokee Purple and pour on some homemade vinegar and oil dressing (add a couple dashes of Tabasco for a little zing) Mmm...the taste of summer captured in a bowl.

duajones · January 20, 2007

Ok, I really need to get a waterproof keyboard. This place whether it be pictures or descriptions gets my mouth watering every time. Not that I am complaining or anything.

Earl · January 21, 2007

Andrey,
I have these from Seeds of India and I'm looking forward to growing them:

#990-Puneri or Poona Kheera Cream/light green fruits, have very delicious flesh, crisp, juicy, sweet and mild. Fruit is shaped like a potato, with skin turning brown. Very strong vines give huge yields, and are also early. $2.49

#995-Himangi.

The medium vigorous plants bear fruits of 18-20 cm length with white spines. Fruits are uniformly cream in color. Crisp texture with good keeping quality. Good and consistent yielder. $2.49

DeanRIowa · July 8, 2008

Anyone else growing the Poona Kheera cucumber this year?

I have two hills growing and they have a few cucumbers that are about 2 inches long and green.

Any ideas about how long until they will be ready to be harvested?

What size do they reach generally?

thanks,

Dean

**nctomatoman** · July 8, 2008

I am growing it for the first time - we really enjoy it, it is a machine (though I have to admit to liking the flavor of Diva just a tad more). We pick them when about 4 inches long and still nearly white/pale green, just starting to get the russeting. I tried one that had gone completely orangey brown, and found them to be flavorful, but a bit tough in texture.

feldon30 · July 8, 2008

You're letting them go WAY too ripe.

Pick when greenish-yellow with a hint of yellowish-brown at one end.

DeanRIowa · July 8, 2008

How width will they become? Do they plump up, because mine now are 2 1/2 inches and other then the color look like a pickling cucumber?

Dean

feldon30 · July 8, 2008

Poona Kheera does not reach 6".

DeanRIowa · July 10, 2008

Some of mine are now 3" to 4" long, but they are not very plump yet. Do they gain in width as they grow? They look more like pickling cucumbers right now.

They colors range from darker green, light green, yellow, to light brown.

I assume the light brown one is about ready, but I thought they would be wider like most pictures I see of them.

Dean

July 31, 2006	#3
Andrey_BY Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Minsk, Belarus, Eastern Europe (Zone 4a) Posts: 2,278	Yes, they a huge, have potato/sausage shape and came originally from India as far as I know there they are called Puneri as well. http://www.seedsofindia.com/CukesRootsCauliflower.htm __________________ 1 kg=2.2 lb , 1 m=39,37 in , 1 oz=28.35 g , 1 ft=30.48 cm , 1 lb= 0,4536 kg , 1 in=2.54 cm , 1 l = 0.26 gallon , 0 C=32 F Andrey a.k.a. TOMATODOR

January 20, 2007	#7
Mischka Tomatoville® Administrator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Bay State Posts: 3,207	I usually pick mine right before they get their full "russet potato" coloration. Peel a couple of these, slice them up with some wedges of Cherokee Purple and pour on some homemade vinegar and oil dressing (add a couple dashes of Tabasco for a little zing) Mmm...the taste of summer captured in a bowl. __________________ Mischka One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: "Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved." No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.

July 8, 2008	#11
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	I am growing it for the first time - we really enjoy it, it is a machine (though I have to admit to liking the flavor of Diva just a tad more). We pick them when about 4 inches long and still nearly white/pale green, just starting to get the russeting. I tried one that had gone completely orangey brown, and found them to be flavorful, but a bit tough in texture. __________________ Craig

July 8, 2008	#12
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	You're letting them go WAY too ripe. Pick when greenish-yellow with a hint of yellowish-brown at one end. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

July 8, 2008	#14
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	Poona Kheera does not reach 6". __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

July 31, 2006	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Ooh so they do have a sausage vine. I wondered where they came from. :wink: Worth

July 31, 2006	#4
supergirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Palo Alto, CA Posts: 107	Thanks for posting the picture. I've seen a lot of references to people growing Poona Keera, but hadn't looked it up yet myself. I didn't realize it was such an orangey color! I would definitely have thought it was over-ripe. I pull all the lemon cukes before they turn yellow, since I think they're too seedy then.

July 31, 2006	#5
Adenn1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Philly Posts: 559	I started a post asking for cuke recommendations this spring...Mischka and Carolyn brought this great variety to my attention and I added it to my garden. Poona Kheera has survived attacks by cuke beetles, high temperatures, 18" of rain and anything else mother nature has thrown at it. It is a great tasting cuke...stays crisp and sweet in salads and is a hit with my wife and friends. They say it looks strange...but tastes great. Going to be on the grow list for some time...

January 18, 2007	#6
duajones Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Corpus Christi,Texas Z9 Posts: 1,996	saw this thread and just had to add: I grew it for the first time this fall and although i started them late, the produced well for me and were extremely early ( 42 days from seed) that may not be the norm but it was a pleasant surprise as was the taste. Of the ones I gave out to friends and such, it was everyones favorite

January 21, 2007	#9
Earl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,278	Andrey, I have these from Seeds of India and I'm looking forward to growing them: #990-Puneri or Poona Kheera Cream/light green fruits, have very delicious flesh, crisp, juicy, sweet and mild. Fruit is shaped like a potato, with skin turning brown. Very strong vines give huge yields, and are also early. $2.49 #995-Himangi. The medium vigorous plants bear fruits of 18-20 cm length with white spines. Fruits are uniformly cream in color. Crisp texture with good keeping quality. Good and consistent yielder. $2.49

July 8, 2008	#10
DeanRIowa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 5a - NE Iowa Posts: 416	Anyone else growing the Poona Kheera cucumber this year? I have two hills growing and they have a few cucumbers that are about 2 inches long and green. Any ideas about how long until they will be ready to be harvested? What size do they reach generally? thanks, Dean

July 10, 2008	#15
DeanRIowa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 5a - NE Iowa Posts: 416	Some of mine are now 3" to 4" long, but they are not very plump yet. Do they gain in width as they grow? They look more like pickling cucumbers right now. They colors range from darker green, light green, yellow, to light brown. I assume the light brown one is about ready, but I thought they would be wider like most pictures I see of them. Dean