Achocha

potager · August 7, 2007

Have you ever tried to grow Achocha, Korilla, Lady's Slipper, Cyclanthera pedata? (this interesting cucumber relative has so many names).

I wonder how one can use the hundreds of pods it deliveres. Any suggestions?

DeanRIowa · August 7, 2007

How is the flavor of the this cucumber?

potager · August 8, 2007

Well - it is not easy to describe, but it is something between the Ameracan Yard Long cucumber (in the botanical sence it's a melon) and the pods from Sugar Snap peas.

DeanRIowa · May 20, 2008

I plan on growing three types of cyclanthera this year.

Is anyone else growing cyclanthera this year?

I understand they can take some partial shade so I am trying some under/on a tree, anyone tried that?

thanks,

Dean

orflo · May 20, 2008

Brian,
I use them the way I use pod peas, either mixed up with tomatoes , peppers or even squash, or prepared on their own together with some onions, garlic, parsley or coriander or even quilquina or papalo, same salt and pepper. Another way is to make some sort of a curry sauce with them, also adding some spices and, of course, curry.
I will grow four varieties this year, the three you got, Dean , and a fourth one which produces bigger pods, up to 18 cms., but it seems to be daylight-sensitive. I do think a bit of shad e won't harm them, especially not the exploding one,
Frank

Tomaat · June 12, 2008

I haven't grow it personally but I read it somewhere, the pod can be use in many way:in stir fry, in pizza, in salad (raw) and for pickle. It said to taste like paprika.

DeanRIowa · June 12, 2008

How long from planting the seed till you get fruit?

thanks,

Dean

DeanRIowa · September 9, 2008

I checked my plants this morning and I have some little fruit. They are just a little smaller then my thumb.

Have large do they get before needing to be harvested?

How long till they can be harvested for seed? I am wondering because my growing season is close to coming to the end I am afriad in the next few weeks.

thanks,
Dean

DeanRIowa · October 17, 2008

I am swamped with pods. It is amazing that 2 plants could fill a 9 foot wide arch.

They definitely have a cucumber and some other taste, I can not quite pick it out. I added some to a hamburger pasta like I would green peppers and they lost there flavor in the dish.

Any ideas with recipes for using them?

thanks,
Dean

orflo · October 18, 2008

Plants do become big , depending on the variety. I use them everywhere, but either raw, or cooked for a very short time (spaghetti sauce, pizza,oven dishes,...), less than five minutes. It's also best to use the smaller pods, certainly at the end of the season; larger pods can contain seeds at a very early stage in this time of year,
Frank

DeanRIowa · March 25, 2009

These ended up being my 3 year old daughters favorite vegetable from the garden. I would deseed them and she would eat them raw.

They have been added to my growing list again this season.

Dean

habitat_gardener · March 25, 2009

I'll have to try these! I have a shadier side of the garden where tomatoes don't do as well, and I'm phasing out the 6-ft. purple sprouting broccoli plants.

Where are seeds available?

August 7, 2007	#1
potager Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Denmark Posts: 28	Achocha Have you ever tried to grow Achocha, Korilla, Lady's Slipper, Cyclanthera pedata? (this interesting cucumber relative has so many names). I wonder how one can use the hundreds of pods it deliveres. Any suggestions? __________________ Kind regards Brian

August 8, 2007	#3
potager Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Denmark Posts: 28	Well - it is not easy to describe, but it is something between the Ameracan Yard Long cucumber (in the botanical sence it's a melon) and the pods from Sugar Snap peas. __________________ Kind regards Brian

August 7, 2007	#2
DeanRIowa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 5a - NE Iowa Posts: 416	How is the flavor of the this cucumber?

May 20, 2008	#4
DeanRIowa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 5a - NE Iowa Posts: 416	I plan on growing three types of cyclanthera this year. Is anyone else growing cyclanthera this year? I understand they can take some partial shade so I am trying some under/on a tree, anyone tried that? thanks, Dean

May 20, 2008	#5
orflo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: belgium Posts: 134	Brian, I use them the way I use pod peas, either mixed up with tomatoes , peppers or even squash, or prepared on their own together with some onions, garlic, parsley or coriander or even quilquina or papalo, same salt and pepper. Another way is to make some sort of a curry sauce with them, also adding some spices and, of course, curry. I will grow four varieties this year, the three you got, Dean , and a fourth one which produces bigger pods, up to 18 cms., but it seems to be daylight-sensitive. I do think a bit of shad e won't harm them, especially not the exploding one, Frank

June 12, 2008	#6
Tomaat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 154	I haven't grow it personally but I read it somewhere, the pod can be use in many way:in stir fry, in pizza, in salad (raw) and for pickle. It said to taste like paprika.

September 9, 2008	#8
DeanRIowa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 5a - NE Iowa Posts: 416	I checked my plants this morning and I have some little fruit. They are just a little smaller then my thumb. Have large do they get before needing to be harvested? How long till they can be harvested for seed? I am wondering because my growing season is close to coming to the end I am afriad in the next few weeks. thanks, Dean

October 17, 2008	#9
DeanRIowa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 5a - NE Iowa Posts: 416	I am swamped with pods. It is amazing that 2 plants could fill a 9 foot wide arch. They definitely have a cucumber and some other taste, I can not quite pick it out. I added some to a hamburger pasta like I would green peppers and they lost there flavor in the dish. Any ideas with recipes for using them? thanks, Dean

October 18, 2008	#10
orflo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: belgium Posts: 134	Plants do become big , depending on the variety. I use them everywhere, but either raw, or cooked for a very short time (spaghetti sauce, pizza,oven dishes,...), less than five minutes. It's also best to use the smaller pods, certainly at the end of the season; larger pods can contain seeds at a very early stage in this time of year, Frank

March 25, 2009	#11
DeanRIowa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 5a - NE Iowa Posts: 416	These ended up being my 3 year old daughters favorite vegetable from the garden. I would deseed them and she would eat them raw. They have been added to my growing list again this season. Dean

March 25, 2009	#12
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	I'll have to try these! I have a shadier side of the garden where tomatoes don't do as well, and I'm phasing out the 6-ft. purple sprouting broccoli plants. Where are seeds available?