You know what, this name is kind of misleading. I would not call this a melon at all, it is more of a cucumber. If you already know how to grow cucumbers in your garden , then you are definitely ready to start growing the African horned melon too.

The scientific name is Cucumis Metuliferus, but some people also call it the jelly melon or Kiwano. This often juicy, but slightly sour cucumber is a native of Africa and is a delicacy in the United States often selling for at least $6 each. The best part is it is one of the easiest cucumbers to grow and is often found in many African gardens.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

• horned melon seeds
• organic fertilizer
• compost
• mulch
• trellis (optional)
• greenhouse (optional)

Identify a sunny spot preferably with loamy or clay soils and a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. It will also grow in pretty much any type of soil. Spring is the best time to plant, especially after your temperatures are at least 57 degrees F. Plant 3 seeds about an inch deep and 18 to 24 inches apart. Keep well watered for 14 to 21 days as germination takes place.

Apply some mulch, to help prevent evaporation and to keep the weeds at bay. At least 1 inch of water is required weekly, but allow the soil to dry out in between waterings. Diseases to keep an eye out for are tobacco ringspot virus and cucumber mosaic virus. Keeping weeds away from your plants will help protect them from these. Start harvesting them when they have grown to about 4 to 5 inches long, be careful the ‘horns’ can be very picky.

You can follow step by step instructions on the SF Gate blog, here…

How To Grow Horned Melons

You can watch the video below on how to grow horned melon…

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