Each week Just Trying To Save Money will find a new fruit or vegetable that her family is going to try and share with you how it tastes, where is grows, etc. This is a way for her family to try new fruits and vegetables and hopefully encourage your family to do the same!
Just Trying To Save Money also hopes to find new fruits and vegetables to grow in her garden, in the long run saving her money while providing her family with more organic food options! Here is the new produce she tried this week!
NAME: Kiwano Horned Melon (Cucumis metuliferus)
FRUIT or VEGETABLE: Fruit
AVERAGE SIZE, COLOR, SHAPE: 6-9 inches long (my 6 year old daughter was holding this in one hand- to give you an idea of how big it was), oval shaped, yellow-organish in color with spikes all over it, green and seedy on the inside- inside looks similar to a Kiwi
HOW TO GROW: Start Kiwano seeds indoors in the spring and then they can be moved to your outdoor garden once temperatures reach 55-60 degrees! Kiwano plants need full sun and it's soil needs to stay moist.
WHERE TO GROW: You can pretty much grow it any where as long as you plant it in a well drained area, keep the soil moist and it has plenty of sun light
HARVEST: Kiwano melons are ready for harvest once the skin turns orangish, usually 12-14 weeks after planted.
HOW TO EAT: Cut it and serve as a snack or add it as a garnish
TASTE: Similar to a cucumber, kind of plain but it was actually refreshing, a little tart
SPECIAL NEEDS or INSTRUCTIONS: Do not refrigerate
USES: Good source of Vitamin C (40% of your daily recommended serving in one Kiwano melon)
AVERAGE COST AT THE GROCERY: $2.50 - $3.50 each (these are average prices in my area, Ohio, depending on season and growth they may be more or less in your neck of the woods)
RECIPES: Mix with fruit salad, Beef & Fruit Salad
Thanks E How, Recipe.com and What's Cooking America for additional information about this produce!
