Any one know about achocha?

[jackyspratty]

Hello grapers,
Want to try something new next year that will like the dampness of of our Summers in Leeds! Someone told me about a climber called achocha. Has anyone grown it? Is it a fruit or a veg, annual etc, I've never heard of it.

Not sure if this the right place to be posting this?

All contributions very welcome!

[zazen999]

I got - hmm - 4 maybe even 5 tiny achochas on my plant this year; I believe Piskie had great success with hers this year.

I'll move this to vegging out though, as it is veg based.

[ginger ninger]

Best thing to do is google it, I have and it tells you how to grow it, how to get your seeds, how to cook it. Apparently its related to melons & cucumbers it grows on vigorous climbing plants (vines) and it was something to do with the Incas. Well worth a read.

[piskieinboots]

..I believe Piskie had great success with hers this year.

I sure did - it was lovely to grow, bl**dy rampant tho

I grew one outside using a grow bag with a pot for extra soil, it ran* up string that I had put in the pot and tied to a cross strut. I also grew soom in the greenhouse, in similar way - to be honest there wasn't much difference in the production of fruits, they both did very well.

I ended up pickling some.

Give it a go, it's fun - but a word of warning, it (the plant) does look - erm, illegal SD brought the Police dogs around to ensure it was cosher

Thank you Flummery for the seeds

*it also lassoed itself to anything that stood still, so give your plant plenty of room

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

I can back up Piskie, don't grow Achocha near anything else. My plants smothered a Clematis and started taking over next doors garden as well. Mine were prolific fruiters - freezers full of them. First time you cut open an Achocha you think - OH!, it's full of fully,stiff cotton wool (and seeds). It's a most unusual plant. Now it's my turn to be dumb, does Achocha look like THE naughty herbal plant? If you are still looking for seeds PM me and I'll send you some.

[muckdiva]

First time you cut open an Achocha you think - OH!, it's full of fully,stiff cotton wool (and seeds). .

So,what's the best way to cook/eat it?
Mine died, but may give them another go next time.

[piskieinboots]

So,what's the best way to cook/eat it?

If picked small I like them raw on salad - think cucumberish. If on the bigger side, stir fried is good.

As mentioned above, I have also pickled some

[Rocketron]

The fruit look like WW2 sea mines (round with spikes). Are they edible when they look like this ? Mine exploded on the plant, no chance to pick.

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

WW2 sea mines I know what you mean. Yes they are edible at this stage but best stir fried or popped in a stew or casserole.

[Flummery]

And if they get too big, cut them in half and slip out the seeds. Save any that are black for next year. I lob the big ones into stews and casseroles. Very versatile but doesn' taste of much. I've had loads this year on the allotment fence.

[Rocketron]

That's the problem, Flummery. They grow to about an inch and a half long, then explode.

[rogesse]

This is my second year of growing Achocha - and the first year for my lottie neighbours, even though they didn't sow any..........

I'll second it that it is a very very vigorous vine and when ripe spits out its seeds as some velocity. Must admit I couldn't find a culinary use but its fun to play with (tap a ripe pod then run away)

I grew a pot full outside starting in March and it germinated then grew and grew like topsy (in London) so I reckon it would be fine further north.

Real Seeds sell it, but I have LOADS of seed so if anybody wants to give it a go drop me a PM!

[jackyspratty]

Wow, thanks everyone, think I fancy giving them a go next year, my 7 year old likes the sound of exploding pods! Can I ask a really stupid question? What does PM mean, can you tell I'm new to all this!

Apolgies again, as I opened a new thread again on this not realising this had been moved!

many thanks again x

[rogesse]

PM means personal message - you click the green name of the person you wish to contact. Eg, if you would like some seed sent, go to my message (above) click once 'rogesse' and one of the drop down options will be 'sent a private message to ....'

Click and follow instruction, send message!

Took me a while too!

[Flummery]

Are you sure you aren't growing exploding cucumber instead? I think there are 3 types of achocha sold by Real Seeds - one is an exploding one. Not sure which mine is but it doesn't go off with a bang!