Achocha

[hils]

Did any of you grapes out there sow Achocha seeds this year?
If so, are yours now taking over the garden in a triffid-like fashion.
Mine have started to grow the funny fruit with soft spikes. I eagerly await the ripened product. Do not know whether to call it a fruit or a veg!

[HappyMouffe]

I sowed some, they are sprawling around on the floor, refusing to climb, despite having splendid tendrils. They haven't started fruiting yet, but everything seems very late here this year - I only got my first courgette last week.

Let us know if they do taste as advertised - like green peppers.

[blackcatlois]

Acocha

Well I've just cooked some for my tea - after taking the seeds out and then I cut them into strips and fried them up - and no I don't think they taste like peppers, in fact I think they have a taste unto themselves - rather strange! When eating them raw it's best if they're very small before they get any seeds, as before the seeds they taste similar to cucumbers and are ok, however if you try them raw after they've got seeds, they're rather bitter, like biting into apple pips. To sum it up, they look great on the plate (and in the garden), but a bit of a disappointment to the palette (just my opinion).

[la cebolla grande]

Hi

We have grown ''achoo-choos'' this year for the first time. They have not gone completely mad as everyone said they would, and would be sprawling on the ground if the OH didn't keep persuading them up the trellis - they have got the idea now though.

Some of the 'pods' are now about 1inch and we tried the first ones last week. They were easy to de-seed - I just did it with a fingernail! I wasn't too sure about the smell of the raw beasties - even when picking them but we went ahead and cooked them (stir fry) - they were lovely!! I would say the flavour is very much cooked green pepper, not the crisp and sweet raw green pepper, but they will certainly be being added to more food in the coming weeks.

There are a LOT of pods on the way!!

LCG:

[nicpip]

achocha

DO any achocha experts know if they would grow outdoors (presumably after propagating under cover?) in Morayshire,Scotland ?l ook forward to hearing from you,Nick

[poly]

I'm no expert but imho I don’t see why not and certainly worth a shot. As you suggest raise in pots before planting out after risk of frost. Having said that they do self sow readily and seem to pop up all over the place! Likes a sunny spot and they climb vigorously over or through pretty much anything. Can be slow to get going but once they take hold there is no stopping them. They may be day length sensitive as they don’t start to set fruit till quite late.

[realfood]

I grew them in Glasgow last year, but remember that they are very cold sensitive. I grew them in a greenhouse and let them escape out of a window to ramble for about 6 m. The ones that I planted outside in June were all eaten by slugs, even though I had taken precautions. As they take up so much space, it would be better to try them under a cloche until they become established and can climb up a hedge or fence.

[zazen999]

I had exploding cukes which are closely related...and they were chopped down mid summer last year as they were taking over. Or so I thought as I went away for 5 days and it had grown back - so I left it, saved the seed and gave them away to peeps on here. It was one of the last 'tender' things to actually die in the autumn.

[Flummery]

Mine didn't go out until June - one succumbed but the other grew, triffid-like until it produced enough small gourds to feed the village! They are tender but if you look after it you should be ok. Worth a go!