How to eat kiwano fruit, the taste of the fruit. Kiwano - benefits, harms and contraindications

Recently, on the shelves of stores appeared such unusual vegetable With fruit flavor like a nod. They call it differently African cucumber, horned melon and English tomato. This exotic fruit came to us from Africa. Thanks to his unique taste and useful properties of kiwano are gaining popularity more and more.

Kiwano fruit: what does it look like?

Kiwano fruits are oval in shape and yellow-orange in shape, they resemble a small melon with pimples or large cucumber. Their core is a greenish jelly with white seeds. Kiwano fruit grows on vines up to 6 m long. Its leaves are distinguished by a hard edge, resembling small cucumber leaves. It tastes like lemon, banana, melon and a slight kiwi flavor at the same time.. But sometimes it differs in excessive water content. Kiwano fruit is grown today in the Crimea, but not as a vegetable, but as a decorative decoration of the garden. During growth, the vine begins to branch strongly and quickly creates a large tent for the gazebo. The most unique thing is that kiwano is actually a cucumber vegetable, but its unusual taste makes it look like a fruit.

What is useful kiwano fruit?

  • Kiwano fruit belongs to watery fruits. It contains a large amount of moisture, 100 g - 90 percent. In addition, its composition is different high content proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It contains kiwano and many vitamins, especially group B and C. It also contains useful trace elements: phosphorus, iron, zinc, magnesium, sodium, copper, manganese, calcium and potassium, which is necessary for the proper functioning of the heart. Kiwano fruit is distinguished by its low calorie content. 100 g of the product contains 44 kcal. His frequent use helps to get rid of unnecessary kilograms and increase the tone of the body.

  • In addition to the benefits for the heart, potassium, which is included in Kiwano, provides correct work body, regulates the acid-base balance and the amount of water, improves blood composition, ensures proper muscle contraction. It is these properties that explain its benefits for people suffering from gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases.
  • In addition, kiwano fruit juice promotes rapid healing of wounds and burns. IN winter time year he will become valuable source vitamins, allowing you to strengthen the immune system and prevent the occurrence of beriberi. It also has a tonic effect, which is important for heavy mental and physical stress. Yes, and for dietary nutrition, the fruit will become an indispensable element. Kiwano fruit can be used during any diet and even the treatment of obesity.
  • Kiwano is also useful for children, featuring a rich content of vitamins and trace elements. It allows you to quickly strengthen children's immunity due to great content ascorbic acid, beta-carotene and vitamin PP. It is also used in cosmetology, most often to create masks with honey and yogurt.

How to eat kiwano?

  1. When choosing any exotic fruit, the first difficulty immediately arises, how to properly clean and eat it. There are no difficulties with the Kiwano fruit. It is eaten raw, which allows you to get the maximum benefit from the fruit. To do this, it is enough to wash the fruit and peel it.
  2. In addition, cut into cubes, it can be added to various salads and desserts. Kiwano is combined with seafood, as well as soft cheese and ice cream. It can also be prepared unusual sauce To fish dishes. Prepared from kiwano and juice, which can be consumed both in fresh, and adding to various cocktails. This product goes especially well with milk.
  3. Stored this unusual fruit in the refrigerator, no longer than 30 days. If the fruits are not quite ripe, then they can be left in the room, wrapped in paper. After 5 days they will ripen, after which they can be put in the refrigerator. If you have a food allergy or a strong predisposition to it, eat this fruit in large quantities, Not recommended. It is best to try just a small piece to start with.

Description chemical composition kiwano fruit, which are included in it useful material and how they affect the body. Can they harm a person and what will happen in this case. How to cook them properly so that everything turns out delicious. What You Didn't Know About the African Cucumber.

The content of the article:

Kiwano is an exotic plant of the Cucurbitaceae family. Its fruits look like a melon, and taste like a banana or a cucumber. They reach about 15 cm in diameter, have a rough surface with soft "spikes" and a bright orange peel. Their flesh is pale green, almost white, and looks like jelly. They are officially considered fruits, but are better known to consumers as vegetables or berries because of the abundance of seeds. Other names are African Cucumber, Anguria, Horned Melon, English Tomato. Kiwano is native to sunny Africa, where it grows both wild and cultivated. The pulp, seeds, and fruit juice are used as food. They are used to prepare various desserts in cooking or as a decoration for sweet treats - ice cream, creams, yogurts.

The composition and calorie content of kiwano


The product contains a small amount of vitamins, micro and macro elements.

The raw kiwano calorie content per 100 g is only 44 kcal, of which:

  • Proteins - 1.78 g;
  • Fats - 1.26 g;
  • Carbohydrates - 7.56 g;
  • Water - 88.97 g;
  • Ash - 0.44 g.
Vitamins per 100 g:
  • A, RE - 7 mcg;
  • Beta-carotene - 0.088 mg;
  • B1, thiamine - 0.025 mg;
  • B2, riboflavin - 0.015 mg;
  • B5, pantothenic acid - 0.183 mg;
  • B6, pyridoxine - 0.063 mg;
  • B9, folic acid - 3 mcg;
  • C, ascorbic acid - 5.3 mg;
  • RR, NE - 0.565 mg.
Macronutrients per 100 g:
  • Potassium, K - 123 mg;
  • Calcium, Ca - 13 mg;
  • Magnesium, Mg - 40 mg;
  • Sodium, Na - 2 mg;
  • Phosphorus, Ph - 37 mg.
Trace elements per 100 g:
  • Iron, Fe - 1.13 mg;
  • Manganese, Mn - 0.039 mg;
  • Copper, Cu - 20 mcg;
  • Zinc, Zn - 0.48 mg.
The composition of kiwano does not include any acids, which makes it quite safe for use in diseases of the stomach.

Useful properties of kiwano


The African cucumber is one of the most low calorie fruits, which can be used even in the most rigid diets. It is extremely beneficial for cardiovascular and nervous systems, pancreas, liver, kidneys, skin. Introducing it into the diet, you can speed up the cleansing of the body from toxins. Especially important is the use of fruits during epidemics. colds, because this increases immunity and strengthens the body's defenses.

Useful action product is as follows:

  1. Blood thinning. This is possible due to the high content of water in the pulp, which cleanses the vessels of toxins and prevents cholesterol plaques from forming on their walls. As a result, reliable prevention of myocardial infarction, platelet, stroke, coronary heart disease is provided.
  2. downgrade blood pressure . It is very useful in hypertension at all stages of development. As a result, you can protect yourself from myocardial infarction, rheumatism and other dangerous diseases.
  3. Reducing the amount of sugar in the blood. This is especially true for patients diabetes, whose glucose level is consistently above 6.8. Kiwano, on the other hand, quickly quenches thirst and hunger that occurs with a sharp increase in this figure.
  4. Recovery water-salt balance . With more than 80% liquid in its composition, African melon saturates cells with moisture and oxygen, which allows it to effectively fight radionuclides and toxins. Thus, premature aging of the body and the risk of neoplasms are prevented.
  5. Stimulation of digestion. Included in alimentary fiber, gently enveloping the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, contribute to their regeneration. With their help, flatulence passes, diarrhea and constipation, colic are eliminated, bile secretion is normalized.
  6. strengthening immune system . This is facilitated by the fact that the pulp contains ascorbic acid. It increases the body's resistance to viruses and infections, especially during epidemics. Thanks to this, overall well-being and appearance improve - the skin looks fresh and stops flaking.
  7. Joint strengthening. The content of magnesium in the fruit juice allows you to effectively use it for bursitis, osteoporosis, osteochondrosis, arthrosis, rheumatism. This is especially important during the recovery period after household and sports injuries, hypothermia and cartilage overstrain.
  8. Increased hemoglobin level. Folic acid and iron present in the composition help to cope with this kiwano. Due to this, more red blood cells appear in the blood, which protect the body from the effects of pathogenic bacteria.
  9. Elimination of insomnia. Juice and fruit seeds help to solve this problem, which should be consumed raw 1-2 hours before going to bed.
Kiwano has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, soothing, cleansing, wound healing and immunomodulatory properties, but even in this case, it is not able to replace the usual melon or cucumber.

Harm and contraindications to the use of kivano


the only strict contraindication is an individual intolerance to African cucumber, which is very rare.

It should be used with caution if you are allergic to citrus fruits, pumpkin, zucchini and bananas. Due to the abundant water content, it is worth being careful with kidney diseases - the presence of microliths, pyelonephritis, kidney failure. In case of overeating, bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, colic in the navel can be observed.

It is necessary to limit the use of kiwano for the following problems:

  • Gastritis. Under it, in no case should you eat raw, and even more so roasted sunflower seeds fruits that irritate the gastric mucosa and provoke the development of ulcers.
  • Inflammation oral cavity . This applies to tonsillitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis. With such diseases, the juice and pulp of the fruit, which contain a lot of fiber, will prevent the restoration of lymph outflow.
  • Colitis. Here you need to abandon pickled and canned pulp, which increases the production of hydrochloric acid. This is highly likely to lead to the development of a duodenal ulcer. That is why you can only eat raw, fresh fruits.
  • Hypotension. This disease is characterized by chronically low blood pressure, 100 x 60. In this case, the head is constantly spinning, weakness and tingling in the limbs are felt.
Due to the diverse composition, the benefits of kiwano are much more noticeable than its harm.

Kiwano Recipes


If there are no contraindications for eating kiwano, then mostly African cucumber is eaten in its pure, raw form, but it turns out to be quite interesting in combination with milkshakes, yogurts, creams. He will become worthy decoration ice cream, curd mass, salads. This is an excellent ingredient for making soups, cereals, and various side dishes. The fruit goes well with vegetables, berries, meat and fish products. It is prepared from delicious sauces, drinks, desserts, compotes and even jams. He calmly tolerates conservation and pickling, heat treatment.

Pay attention to the following recipes:

  • Soup. Clean 5 pieces first. kiwano - remove the peel and remove the seeds, after which you need to knead them with a pusher. Then add a little water and beat the mass with a blender until the lumps are completely dissolved. Next, strain it with gauze, you only need juice, the cake can be thrown away. It should be cooked on strong open fire for 3-4 hours, stirring with a spoon to avoid burning. In the finished broth, add chopped smoked bacon(150 g), rack of pork ribs(250 g), chicken (320 g) and freshwater fish(2-3 pieces of medium size). Fresh catfish or pike are perfect here, which need to be gutted, washed and cleaned of scales. The last ingredient - raw squid, they will need about 300 g, which are also put in the broth, salted, peppered and flavored with garlic to your liking. The dish is boiled for another hour, after which it is sprinkled with dill and turned off.
  • Sherbet. Squeeze the juice from 3 peeled oranges, strain it and immediately combine with cherry liqueur (2 tablespoons), pineapple yogurt, preferably homemade and not very fatty (150 g), and condensed milk (180 g) or cream in such same quantity. Put the bowl with the mass in the night cool place, previously covered with gauze folded in 2-3 layers. In the morning, add the pulp of 3 kiwano fruits, stir the mixture and send to freezer for a day. In the first 2-3 hours, beat it with a whisk or a mixer, this will avoid the formation of lumps. The next day, remove the sherbet from the refrigerator, put it in glasses, garnish with cream and serve chilled. Dessert can be decorated with slices of the main fruit or avar.
  • Sauce. You need to wash and peel lime (2 pcs.), kiwano (1 pc.) and lemon (1 pc.). All this should be passed through a meat grinder and squeezed out with gauze. All you need is juice, to which you should add salt and pepper to taste, a little garlic pulp, 1 tsp. mustard and olive oil(1.5 tablespoons). The resulting composition must be boiled and sent to cool in the freezer. ready sauce used as a marinade or addition to meat and fish dishes. It gives them an exotic taste and pleasant aroma.
  • Fritters. Cut in half 2-3 pieces. nod, remove the seeds from them and remove all the pulp with a spoon. Then rub it on a fine grater, combine with a pinch of salt, chopped dill (2-3 sprigs), garlic pulp (2-3 cloves). Next, beat 1-2 eggs into the mass, stir it and, picking up the dough with a spoon, quench half a teaspoon of soda with vinegar, put it on a hot and watered vegetable oil frying pan. Fry pancakes until formed golden brown and increase in volume. After that, remove them from the pan, put them neatly on a large plate and pour with heavy homemade cream.
  • Stuffed eggs . They will need 6 pieces, which need to be boiled, peeled and cut into two parts. Next, just take out the yolk and instead put the kiwano pulp (1-2 pcs.), Twisted in a meat grinder or chopped on a grater. Then garnish with sour cream and parsley.

Note! "Horned melon" has quite a lot of seeds that are very inconvenient to get. It is not necessary to do this at all, since they are quite edible and quite soft.


This name is exotic fruit obtained by combining the words "kiwi" and "banana", which he recalls to taste. It was invented in New Zealand. In Malta, South Africa, England and Australia, it is better known as African melon or horned cucumber.

Compared to other members of the Pumpkin family, this one is more resistant to diseases and garden pests. This plant is also distinguished by the fact that it gives a good harvest. Perhaps that is why it began to be actively cultivated in Israel, Bulgaria, Italy, and the USA.

For cultivation in the climatic zone of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, ordinary varieties were not suitable, so the breeders bred a special species, the Green Dragon. It quickly took root and spread in the Crimea and the Caucasus, where the weather is warmer. It was also chosen by the inhabitants of Siberia, who quite successfully cultivate this plant in greenhouses.

When choosing fruits, you should pay attention to their size - they should not be more than 15 cm in diameter. large fruits may say that they were "stuffed" with chemistry to accelerate growth and faster maturation. Their peel is always hard and elastic, with non-sharp spikes, and the color is rich orange. Pale flesh is evidence of product spoilage. On its surface there should be no mold, stains and integrity violations.

African cucumber can be stored outside the refrigerator, under room conditions, for no more than three days, after which it begins to turn black and smell unpleasant. In the case of low temperatures, it will be suitable for eating throughout the week.

Most often, unripe fruits are sold on the market, which must be placed on the windowsill for 3-5 days before cooking. Since they prick, they work with them with gloves.

The peel is not used in cooking because of its roughness and hardness, but the seeds are very tasty, they are usually both fried and eaten raw. The "shell" of the African cucumber is a wonderful element of decor - flowers are placed in it, like in a vase. It is also an excellent "dishes" for cocktails.

Watch the video about the Kiwano fruit:


Considering that kiwano recipes are not very diverse, these fruits can hardly be called the most interesting, healthy and simply necessary. It is quite possible to do without them in the kitchen, but such exotic product for its unusual appearance, it has every right to appear on the table at least once. This will definitely surprise guests and allow you to bring bright colors to the standard and sometimes so boring menu!

Kiwano is an exotic fruit from the Cucurbitaceae family, which is considered to be native to Africa. Today, Kiwano is already successfully grown as a garden crop in Israel, South America, Italy, and New Zealand.

Kiwano is also called an African cucumber, apparently for its green translucent flesh with seeds, and bicorn melon for its yellow peel with soft spikes.

The kiwano plant resembles a liana, which can be used to decorate a personal plot. The advantages of the plant are that it is unpretentious and practically not subject to various diseases yields a large harvest.

What is useful kiwano

The pulp of the fruit contains carbohydrates, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, C, as well as phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, copper.

Kiwano, with its regular use, improves immunity, it is useful for cores, for those who are obese. The kiwano calorie content is only 44 calories, so if possible, the fruit can be included in the diet for weight loss or a therapeutic diet.

Diabetics are allowed to eat fruit, it has also been noticed that if you drink juice with Kiwano pulp during a course of chemotherapy, then it side effects concerning the condition of the hair will be less pronounced.

There is a lot of water in kiwano, thanks to which it maintains water balance, and potassium, which is found in large quantities in fruits, has a beneficial effect on the work of the heart muscle.

In general, kiwano is well tolerated by the gastrointestinal tract, and, thanks to fiber, stimulates peristalsis, helps to remove toxins from the body.

You can use the pulp of kiwano and externally - to prepare homemade masks for the skin on the body and face. As a useful addition, honey is added to kiwano, spoiled milk, egg yolk and other nutritional ingredients.

Adherents traditional medicine in Africa, the pulp of the fruit is used to stop bleeding, as it has an astringent effect.

How do you eat kiwanos?

The fruit is eaten raw, although it perfectly complements any compotes, jellies and jams. Fresh juice lovers will certainly appreciate the juice from the pulp of kiwano, and it goes well with juices squeezed from other fruits.

It is noteworthy that due to the unexpressed taste, the flesh of the kiwano can be eaten sweet, spicy or salty. Therefore, they cook with her fruit salads, desserts and snacks.

By the way, the white seeds of the Kiwano fruits, as well as the cucumber ones, can be eaten. Them, thanks to an interesting appearance, can be used as delicious decoration sandwiches, jelly, second courses.

It's hard to say what taste kiwano has. Those who have tried it say different things about it. For some, the fruit is insipid, for some it looks like a cucumber, banana, lime, avocado. To summarize, the taste of kivano is slightly sweet, with sourness.

Ripe fruits are best eaten without cutting them into slices - just divide the nod into two parts, and scoop out the jelly-like contents with a spoon.


If you come across a fruit with a denser pulp, you can prepare such an appetizer: mix soft cheese with seafood, and add a kiwano - just as a decoration. You can do without seafood - cut the cheese into portions, put the kiwano pulp with seeds on top, sprinkle with spices.

Of course, it is interesting to know how the kiwano is eaten in its homeland. Try a salad of this fruit, tomatoes, sweet peppers, radishes, green onions and parsley. All these components are cut equally into cubes, mixed with chopped herbs. You can use lemon zest as a dressing. lemon juice.

pulp exotic fruit can also be used to make creams for cakes, and unripe fruits pickle successfully - just like cucumbers. The taste is similar, but still unusual.

Harm nod

There is no evidence of any serious consequences that have arisen after the use of kiwano. As with any other fruit, the first time you try kiwano, you should be careful - in order to avoid an unexpected allergic reaction. Especially such caution should be exercised by those who already suffer from food allergies.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

Seeing this fruit for the first time, not everyone will immediately determine what it is and what it is eaten with. But interest in everything new and exotic encourages a person to get to know this newcomer by name. nod.

Kiwano fruit

Kiwano is called horned melon and African cucumber. This is a herbaceous plant, a vine from the gourd family. The size of the Kiwano fruit reaches more than two meters, but typical sizes are within 20 centimeters. The homeland of the plant is Africa. It is grown for the sake of fruits, similar to a small oval-shaped melon with short spikes. This edible fruit is very nutritious, and therefore is actively cultivated in Central America, California, Australia and even Israel. The plant does not tolerate negative temperatures.

Kiwano fruits are yellow, orange or red. Their peel is inedible, tough, leathery, covered in soft spikes. And the green jelly pulp with many pale green seeds is valued in fruits. The length of one seed is about a centimeter.

Inside the kiwano resembles a large overripe cucumber

... and outside - a melon with thorns. For which, in fact, he received the nickname "horned melon"

Kiwano in the habitat

The taste of these fruits is similar to cucumber or banana. It is eaten as a sweet or salty product. Salt, lemon juice and pepper are added to the salty kiwano salad. Also, the fruit is used in cocktails - milk and fruit.

Many people really like the Kiwano melon, despite its little fame in our latitudes. This amazing fruit a bit like a chestnut. Its size is approximately equal to the average orange, and the orange skin is covered with marble-like stains. The taste of the fruit, probably, will not leave anyone indifferent. The entire interior is divided into several sectors by soft partition walls. But do not confuse the fruit with another representative of the exotic flora - anguria. Apart from a slight resemblance external signs they have nothing in common.

The taste of this miracle resembles a mixture of melon, cucumber and banana

Kiwano is used in both sweet and savory dishes.

Kiwano fruit very juicy: 89% of its mass is water. It contains more carbohydrates than fats and proteins. Also, the fruit is distinguished by a significant content of ash in it - about 0.44%. Of the vitamins in kiwano, there is a lot of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), as well as pantothenic acid (B5), niacin (B3), pyridoxine (B6), beta-carotene (A), thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2) and folic acid(AT 9). There are many macronutrients in the fruit. The content of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium and sodium is so much higher than other fruits, which makes the fruit simply unique. Kiwano also contains iron, copper, manganese and even zinc in digestible human body form. In addition, the fruit contains a significant amount of organic acids, P-active substances, alkaline mineral salts and sucrose.

And with all this, the calorie content of the fruit is quite low: in 100 g of the fruit there are only 40 kcal.


In the homeland of this fruit, it is very common in home gardens and on specially designated plantations. In caring for him during the growing season, you need a sufficient amount nutrients in the soil, especially nitrogen. It is also important that the plant, like any other vine, be provided with abundant watering. The plant itself branches into many thin stems divided into verges. These stems are very strong, their length reaches more than 5 meters. Thanks to this branching, the nodule during the growth period is able to braid large areas. To grow kiwano, a special net is stretched on the site, which eventually fills with foliage, creating a continuous hedge. The leaves of the plant are similar to cucumber leaves, divided into 5 parts, covered with hard fluff. That's just the size of the kiwano leaves is smaller.

During flowering, all the stems of the plant along their entire length are abundantly covered with small flowers. yellow color opening in the morning and closing in the afternoon. If kiwano is provided proper care, then in a good season from one bush you can collect 300 fruits!

Due to the strong peel, this fruit is suitable for making various crafts

fruit jewelry

Flower pots

How to eat kiwano

The exotic appearance of the fruit has become the reason why it is often used for decoration. different dishes. So the housewives cut this fruit into slices or spread the jelly pulp with seeds on any of the desserts. From the peel this fruit make exclusive serving utensils holiday tables. After all, when you cut the kivano fruit in half, select the pulp and put the halves with the spikes down, you get an unusual dish for desserts, fish, meat or vegetable snacks.

Of course, we are interested in how kiwanos are eaten. It turns out that in those countries where this plant is common, they make interesting dishes. For example, soft cheese is mixed with various seafood, and decorated with fruit pulp on top. The dish is also served in an unusual way - in a "dishes" made from the peel of the fruit.

Practical housewives will really like this fruit - you can eat the pulp, and use the peel to prepare other dishes 🙂


This amazing fruit has an unusual yet delicate taste. It immediately looks like a melon, cucumber and banana. And some claim that it has a taste of lime, kiwi and avocado. Therefore, kiwano can be used both as a fruit and as a vegetable, adding it to both sweet and spicy dishes.

This fruit can be eaten raw, including in various salads, salt, marinate like cucumbers. You can add the fruits of this exotic to berry jam or compote, which will give these familiar dishes notes unusual taste and aroma. Yogurt containing the juice of this fruit has become especially popular. For eating raw fruit should be cut into individual pieces. You can also cut the fruit in half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon. And then you can either cook various goodies with it, or eat it raw.

Pickled unripe kiwano fruits. Many believe that the taste of these fruits is much brighter than that of cucumbers, although cooked in the same way. And they don't just taste better. Kiwano fruits contain many more different substances useful for the human body.

Kiwano juice can be eaten alone or as part of different cocktails


So, due to the rich content of vitamins, macro- and microelements in them, these fruits have established themselves as an excellent source of various benefits. These properties are especially important in the cold months of the year. And given the low nutritional value and calorie content of the fetus, it can also be consumed with diet food. Content in kiwano is pretty a large number vitamin C and many B vitamins, it is considered to be excellent remedy capable of toning the body. The content in it of such a macroelement as potassium, which is indispensable for the functioning of the heart and the entire human body, is also valuable. It is he who creates sufficient conditions for muscle contraction, it normalizes the acid-base balance of the cells, regulates the water level and maintains concentration, density and blood pressure. Because of this, doctors even recommend the use of kivano to sick people, especially in case of cardiovascular diseases.


In some countries, the fruits are called nod "green dragon". It's funny, but it is this prickly dragon that is actively used in cosmetology. It is included in body and face masks, tonics and lotions. And the fact that it does not deteriorate very much for a long time after removal from the bush, allows you to enjoy its taste and useful qualities until next harvest.

The exotic kiwano fruit came to us from hot Africa. We have it received additional names: horned melon, green dragon, African cucumber. The fruit is covered with blunt spines, so reminiscent of horns. The skin is bright, orange-yellowish, the flesh resembles pudding and has a tart flavor.

How to grow in our country

Most often, the cultivation of kiwano is carried out from seeds. 24 hours before planting, the seeds should be placed in a bowl with a solution of sodium humate or "epin-extra". When the seeds absorb moisture and swell, it's time to place them in pots with prepared solid soil. It is recommended that before planting in an open garden, keep the seedlings for a couple of weeks in a greenhouse or in any other warm place at home. It is necessary to plant ready seedlings in the ground when no frosts are expected on the soil anymore.

Plants can be planted in several rows (usually 2-3) at a distance of at least 40 cm from each other. A place for planting should be chosen so that the wind does not blow away the plants, and direct sunlight does not burn them out. Kiwano loves loose, loose soil. Drying in the burning sun or overwatering is detrimental to the horned melon.

When the seedlings begin to stretch upwards, they are placed on a wooden stand next to them, to which the plant will be tied up in the future.

Growing indoors

Growing kiwanos from seeds at home is only possible if there is enough space for an adult plant. This is at least a meter by meter section. At home, plants can be grown, for example, on a large loggia.

Care

Near the plants, regular weeding should be done. Plants should be watered 2-3 times a week - no more.


Horned melon loves various top dressings. As feed, you can use manure water or herbal infusion with dissolved chicken droppings. You need to feed both organic and mineral fertilizers.

Plants need to be pinched from time to time if they have thickened excessively. Lateral shoots are pinched to the ovary, and barren flowers are generally removed. Young fruit ovaries need to be harvested after 1-2 days in order for new fruits to grow. After the last fruiting, you need to collect all the remaining fruits, and send the tops to the compost pit.

Benefit and harm

The fruit of the horned melon is very nutritious and contains many beneficial vitamins and micronutrients at a low calorie content. Although the fruit is sweet, it can be eaten by people with diabetes.

The fruit is also useful for people with digestive disorders: fruit fiber removes a lot of toxins and improves intestinal motility. In addition, kiwano regulates the acid-base balance and maintains the optimal composition of the blood.

Harmful properties of horned melon have not been identified. It is only possible allergic reactions for a small percentage of consumers.

Calorie content and chemical composition

100 g of kiwano contains: fat - 3 g, proteins - 8 g, carbohydrates - 6 g. Only 44 kcal.

Kiwano includes:

  • vitamins: A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, C, PP;
  • trace elements: calcium, potassium, manganese, copper, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, P-active elements, organic alkaline salts.

How to choose when buying

Ripe enough to be eaten, the fruit of the Kiwano melon has a bright yellow-orange color. However, if the fruit is still greenish, then it will ripen after some time. There should be no stains or mechanical damage on the peel.

How they eat

For maximum benefit and the best taste sensations, you need to eat the fruit immediately after harvesting - then it will retain a maximum of vitamins. You can also cook jams, jams and compotes from the fruits, grind them with sugar, make salads and desserts.

The peeled slices themselves can decorate cocktails and fruit salads in an original way. Some lovers of a healthy lifestyle eat and rich in fiber rind of horned melon.

Storage

Kiwano fruits should be stored in a cold, but not frozen place. In the refrigerator or underground, the fruits are stored for 1-2 months. Remember that in a warm place, the fruits will ripen and then rot. For long-term storage melons are best harvested unripe.

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