Looking around the web for info on the achocha plant (Cyclanthera pedata) it seems that it is also a commonly used vegetable in India - Cyclanthera explodens. As kids I remember having fun touching them to make them explode and spill the seeds. The explosion is quite something. I think I will grow this one this summer. I grow veges that are not commonly available in stores. Every year I look for a new gourd/squash/cucumber like vines as vegetables. Thanks for posting this info.

I also grow food that is not available in stores or too pricey for my wallet's tastes. I am very limited on space so every square inch counts.

Steve

Tropic, I don't remember this at all. Any names in Indian languages that might help me recall this?

KC

I cannot remember myself. I will have to ask my folks in India. I wish my grandmom was alive as we ate and played with this vege in her town (Malda, West Bengal).

Steve, same here. Space is limited and I do not want to waste time growing stuff that is cheap and readily available.

Steve, I wish I had the discipline to do that! I wind up being so greedy for home grown tomatoes, need an endless supply of peppers, both sweet and hot, basil and eggplant that I keep running out of space for the exotics! Any suggestions for fun new veggies to try?

Tropic, thanks! Google didn't have any translations for me!

KC

KC,

I think what they grow in India is similar; but not the same.

Another advantage to planting the Achocha is that it attracts hoverfly, which is a real beneficial for my citrus

Yo KC, check out dragon fruit. They're a pretty cool type of cacti that produce edible food and looks cool. Apparently they're easy to grow and only require partial light so they should be easy to overwinter indoors.

I'm trying to buy a cutting as they say should produce fruit in about 6-18months if they are the right size. I also bought a fruit at the supermarket and I'm germinating about 12 seeds..... From seed they say it's about 3-4 years. Again, what matters is that they achieve the right size/weight required to produce fruit. Beautiful flowers also.... they only open at night.

That's 1 big flower! Nice pic John.

If you grow dragon fruit it would be a good idea to keep the soil above 65F maybe 70F. Their roots rot a heck of a lot easier than the citrus most prone to root rot.

Steve,

That's my natural growing environment

Jphn

What kind of soil should we use up north for best potted dragon root growth.

I think dragon fruit (Pitaya) is almost a weed; so it probably doesn't matter.