Horned melon.

Auf einen Blick

Pflegestufe

Mittel

Pflanzenart

Annual vine

Licht

Full sun

Licht im Innenraum

Direkte Sonne

Gießen

Alle 2 bis 4 Tage

Endgröße

6 to 10 feet

Wachstum

Schnell

Winterhärte

USDA 10 bis 12

Blütezeit

Mid to late summer

Pflege

Provide a sturdy trellis for the vines to climb as they grow quite quickly. Keep an eye on the soil moisture and watch for wilting, which indicates the plant is thirsty. Harvest the fruit once the skin turns a deep, vibrant orange.

Gießen

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged during the peak growing season.

Düngen

Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks to support fruit production.

Schneiden

Trim back excessive vine growth to encourage better airflow and fruit development.

Umtopfen

Since this is typically grown as an annual, you will likely start fresh from seed each season.

Boden

Well draining, fertile soil

Boden-pH

6.0 to 6.8

Temperatur

15 bis 35°C

Luftfeuchtigkeit

50 bis 80%

Sicherheit

Menschen

The plant is generally non-toxic, but the bitter compounds in unripe fruit can cause digestive upset.

Kinder

The sharp spines on the fruit skin can scratch delicate skin, so handle with care around small children.

Kontaktallergene

The stems and leaves are covered in fine, stiff hairs that can cause mechanical skin irritation.

Allergene in der Luft

There is no significant evidence of airborne allergens associated with this plant.

Essbarkeit

Ensure fruit is fully ripe and orange before consumption as immature green fruit may contain bitter cucurbitacins.

So erkennst du die Pflanze

• Bright orange skin with sharp spines
• Green, jelly like interior flesh
• Large, five lobed fuzzy leaves
• Yellow, star shaped small flowers
• Vigorous vining growth habit

Höhe

0,3 bis 0,6m

Breite

1,5 bis 3m

Blätter

green, deciduous

Blüten

yellow, 1 bis 2cm

Früchte

orange, red, Late summer to autumn

Häufige Probleme

• Powdery mildew — A fungal infection that appears as white, dusty spots on the leaves.
• Aphids — Small insects that suck sap from new growth and can spread viral diseases.

Standort und Pflege

Vermehrung

seed

Pflanzzeit

Spring

Plant near tall, sturdy crops to maximize vertical space in the garden.

Gute Pflanzpartner

• Mais — Corn provides a natural trellis for the vines to climb.
• Kapuzinerkresse — Nasturtiums can act as a trap crop for aphids.

Fernhalten von

• Gurke — They share similar pests and diseases, which can lead to rapid spread if planted together.

Ähnliche Arten

• Gurke — They are closely related members of the same genus.
• Melon — They share similar growth habits and environmental requirements.

Botanisches

Familie

Cucurbitaceae

Gattung

Cucumis

Ordnung

Cucurbitales

Klasse

Magnoliopsida

Ursprüngliche Heimat

Sub-Saharan Africa

Artenschutz

It is a common, widespread species and is not considered to be of conservation concern.

It thrives in hot, arid environments by using its deep root system to access moisture.

Nutzen für Wildtiere

nectar source

Bestäuber

Bienen, Schmetterlinge

Verwendung

ornamental, culinary, novelty fruit

Taxonomie abgeglichen mit GBIF.

Häufige Fragen

How do I know when to harvest?

Harvest when the skin turns a vibrant, deep orange color.

Can I grow this in a container?

Yes, but it requires a large container and a sturdy trellis to support its vigorous vines.

Woher der Name kommt

The name Cucumis is the Latin word for cucumber, while metuliferus means bearing boundary markers or small pillars, referring to the fruit's spines.

Gut zu wissen

• The fruit flesh has a refreshing flavor reminiscent of cucumber, zucchini, and kiwi.
• It is native to sub-Saharan Africa.
• The plant is highly drought-tolerant once established.
• It is sometimes used as a decorative element in fruit bowls due to its unique appearance.