The vine is perennial, herbaceous, fast-growing, heavy, requiring a strong trellis; climbing trees to 50 ft (15 m) or more by means of 4-parted tendrils equipped with adhesive discs that can adhere tightly to the smoothest surface. Young stems are hairy. The leaves are gray-hairy, rounded-cordate or rounded kidney-shaped, to 1 ft (30 cm) wide, deeply indented at the base, 3-lobed, with wavy or toothed margins, on petioles 1 1/2 to 4 3/4 in (4-12 cm) long.
Flowers are white or yellow, urn-shaped, 5-lobed, solitary, the male 3/4 in (2 cm) long, the female about 2 in (5 cm) long. Renowned for its strong, sweet, agreeable, melon-like odor, the striking fruit is ellipsoid or nearly cylindrical, sometimes slightly curved; 12 to 24 in (30-60 cm) in length, 2 3/4 to 4 1/2 in (7-11.25 cm) thick, hard-shelled, orange-red, maroon, dark-purple with tinges of violet, or entirely jet-black; smooth and glossy when ripe, with firm, orange-yellow or yellow, cantaloupe-like, tough, juicy flesh, 3/4 in (2 cm) thick. In the central cavity, there is softer pulp, a soft, fleshy core, and numerous flat, oval seeds, 5/8 in (16 mm) long and 1/4 in (6 mm) wide, light-brown bordered with a dark-brown stripe, in tightly-packed rows extending the entire length of the fruit.
The fruit is long and cylindrical. Think overgrown cucumber, with a very tough skin and what is said to be a lovely aromatic smell. In fact, many people use the long-lasting fruit to freshen the smell of a room. The fruit is either cooked prematurely like squash, or allowed to ripen and used fresh, in drinks, pies, or preserves. It’s said to have a sweet tropical flavor.
| Sowing Instructions | |
| Propagation: | Seeds |
| Pretreat: | soak in water for 2-4 hours |
| Stratification: | 0 |
| Sowing Time: | all year round |
| Sowing Depth: | 0.5-1 cm |
| Sowing Mix: | Coir or sowing mix + sand or perlite |
| Germination temperature: | 20-25 ° C |
| Location: | bright + keep constantly moist not wet |
| Germination Time: | 2-4 weeks |
| Watering: | Water regularly during the growing season |
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| HEIRLOOM ? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Organic Seeds ? | Organic Seeds |
| Organic/natural ? | Organic/Natural: Yes |
| Edible ? | Edible |
| Pretreatment of sowing ? | Soak in water before sowing 12-24 h |
| Sowing depth ? | Sowing depth 2 cm |
| Life Cycle: | Perennial plant : Yes |
| Handpicked seeds ? | Handpicked seeds |
| Medicinal Plant ? | Medicinal Plant: Yes |
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| Delivery Option | Processing Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Priority Delivery | Ships in 1-7 business days | Prioritizes order processing (not guaranteed faster delivery); delays possible during holidays (3-10 days) |
| Secured Delivery | Ships in 1-7 business days | Available for orders up to €150; refund if lost |
| Standard Delivery | Ships in 7-10 business days | More economical; delays possible during holidays (7-14 days) |
Estimated Delivery Time:
Within the EU: 3–20 days
Worldwide: 5–30 days
Example delivery times to the USA:
Delivered in 13, 17, 19, 22, or 27 days.
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