What is Achocha: learn about growing Achocha vine plants
If you’ve grown cucumbers, watermelons, squash, or other members of the cucurbit family, you’ve probably quickly realized that some numerous pests and diseases could prevent you from getting a bumper crop. Certain cucurbits get a bad rap for being picky, high maintenance, and plagued by pests and diseases. If you haven’t been successful in growing cucumbers, don’t give up on all the cucurbits just yet. Try growing achocha instead, a sturdier cucumber substitute. What is achocha? Read on for the answer.
What is Achocha?
Achocha ( Cyclanthera pedata ), also known as Antigua, cached, gorilla, squash slipper, wild cucumber, and filler cucumber, is edible deciduous in the Cucurbitaceae family. The achocha is believed to be native to certain Andes Mountains in Peru and Bolivia and was an important food crop for the Incas. However, the achocha has been widely cultivated in South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean for hundreds of years, so its specific origin is unclear.
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Achocha grows well in mountainous or mountainous, humid and subtropical regions. In the United States, the achocha grows very well in the Appalachian Mountains. It is a spontaneously seeded annual vine, which has been considered a weed pest in certain areas of Florida.
This fast-growing vine can reach a height of 6-7 feet (2 m) tall. The achocha comes out with a dark green, webbed foliage that can be confused with Japanese maple or cannabis in spring. Its mid-summer flowers are small, cream-white in color, and quite rare for humans, but pollinators love them.
After the short flowering period, the achocha vines produce a fruit that looks like a bell pepper on the cucumber skin. This fruit is long, ripens 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) long, and tapers into a slight curve towards the end, giving it a “slipper” shape. The fruit is covered with soft cucumber spines.
When harvested immature, about 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) long, the fruit looks very much like a cucumber with soft edible seeds surrounded by light, fleshy, and crisp pulp. The unripe achocha fruit is eaten fresh like cucumber. When the fruit is allowed to ripen, it becomes hollow, and the flat, irregularly shaped seeds become hard and black.
The ripe achocha fruit seeds are removed, and the ripe fruits are served stuffed like peppers or fried, sautéed, or baked in other dishes. The unripe fruit is described as a cucumber flavor, while cooked ripe fruit has a pepper flavor.
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Grow Achocha vine plants
Achocha is an annual vine. It is usually grown from seed each year, but with 90-110 days to maturity, gardeners may need to start producing seeds indoors in early spring.
Although the achocha is self-pollinated, two or more plants will produce better yields than one. Because they are fast-growing vines, a sturdy trellis or trellis must be provided.
Achocha will grow in almost any type of soil as long as it is well-drained. In hot climates, achocha vines will need regular watering, as the plants will fall asleep when water is scarce. Although they tolerate heat and a bit of cold, achocha plants cannot withstand frost or windy places.
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For the most part, plants are naturally resistant to pests and diseases.