How to Grow Achocha

Achocha is a viney plant that produces edible fruit that is very similar to a cucumber. While it's very difficult to find the seeds, and more so to find the fruits in a store, you can get achocha seeds from a heritage or heirloom seed supplier, or from someone you know that grows them. Follow these steps to grow achocha after you get some seeds.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Achocha seeds
• Fence posts
• Fence or wire
• Vegetable fertilizer (optional)

1. Build something for the vines to grow on. A length of fence stretched between two fence posts will work find. It just needs to be strong to support the weight of the plants and the fruits. This structure can also provide a bit of a privacy screen, so consider that when placing it.
2. Start the seeds in germination trays indoors before the last frost or outdoors in the ground after the danger of frost is gone. If you start them in trays, you will need to transplant them next to the trellis structure that you built for them once they reach about 4 inches high. Once they get that high, they must have support available on which to climb.
3. Water your plants frequently until they are established and healthy. Once they begin to produce fruits, you can give them a bit of fertilizer made for vegetables, such as a fertilizer for tomato plants.
4. Look for the fruits in late summer. Harvest the fruits when you are ready to eat them. You can eat the younger fruits raw and whole, like a tomato. You should cook the older fruits, and you will need to remove the seeds before cooking. Save these seeds if you wish to share them or grow more achocha plants next season.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use the cooked achocha fruits in many dishes. Try cooking some in a bit of oil and trying it to get a sense of the flavor. This will help you decide what dishes in which you might like to put the achocha.

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