Growing Thorn Cucumbers

 
Thorn cucumbers fruit is an emerging agribusiness
activity which is a fast expanding . Growing
thorn cucumber in Zimbabwe has since time immemorial
happened wildly particularly in the hot areas . The
fruit has a good taste and makes nice juice. The
fruit has a high demand and good local market
prices due to its numerous medicinal attributes.It
is said to be good for management of high blood
pressure, diabetes and obesity. It is locally
variously called Gaka . The Fruit shares many
characteristic with passion other than the spikes
on the skin. To establish a plot of the crop start
by extracting seed from healthy looking fruits.
Choose a well developed ripe fruit from the vine.
Scoop-out the contents consisting of seed and
pulp, and plant the seed in the nursery directly.
Seed germination while growing thorn melon in
Kenya may be improved by softening the seed
coat. Allow the seed together with the pulp to
ferment for 1 to 3days in a plastic container. The
fruit seed is then thoroughly washed after which
it is dried in the shade and sown as soon as
possible.Improve seed germination by priming
which is soaking the seed in warm water for one
hour before planting while growing . Water the seeds using a fine mist from
a hand held sprayer or watering can. Continue
watering about twice a day ensuring good
drainage of excess water.

While growing thorn cucumber in Zimbabwe, seeds can
be planted in trays or seedbed. Once germinated
and having two true leaves they are transplanted
to bags or bigger trays to ensure more space so
that the root don't become entangled as the
seedling grows. Harden off the seedlings before
they are transplanted to the field by setting
them out of the shade in the growing area for
2-3 days. Select vigorous seedlings free
from nematodes and fungal diseases when
growing thorn cucumbers in Zimbabwe. maturity period of
growing thorn cucumber in Zimbabwe is about
4months.