Has anyone had any experince with a tahitian melon squash. Back in march I was looking for Tahiti squash seed and these whitch are not what I wanted. I planted 2 of the seed to see what they were and they each made a vine that covers about 40 square feet. They are loaded with green melon shaped fruit. If anyone knows how to prepare them I would be thankful for some help. Don

-- DON (dessertmaker2000@hotmail.com), July 14, 2001

Answers

cool! exotic food! if you would like to mail me a photo or simple line drawing of the fruit[whole & sliced in half],flower, seed ,leaf & vine.i will show it to my chinese, vietaminese & japanese friends. things that grow that well[40 sq. feet!] travel all over the world under diff. names. i like growing the 'kiwano',aka: 'african horned melon' /'klingon passion fruit'& the dow gua>winter melon>wax gourd here in mississippi. if it is an edible gourd one can always pickle it like watermelon rinds or citron.

-- bj pepper (pepper.pepper@excite.com), July 16, 2001.

bj, when you mentioned pickled citron, what exactly is that? I've never heard of it and it sounds intriguing. thanks

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), July 17, 2001.

Citrons are a small mellon that looks like watermellon but is the same size as a large canalope. There are a lot of them here in Florida growing wild in the groves. I have not ever heard of anyone consuming them, guess the old timers preferred poussom!!

-- mitch hearn (moopups1@aol.com), July 18, 2001.

Wow!, Don, you're having great luck. I have a yard full of leaves and have had minimum 20-30 squash fail to develop after reaching varying stages--largest about 4-5" or so. They just go away. Right now the first to survive is 29" in a horse-shoe shape, 15-1/2" circumference of the bulbous bottom. It's got to be in excess of 25#. It looks like it's ready to be harvested but I thought I would leave it until it drops off by itself. I have only five others. Two are about 23" with even bigger bottoms and the others are 10" or so-- all taking a horse-shoe shape. I found a new one this morning (2"). I'm concerned that it's getting too late for these and any others to develop. Had read to plant seeds mid-May to mid-June which is obviously too late for me here in Tucson. Next year, though, I will get an early start since it's warm enough very early.

Have an internet buddy in California who has grown Tahitian squash for the past ten years. Last week I got pictures from him showing that they are long, long, long--skinny necks and twisty curvy. Some were just large size Butternut-like, but probably much heavier.

I am sick about those that did not last becuse the squash is sooooo good that I'm not sure I'll have enough to share with my buddies the way things look now. I have two plants and I believe all but two of the squash I have now are on the first plant. The second one was planted two weeks later and is kind of dragging in production.

First received a couple of the squash in 1997 from a friend who grew them in town here. Finally planted the seeds this year. I just cut off chunks, halved it an put in microwave until tender. Slathered a bit of butter over it and ate it just like that. I'm drooling . . .

Best of luck to all who are growing this wonderful squash.

P.

-- Pollie (GreenPsme@worldnet.att.net), September 03, 2001.

hiya kim! i just now saw your quest. on pickling citron, basically you follow any watermelon rind pickling recipes but you use citron! any fruit is good fruit in january, yes? ->bj pepper

-- bj pepper in C. MS. (pepper.pepper@excite.com), October 03, 2001.