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Not only do you have the opportunity to view some dark Zambian Gherkins (Cucumis anguria). But if you watch now, you will see not just one, but two mantids. Yes friends, the excitement of gardening is only mounting as we reveal to you the joys of gardening with a master cucumberer.

Processing cucumber and melon seed often requires more steps than most growers are willing to take. However, by making sure to clean the seed properly and winnow out non-viable seeds, the grower ensures that future seed exhibits high germination and vigor. Here is a simple method of winnowing seed using a large clean mixing bowl and a smooth floor.

The Zambian Gherkin is a relatively dark and small spined Cucumis anguria variety. The flavor is mild and good and the texture is very much like regular cucumber flesh. When compared with the Cucamelon or Sandita (Melothria scabra) the gherkin is, in my opinion - much better.

It is amazing when a gardener gets the chance to discover two amazing things about one cucumber-melon variety in one day. The delicious Cucumarru di Martina Franca's female flowers are not only hermaphrodites, but they are also parthenocarpic! Nature is amazing and life is a miracle!

For many years I have been hoping to find a uniform population of Tondo di Manduria that is relatively compact with fruit that is smooth (liscio) and light with dark splotching. But I never found one. So recently, when growing a large population of Tondo di Manduria, I selected seed from a plant that was surrounded by six Tondo di Manduria with the ideal traits I have been looking for. What els...

Why few seed companies care to grow open-pollinated English cucumbers

One of my English cucumbers ended up growing into a deli cup. The result was a V-shaped cucumber.

I had no idea that I could automate my Zig Zag Seed winnowing contraption. A nearby friend of mine helped me to make it several years ago. I made a video because I realized that, if I put the bowl that I feed the seed through at the right angle and have my vacuum touching the 10x20 tray that, as long as the orientation of the bowl doesn't change, that the seed will - on its own - feed into the ...

After many years of working on growing and selecting of the best fruit from the Cucummaru di San Donato, I had a really good fruit to share. While the color is not quite as consistent as I would like it to be, the flavor is quite good. Hopefully, the rest of the fruit will produce viable seed that I can offer to others.

It can be difficult to control Spider Mites once they have established themselves. Mites can be mostly eliminated by spraying up from the underside of leaves. Powdery Mildew can be difficult to contain once it has spread across the plant, but by can be slowed by water spraying and the use of a biofungicide like Sonata.

This is a relatively short primer on processing muskmelon seed as well as some additional information on steps required for processing cucumber seed.

Despite its rich history, Cucummaru di San Donato has taken at least three generations to get to a place where I can share it with others. Once a immature melon variety that would draw people from the area to the marketplace of San Donato, where it had its own festival, the San Donato has since been neglected. Three generations of removing bitter fruit from the population has resulted in a crop...

While I previously recommended to pick the Carosello Tondo di Manduria around 4 inches in diameter, a tasting of various sizes helps me to recognize that it is best picked at a diameter of around 3" or less. And how does it taste? Like a crisp, yet tender cucumber, with a bit of a melon aftertaste. Quite delicious! Also of note is one little Tondo di Barese Carosello cucumber.

One last video of the Tondo Manduria in the fertile garden, as a large percentage of the fruit begins to ripen for seed.

Using a hand vacuum for Cucumber Beetles.

Timun Krai

Cucumber Beetles and Tondo di Manduria

Cretan Cucumber-melon keeps going!

Tondo di Barese

Martina Franca, Second look

Ayra with description

First look at the 2024 Timun Krai

Carosello Tondo di Manduria

The Carosello Tondo di Manduria - Extended Edition

Scopatizzo di San Luigi

Martina Franca

Cretian cucumber-melons

Tondo di Manduria are growing

Talking Tondo di Manduria in the Fertile Garden