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Annual BiennialFruit Edible

Cyclanthera pedata

stuffing gourd

An annual, 3m or more high, climbing by tendrils, with leaves up to 20cm across, divided into from five to ten lance-shaped green lobes, panicles 10-20cm long of greenish white male flowers about 5mm across, and solitary greenish white female flowers, followed by green fruits, 5-15cm long, which are edible and eaten as a vegetable, either raw when young or cooked when mature after removing the seeds

Other common names

achoccha
achocha
see moreacoccha
caigua
climbing cucumber
korila

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Cucurbitaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Climbing
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a glasshouse in medium humidity and bright, filtered light, or outdoors after all risk of frost has passed, in a warm sheltered position, in sun or light shade, in humus-rich, water-retentive, gritty, free-draining compost or soil, and provide support such as trellis or netting

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in spring, and plant seedlings out when all danger of frost has passed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free but may be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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