Kiwano (Certified Organic)

Grown by Twin Oaks Seed Farm (VA) – Cucumis metuliferus – 125 days

Kiwano is a deliciously refreshing and visually striking relative of melon and cucumber (all are members of the genus Cucumis). The spiky fruits measure about three by five inches. They ripen from green to bright orange on the outside, while they remain bright green inside at eating stage. Mild to medium sweetness, with a fair amount of tartness, and a distinct flavor and aroma of bananas. Only the interior (green gelatinous pulp and seeds) are eaten, not the tough spiky skin. One thing that really stood out to us about kiwano is their keeping ability. Harvested somewhat green before frost, they can keep well into the winter, offering fresh and succulent fruit when it’s otherwise the least available. We got this strain from Lindsay Klaunig in Southeast Ohio, who trialed several kiwano seedstocks and identified this as the one that could make it through the cucurbit disease pressure and set fruit on time. She sourced it from Siskiyou Seeds in Oregon. It grew well for us here in Central Virginia in both 2024 and 2025, with especially high productivity in 2025.  61 seeds/gram.