African cucumber melotria

African cucumber melotria or melotria is not a rough sign. This vegetable culture is not widespread in our gardens and personal plots, except that connoisseurs of exotic have already managed to get to know it better. Although in fact the African cucumber melotria has its own history, specific agricultural technology, as well as numerous methods of culinary processing.

By the way, the African cucumber melotria belongs to the pumpkin family. Mainly, the area of ​ ​ its distribution is Africa, which is clear from the name of this vegetable. Interestingly, this annual herbaceous plant can develop lashes up to three meters long. Melotria is distinguished by soft-rough leaves of a triangular-pointed shape and funnel-shaped dioecious flowers of bright yellow color.

This attractive vine is cultivated not only as a vegetable, but also an ornamental plant for landscaping. For example, if melotria is planted along the fence from a slave net, it will quickly grow and braid it, giving the garden an elegant green screen.

In fact, the African cucumber melotria is a kind of cucumber of reduced size. Although compared to the same ordinary cucumber, this miniature vegetable has its advantages. First of all, the African cucumber melotria looks very decorative - its bright juicy greens do not lose their color until the fall. Secondly, the rapid enough growth of the plant allows it to clog all kinds of weeds. Under favorable conditions, five to six kilograms of fruits can be harvested from one plant.

In addition, the fruits of the African cucumber melotria are not only edible, but also unusually tasty. After warming, light green striped vegetables reach a miniature size compared to the size traditional for our country - no more than

2. 5 centimeters in length. They have a characteristic cucumber taste and only their rather tough skin gives the whole fruit a sour hare cabbage tint.

The African cucumber melotria is very productive - a fruit forms in each node of the plant. It is recommended to collect fruits when they are still small and did not have time to form seeds in large quantities. The fruits of African cucumber melotria are eaten raw, usually when added to salads. They are also good in salting, but especially tasty in pickled form.

A special taste of pickled fruits of African cucumber melotria can be achieved by adding a small amount of hot pepper to the marinade. Miniature vegetables look unusually attractive and very original in transparent glass jars. In addition, they serve as a wonderful decoration for vegetable, meat and fish dishes.