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Cyclanthera pedata - (L.)Schrad.

Achoccha

Author	(L.)Schrad.	Botanical references	200
Family	Cucurbitaceae	Genus	Cyclanthera
Synonyms	Momordica pedata - L.
Known Hazards	None known
Range	C. and S. America - from Mexico south to Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
Habitat	Not known
Edibility Rating	3 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	0 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

Annual growing to 4.5m.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It requires moist soil.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit; Leaves.

Fruit. Young fruits are eaten raw or cooked and have a similar taste to cucumbers though they are not crisp[183, 193]. Older fruits are cooked, they can be stuffed in much the same way as marrows[183, 196]. The fruit is about 6 - 15cm long[196] and 6cm wide[200]. Leaves and tender young shoots - cooked and used as greens[183, 284].

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Hypotensive.

A tea made from the seeds is used in the treatment of high blood pressure[284].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Requires a very warm, sunny and sheltered position in a rich well-drained soil[200]. The achocha is occasionally cultivated for its edible fruit in S. America, there are many named forms[196]. Plants are not very cold-hardy in Britain and are normally grown in a greenhouse. However, if the plants are started in a greenhouse in the spring and grown on well it is possible to get reasonable yields in most years outdoors in Britain. Fruiting plants have been seen outdoors on a number of occasions at Kew Botanical gardens[K].

Propagation

Seed - sow mid spring in a rich compost in a warm greenhouse. Put 2 or 3 seeds in a pot and thin the seedlings to the strongest plant. Plant out after the last expected frost and give the plants some protection such as a cloche until they are growing away well.

Links

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[193] Low. T. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson. 1989 ISBN 0-207-14383-8
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast

[196] Popenoe. H. et al Lost Crops of the Incas National Academy Press 1990 ISBN 0-309-04264-X
An excellent book. Very readable, with lots of information and good pictures of some lesser known food plants of S. America.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[284] Cucurbitaceaer 0
An excellent site with a wide range of information and some excellent pictures of plants in this family.

Readers Comments

Plants for a Future does not verify the accuracy of reader comments, use at your own risk. In particular Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. You should always consult a professional before using plants medicinally.

Cyclanthera pedata

Manuel Tabujara Fri Jul 28 2006

I have been looking for achocha seeds. Will someone please tell me where to buy it or get it? Thank you. Manuel Tabujara Sacramento, California

Cyclanthera pedata

sue derry Thu Jan 25 2007

Sue Derry We have recipes for achocha and some free seeds available for customers who are on our mailing list

Cyclanthera pedata

Sat Aug 25 2007

I am growing Achocha for the first time this year. The fruits are about 4cm long but already seem to have tough skins. I will try growing them on for stuffing or curries? The seeds can be obtained from The Heratage Seed Library (part of Garden Organic,Ryton,UK).

Cyclanthera pedata

Stephen Fri Sep 7 2007

I've grown achocha this year in the English Midlands with seeds from the Real Seed Company in Pembrokeshire. High germination rate. Huge, trailing plants that I've allowed to scramble up some netting supported on canes. In full flower and still growing. I've eaten a few of the fruits, which fry well, though you need to remove the black seeds from mature fruits. Hoping to get lots more because there are masses of tiny fruits appearing, but everything depends on the weather.

Cyclanthera pedata

Paulien Mon Dec 15 2008

I have lots of seeds from this lovely and very easy to grow plant. I'm looking for seeds of exotic (but frost hardy for zone 8) plants with edible fruit, maybe we can make a trade?

My site:

Cyclanthera pedata

Jean Sun Nov 8 2009

I have grown achocha this year and although the weather here hasn't been too good, the crop has been amazing. I use the fruits raw in salads when young and they are delicious used as a sweet pepper in a stir fry. It is now November and I am still going out and picking lots of fruits. I have also saved lots of seeds for next years crop. If any of you are thinking of growing achocha, do be warned that it is quite a thuggish plant and it will take over your plot if not kept in check. Also, 2 plants will adequately supply enough fruits for a family.

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