Why can African cucumber be attention-grabbing for Bulgarian farmers?

Melotria comes from Central America, the place it grows as an invasive weed, however right here it will probably contribute to biodiversity

Roman Rachkov*

To satisfy the challenges of local weather change and a safe meals provide, small farmers and family producers should use sustainable and adaptive practices. One is to increase crop range by introducing new varieties which can be proof against excessive temperatures and drought. There are a number of crops that may be grown in Bulgaria and mix sustainability with culinary enchantment. Some might be powerful on the market, others might be delicate and in want of safety, however it is time to increase our horizons. One such tradition is the African cucumber, often known as melotria and mini watermelon.

Gardeners and meals producers are straight uncovered to the complicated results of local weather change on their each day work. Rising temperatures, altering rainfall patterns and the frequency of utmost climate occasions are main challenges to meals manufacturing. Small farmers and residential producers, who type the spine of native meals methods, are significantly susceptible.

Among the many many forms of seeds of decorative crops and greens that we discover available on the market lately, the seek for unique species is rising an increasing number of. A few of them are very appropriate for the circumstances of the nation and provides good outcomes. Others are simply being examined, and nonetheless others are thought of unique. One such uncommon providing is Melothria scabra, often known as mini watermelon, African cucumber, however actually it’s a utterly new crop for us and isn’t associated to any of the vegetation it resembles.

Why would Bulgarian farmers

might they flip into melotria?

One of many essential causes that millet is attention-grabbing to farmers in Bulgaria is that they’re in search of different crops than the normal species which can be grown for consumption. Though the cultivation of economically essential species of the Cucurbita household is well-known in our nation, rising organic range in agricultural ecosystems isn’t a serious focus space in these present agricultural methods. Including melotria to conventional cropping methods can enhance biodiversity in additional methods than one. First, it will probably enhance the number of crops produced on agricultural plots, but in addition present a habitat for useful bugs, microorganisms and vertebrates.

The specter of local weather change makes it tough to develop conventional crops within the methods we all know up to now. The twenty first century might be a difficult time for people if we proceed with our present agricultural practices By introducing this relationship of our tradition to shoppers, the market will opening as much as farmers and permitting range in agronomic fields. With rising challenges in our nation’s agricultural sector and the danger that crops could not be capable to bear fruit in a given season, selection in market choice is usually a nice alternative for farmers and shippers. – use. Sadly, though the melotria plant is appropriate for rising in our nation, it’s nonetheless unknown to the Bulgarian farmer and is barely grown by novice gardeners. That is the place establishments, such because the Nationwide Agricultural Advisory Service and the regional establishments throughout the Academy of Agriculture, must be extra lively in selling this and different related crops.

What’s a small watermelon?

It’s no coincidence that the plant is commonly referred to as a mini watermelon. Its small fruits, not more than 3 cm lengthy and a pair of cm vast, have a really related coloration: darkish inexperienced stripes operating on a lightweight inexperienced background. When you choose up the fruit and have a look at it individually from the plant, it’s a actual watermelon. And melotria additionally grows within the type of an extended, creeping liana, which is similar to a watermelon.

Nonetheless, if you happen to style the fruit, it seems to be like a cucumber. And within the lengthy part there are two halves, like half a cucumber. And the scent could be very related. Solely the white seeds resemble the form of a watermelon. Due to this look, the plant has many in style names: “Mexican Miniature Watermelon”, “Mouse Watermelon”, “Mexican Pickle”, “African Cucumber”, “Hummingbird Cucumber”, in addition to “Cucamelon”, “Pepkin” and “Mouse Melon”. .

Even supposing Melothria scabra isn’t a watermelon or a cucumber, it nonetheless has one thing in frequent with these crops – it belongs to the pumpkin household. Melothria has a unique genus – Melothria, which incorporates about 166 species, most of which aren’t edible.

Melothria scabra is native to Central America. It grows there as a really aggressive weed. Spreading on the bottom and climbing on helps, the liana is ready to suppress different crops. Because of the nice and cozy local weather there, it’s a perennial plant and propagates not solely with seeds but in addition with tubers.

The leaves of the plant are furry, triangular, three-segmented, with pointed ends of the segments. The plant produces female and male flowers. On the similar time, they’re simple to tell apart: the primary one is organized one after the other and grows earlier, the second is collected in a number of and grows later. The flowers are funnel-shaped and yellow in coloration. The stems develop shortly, reaching greater than 3 m through the season, tubers are very giant, weighing as much as 400 g, much like candy potatoes, fashioned on the roots of the plant On this method, the yield per bush is as much as 6 kg of “cucumbers” and about 6 kg of tubers.

What are the advantages and purposes?

Melotria was dropped at Europe just lately – in 1987. As a result of its dimension, style traits and the truth that the fruits style like cucumbers, they can be utilized to arrange salads, pickles, as ornament for numerous dishes and in “rolls”, in addition to numerous nutritious diet meals.

The pores and skin provides the fruit its acidity and the older the fruit, the extra bitter it’s. Nonetheless, due to their dimension, “mini-cucumbers” should not minimize, however they should be harvested earlier than the formation of seeds. The tubers of the crop lose their dietary worth over time so they’re normally eaten instantly after harvesting.

The inclusion of melotria within the food regimen has a tonic, anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating impact.

Melotria fruits comprise plenty of fiber and are wealthy in protein, fats and carbohydrates, but in addition comprise minerals corresponding to magnesium, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and sodium. As well as, African cucumbers comprise nutritional vitamins B9 and C. On the similar time, the caloric content material of 1 fruit could be very low, solely 15 kcal, so it helps to take care of a wholesome weight, causes a sense of satiety and helps with weight reduction.

Common consumption of its fruits has a optimistic impact on the cardiovascular system (restores blood strain), removes extra bile juice from the physique and reduces levels of cholesterol.

Nonetheless, folks with elevated acidity of gastric juice, gastric ulcer or gastritis must be cautious when consuming melotria, and will keep away from using contemporary fruit utterly or at the very least.

Along with meals, melotria can be used as a decorative plant – planted in hanging pots, close to a gazebo or fence. Its leaves don’t flip yellow, thus maintaining their ornamental properties till they freeze.

What circumstances are obligatory for cultivation?

The tradition is unpretentious, likes the solar, but it surely additionally suffers from partial shading. Like all pumpkin vegetation, it prefers well-structured and fertile soils. It wants common watering and upkeep.

In our circumstances, the plant might be grown solely with seeds, as a result of it’s tough to protect the tubers​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Will be planted straight within the backyard mattress (in a heat local weather) or in seedling cups. Within the latter case, planting might be carried out at the start of April. First, making an allowance for the native circumstances, the soil must be warmed as much as 10 ° C. Planted exterior, the plant should be watered repeatedly and abundantly, ideally heat water on the backside, no water falling on the leaves.

Of the illnesses in our circumstances, melotria typically succumbs to powdery mildew, but it surely has a reasonably excessive immunity in opposition to different illnesses. Because of this, through the season you are able to do a number of preventive therapies in opposition to it.

How are seedlings planted outdoor?

While you select a spot within the backyard, it’s good to be one the place the helps don’t intrude with shaking the close by vegetation. Those that got here earlier than in the last few seasons might be legumes, potatoes, garlic, early cabbage, corn, cauliflower, parsley and onions, it isn’t really useful that they have been pumpkins. It is strongly recommended that the subsequent seeding of the unique place shouldn’t be sooner than two years.

When planting in a container, small melotria seeds might be pressed slightly into the soil, or sprinkled with a small layer of sifted soil and compacted slightly (for higher grip the substrate). Water (moisture the floor of the earth with a sprig) and put in a heat place with a temperature of about 24 ° C.

After about 10 days, sprouts will seem. After the seedling has fashioned 2-3 actual leaves, you can begin airing to harden the vegetation or transfer the pots to a cooler place with an air temperature of 18-21 ° C.

When the hazard of frost is over, the vegetation might be planted exterior. The gap between them must be at the very least 50 cm and it’s good to offer assist instantly. It’s higher to not go away the melotria on the bottom, as a result of the bush should be effectively ventilated.

When planting straight in a everlasting place you will need to take your time and look forward to a steady warmth within the soil. Within the backyard, the seeds take slightly longer to germinate, generally as much as 2-3 weeks. Additionally, the hotter it’s, the sooner this occurs.

Melotria fruits start to look a number of weeks after pollination, like all cucurbit vegetation, they usually can overlap. Subsequently, they need to be collected repeatedly, maintaining the pores and skin from hardening. The seeds are collected from the overripe fruit.

Local weather change is a serious menace to meals safety not solely in Bulgaria, but in addition world wide. In our nation, as a result of traits of the local weather, small farmers and residential producers can adapt and develop a number of natural and sustainable practices. By diversifying crops, rising accessible assets and adopting sustainable varieties, together with melloria, we will construct a more healthy and extra sustainable meals system for the longer term. These new crops, that are uncommon for our nation, not solely enhance meals safety, but in addition contribute to a extra sustainable and ecological agricultural panorama. That is one technique to sort out the challenges of local weather change and guarantee a sustainable meals provide for future generations.

* Climateca supply (with abbreviations)