A Bit of a Mystery

[Ophi]

A couple of years ago I was sent a gift of some Chinese vegetables from a friend of my sons whose parents live in a province in northern China.

The gift included pole beans, tian gua (melon), chinese carrot, and "very tasty vegetable".

I had no problem growing the pole beans and they taste good even though they look a bit different.

I have had two attempts at the melon but from the look of the plant it is more like a cucumber (the packagings only translation is honey melon) and might possibly grow in a greenhouse or polytunnel.  I am going to try it this year under fleece.

The chinese carrot and very tasty vegetable are saved seeds and I don't seem to have much luck with getting something from a row outside that I can identify and will try them in pots this year.

I have far too may seeds for my own use as their idea of a garden is on a grander scale than in the UK.  Looking at photos of their garden I would describe it as a small holding.

If a couple of you would like to try the seeds (not sure if the carrots would be viable now?) they would be most welcome as like Alice I am curious.  I am quite happy to post the seeds if you pm me.

[Ophi]

[goodlife]

I've sent you a PM.. ;)

[goodlife]

I think to have any chance for you to get some melons...they will need to be grown 'indoors' or with some protection you might have some success outside.
If you want to try outside...you could try planting trough plack plastic into ground..it will give more warmth..and if you can make up some sort of 'tent' above it will make life really cosy....but then you will need to help the plant by doing  hand pollination...it is really only way to ensure some success. Take male flower to the female flower and let them have a good 'kiss'.. ;) ;D
What kind of beans are you chinese ones?..how do they look different? You might have interesting crop there for seed saving if you fancy doing the circle again... ;) ;D..oh..if you do get some melons..don't forget to save some seeds..;)

[Ian Pearson]

I like a good mystery. PMing you.

[goodlife]

Is this what the 'melon' looks like?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_cucumber

[davejg]

For the melon. I think someone metioned their chinese lottie neibours growing Fin melons or something similar.

[Ophi]

Picture of packet

www.flickr.com/photos/27939995@N05/6606770133/in/photostream

[goodlife]

That looks like water melon

[Aden Roller]

That looks like water melon

Looks like very long thin water melon. Did the packet get aquashed in the post?  ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

For the melon. I think someone metioned their chinese lottie neibours growing Fin melons or something similar.

Shark's fin melons? They do well in our climate.

[lottie lou]

Shark's fin melons? They do well in our climate.

That's not the sharks fin melon.  The flesh is white not pink.  Looks like a watermelon - the big marrow shaped ones they tend to grow in the far east.  Not sure of climate in northern China but I reckon it would be hotter & longer summers than ours.