Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: tishop on April 20, 2008, 04:01:44

Title: Achocha - The lost crop of the Incas
Post by: tishop on April 20, 2008, 04:01:44
(http://bp1.blogger.com/_edgid1i_TvU/SAqc2ME1FKI/AAAAAAAAByc/HSaBV3Xsq6I/s400/home+001.JPG)

Anyone else here growing this unusual veg? It's my first try - I'm hoping it's quick growth will act as a screen to my neighbours rough pallet fence (unfortunetly my association allows such 'hard' fences)  :'(

tishop Tim
http://plot61a.blogspot.com/
Title: Re: Achocha - The lost crop of the Incas
Post by: Rhubarb Thrasher on April 20, 2008, 07:39:14
there's a qoute on the web - "When the Incas lost this one, they kmew what they were doing". Best thing about it - when the frost comes - the pods explode. I got the seed from someone here, so they may be along in a bit to say how good it is. Watch out for slug attacks. Wasn't as rampant as it says, but maybe that was just last year
Title: Re: Achocha - The lost crop of the Incas
Post by: cjb02 on April 20, 2008, 17:51:30
I am trying this one. Achocha fat baby. I am told it is rampant, but this is my first year, One of the three I have growing in the greenhouse is 2ft tall already. Mine from memory appears to have different leaves to yours.

I got the seed from realseeds and they say they are nice young 1 inch long or de seeded and fried. like sweet pepper.

Fingers crossed it is pleasant anyway.  :)
Title: Re: Achocha - The lost crop of the Incas
Post by: saddad on April 20, 2008, 17:58:04
Probably me RT... anybody else wants any just shout! Some years it doesn't get as big... doesn't like very hot/dry weather and hates frost...
;D
Title: Re: Achocha - The lost crop of the Incas
Post by: Rhubarb Thrasher on April 20, 2008, 18:17:37
thought it was you saddad. To be fair, last year they were the closest thing to a cucumber that we got. What a year  ???
Title: Re: Achocha - The lost crop of the Incas
Post by: Amazin on April 21, 2008, 01:25:00
I grew Fat Baby Achocha last year too - had it scrambling through an eight foot high hawthorn hedge.

I also grew naranjilla - aka the lost fruit of the Incas.

Bit careless with their food, the Incas. Wonder what happened to them?

;D
Title: Re: Achocha - The lost crop of the Incas
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 21, 2008, 08:09:27
I suspect their descendants may well be growing the 'lost' crops yet.
Title: Re: Achocha - The lost crop of the Incas
Post by: tishop on July 10, 2008, 00:49:05
Cheers all. Here's how my first pickings looked last Saturday:

(http://bp1.blogger.com/_edgid1i_TvU/SHA_6NJ__pI/AAAAAAAACKs/s60EGgh-k6U/s400/allotment+013.JPG)

As to taste: (At this stage - raw, at about an inch long) only three out of ten, I'm afraid (A minty-cucumber, at very best) Hopefully better stir-fried, eh? :-\